Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-08-14
Mtisesllaneons. q
Nye as Judge.

A STORY OF NEvADA's EX-SENATOR.
When James w. Nye was a very
young man, not more than thirty, he
was appointed one of the Common
Pleas Judges for his native county
Madison, n. T., and gave great salts
faction by his popular manners, per-
sonal courage, and large humanities.
Nye was always favorite with the
old Democratic leaders Of the Empire.
especially with Martin Van Buren, and
William L. Marcy. Although an ex-
treme Democratic partisan, his ready
humor and instructive generosity made
him the center of 4 considerable fol-
lowing. Few men surpassed him in
private conversation OF public speak
ing, as those who enjoyed his society
and heard his speeches during the war
| need not be reminded. But TO the in
CT dent | intended to relate: When
he became judge Of the Madison
courts, he one day visited the county
| prison in the character of an inspector,
and was surprised to find among the
inmates q lad of twelve or thirteen
| years Of age, sent there to wait his
trial on a charge Of theft. Struck by
his youthful appearance, he aske4 him
whether he was guilty of the charge
laid against him, TO which the boy at
once replied in the affirmative. He
said his father and mother were mis-
erably poor, and that in desperation he
had broken into corner crib and sup
| ptied the family with corn. Believing
from the lads manner that he was
worthy Of being reclaimed, he called
on nelghbor and had him bailcd out
TO make his appearance At court. At
the opening of the sessions the lad and
his surety We're on hand, and the
young Judge appealed to the district
Attorney TO enter mol. pros. which
that officer sternly declined on the
/ ground that the accused had confess
! ed his guilt, and that the ends of JUS
/ tic must be vindicatcd We'll. then,
said judge Nyc, Il will state the facts
to the jury and take the responsibility. -
The jury was impanelcd, and the
case came on, and the District Attorn.
ey presented the facts with much feel
ing, after which the Judge said that he
would simply state what he knew OF
the case, without calling counsel for
the defense. Amer relating what he
had heard in the jail from the lips of
the boy and you may be sure he did
his best TO correct the emphatic pre-
sentation of the officer Of the law he
turned u the jury box and declared
that he did not believe there was a
man of the twelve that could coolly
! Diasteu reputation oiiU u,,I.. = - : =
/ and heartless world.
1t IS needless to say that an lnstau-
taneous acquital followed. After the
| adjournment of the court the Judge
sent for the boy and fonnd that he and
his parents were very destitute, but
that he was naturally bright and in
1 telligent, ambitious TO learn, in good
health, and had previously borne an
/ excellent character. GOV. Marcy was
i at that time Secretary Of war under
/ President James X. Polk. 70 him,
! therefore, as one Of his closest friends.
whose lead he had followed III the
Democratic party from his first vote,
| Judge Nye wrote letter relating the
/ story as hayc tried to tell it, and ask
! lng h,m To secure for the lad the ap-
/ polntment OF cadet at the military
| academy. In answer, Coy. Marcy
said that he regretted his inability u
comply with this request ; that the pos
sible vacancies at West Point had
/ been filed IN advance both by the
| Congressman and the President from
| his list at large but that he had it in
his power to send him to the Naval
Academy at Annapolis. The lad WAS
| accordingly entered among the &, v
! tes OF that admirable institution, and
by good conduct and close application,
rose rapidly III the service. During
the war he was one of the ablest of
Admiral Farragut's captains and it
was always very agreeable TO sit by
and hear Nye, who himself grew
| rapidly IN the esteem and confidence
ofhls country, relate this simple story,
and especially the success which had
crowded his efforts to save his protege
| from life of shame and set him for
ward in the path of honorable distinc-
ton. The rescued boy became in af-
ter years a brave and brilliant, sea
man, and Nye grew from q country
judge to Governor of Nevada in 1851,
and then Senator in Congress when
the Territory became a State, begin
ming his term 1860 and closing it in
1873. So that it may be said that in
this case at least the best way to help
oneself is to help our fellow creatures.
-F0raeys "reminiscences.