The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-11-14
Tribute Of Respect 60 w. Vance
Thomson

My ii please your Honor: In rising
to second the resolutions, which have
just been presented and read, obey the
natural impulses of a heart deeply paiu-
ed at the loss of a distinguished pro-
fessiOnal brother, and most cherished
fiiend. 1t was my good fortune to
have known Vance Thompson, in all
the varied walk of life for upwards of
twenty years. l was associated with
MIN, more or less, in the political
struggles of this country, when we
were both young men, he being an
hnnored representative in the councils
of our native State, and myself an
humble representative in another body.
Though not SO long or so intimately
associated with him, in this and other
'ourts of our country, as many of my
professional brethren, who sit around
me yet think that | had sufficient
acquaintance with his traits of char
acter as a lawyer, to enable me to form
just estimate of his worth and ability
[ was with him for a considerable peri
Oh of time during the dark days of war,
when hope b al aim nst flown, and deep
despair was fast gathering on the faces
Of those with whom he aud myself
SympatiZed and acted in that terrible
aud most disastrous struggle. And,
above all, EEL that knew him well in
the private aud social walks OF life, thu
field in which his warm and generous
nature most delighted to dwell, and
where his great, genial heart, poured
orth its warmest rays of coincidence
and trust aud friendship.
Having thus known him in nearly
/ the varied walks of life, having
enjoyed his friendship and confidence
Or oh 81 Ii
ing between US. we'll knowing the priu-
c pies and opinions which went To
make up his character, and having from
these associations, formed high esti-
mate of his virtues, aud cherished
vide charity for his faults, feel that
it Iuld not be an intrusion on this
court, or bis friends, or his own memo
~ that | should most heartily second
the resolutions, and add my own to the
outspoken sorrow whi h has already
reen manifested by others. In pc It'll
cal principle, Maj # Thompson was a
true republican, not in party sense,
but in the sense in which the term is
applied to governmental forms. He
believed prominently in the right.
and equality of the people. He looked
with favor and enthusiasm upon all
-chemes of government, whether in his
own or other countries, which lOOked
to the elevation, prosperity and happi-
ness of the people, and abhOred, and
scOrned any and every art, or artifice
# rulers, which aimed TO take from the
humblest citizen his just rights, or. i'm
pose unnecessary burdens on the poor.
In all my intercourse with the public
men of this country, have never
known a man in whose hands would
have trusted my own life, liberty or
property or the lives, liberties or proper
ty of my cOuntrymen, rather than in the
hands of w. Vance Thompson. In the
formation of his political opinions he
seems to have stud ed, and studied
deeply the characters, opinions and
principles of the Olden times, Of thr
men who framed and built up our
system of government. He was the
advocate on all occasions, OF simplicity,
purity, honesty and economy, in the
administration of public affairs. In
his comparison OF the present prOfliga-
y, eX ravagance and corruption, with |
the purity, economy and honest con-
iucL of the men OfLhe first revolution,
his faith, though still strong in the uIt
mate triumph of sound princip es, was
much shaken. He was wont to point !
back to the days of Jefferson and Madi- |
son, and draw III st pointed compari |
sons between those days and these !
times of apparent rottenuess aud decay. |
Major Thompson, though a sincere, |
bold and el quent advocate of pOpu ar |
rights, and popu ar virtues, was no
H rested his cause on 10 |
sensational appeals 10 the passions and |
"rejudices of the "grOundling.' He |
based the adv cacy of his iniOns on |
reason and argument, and when in the !
full V'gOr If youth, aud before disease |
md sorrow had checke mot weakened |
b s pOWer|,-I do no more than Justice |
O truth, when / say that as an advn-
cate o: the principles VIII jch he cherish !
ed. he had but few equals. lie was
C ear in the statement ct his Gaze, ear |
nest and strong in its advocacy, well |
versed in the history of lubIic events, |
endowed with wonderful memory, !
and when his soul was stirred to its full |
measure, he could pour fourth streams |
of elOquence, such as touched the |
hearts and moved the souls of his hear
erS. l have said he was nOdemagogue. |
He neither hat. u nor envied the rich |
or the great. Wi b pure heart and a
well balanced judgment, he C 'uId hold |
even Justice TO all. But while this !
was so, woe be to the man with whom |
he had to deal, who endeavored, on |
account of superior station, or wealth, to |
place the loot of oppression and |
injustice on the neck of the |
less fortunate and worthy poor
On such occasions he possessed the |
ab .lIty. the will and the courage to lash |
the offender for his assurance, and |
most skillfully and powerfully did he |
apply the castigatiOn.
AS lawyer, Major Thompson was
we'll ver>ed in the great principles of
the profession, and had, evidently, a !
clear and comprehensive knowledge of
its structure and principles. The same !
traits of character and mind Of which |
have already spoken, made him i'll |
the DAYS of his health and manhood, a |
formidable adversary at the bar. IN |
that department of the law the nOblest |
of them all, aud the field best adapted |
to the display of those high and noble |
traits of mind and heart which cOnsti- |
tute the truly great lawyer, and which |
Is so ably administered in your HonOr's |
court, he stood deservedly high. Here |
was the field where more frequently, !
shOne those high traits which dislin- |
guished him as a lawyer Here he |
brought to bear argument, wit and elO- |
uuence, to a degree seldom seen or |
heard, and in this court he displayed |
that great and ruling trait of his ma
ture. charity, which forbade that he |
should ever turn deaf ear to the ac-
cused, however poor or unfortunate. !
of a weak frame and unused !
to toll, he was q man of wonderful |
power of endurance, which was man.
ifest Oh most all occasions, but which
was more particularly noticeable in
the dangers and sufferings through
which he was called to pass in the per
ilous track of war. In camp, in pris-
OH, on the march Or-amid the rage OF
battle, bis spirit never tagged, and even
when suffering, fatigue and sick
ness had nearly borne down and over
come his frail body, his ever active
spirit was at work, and mirth and hope
and joy We're ever present. He was in
war as in peace, true to his profession,
and has gone to join again his fellow
comrades.
"The mufied drums sad roll has beat
The soldiers last tattoo,
No more on LIES parade shall meet
That brave and fallen few.
On fame's eternal camping ground,
Then silent tents are spread
And glory guards with solemn round