The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-03-15
THE LATE R. j. DAVANT.
THE BEI UFORT BAR PAYS Il TRIBUTE
TO his MEMORY.
Remarks and Resolutions.

At a meeting oil the members Of the Beau
fort Bar, held on the llth of February, 1878,
| for the purpose OF paying becoming trleute
to the memory of their recently deceased asso.
| ciate, Mr.. Richard J. Davant, on motion OF
Mr.. W. F. Colcock, Mr.. R. DeTreville was call
ed to the chair, and Mr.. c. J. c. Hulson re-
quested to act az seer retary.
Mr.. DeTreVille explained the object Of The
| meeting In few feeling and appropriate re-
| marks, In which he alluded to his long ac'
quaintance with Mr. Davant. his great admira-
tlon for his sterling integrity, his answering
reclitude, and his rigid adherence to the path
of duty under all circumstances, both IN his
public and private life. MFR. DeTrevlle said
II Mr.. Davant had any fault, it was that he
was too rigid in the discharge OF his duties.
He further said that IL was meet that the
bar, of which he was 30 long an able member,
should express their appreciation of his many
virtues, and should pass appropriate resolu.
tiobs Ia token of their sorrow In his death,
and their heartfelt sympathy with his oereaVed
family.
Mr.. W. F. Colcock then rose and said:
Mr. Chairman Richard j. Davant Is dead.
How strange. how cad, how solemn do these
words fall on our ears, and with what Icy
coIdness do they touch onr hearts. There Ia
| feeling within us that almost prompts us TO
pxclaiSn, "Oh 1t Is not, II cannot be 80 ! Has
death Indeed robbed us of our friend? Will
we neve; again behold those llneaments
which are 80 freshly daguerreotyped oh our
| memories? Will we never more near tnat
voice, whose echoes have scarcely died away
within these walls, Is that form which but
! little while ago filed that seat now EMBODIED In
| the cerements of the gravew Alas alas
The answering voice Of the sepulchre pro-
claims, s'Yes. he is here Death is the con-
querer and the victory Ia mine!"
Awaking to the conviction OF this sad reality
we accept with bleeding hearts the mournfnl
truth, and bowling with submission TO the
decree which separates us from our brother,
we seek for consolation In the sweet retrospect
| of his virtues snd his worth. He was, Indeed,
a good man, loving mercy, doing justice, and
walking hum oily before God. To all Of us his
death is deep affection. To me II ls su-
preme personal bereavement, Tor we nave
seen kni: together for nearly half century
10 the closest ties oil brotherhood. In 1925 we
commenced the study of the law together In
the Village OF Coosawhatchie, then the county
seat of iustlce There the tree of our friend.
ship was planted; there it put for h Its tender
leaves in our youth, blossomed IN our man.
hood, and spread its verdant foliage over our
heads In our old age. Few-may not say
none-outside that sac ed clrc.e which en-
shrined him. knew him better or loved him
more; and, In this sad hour, 1t Is my pride and
pleasure to say that during all that time not
an unkind word ever passed between US o
momentary shadow ever ecllpsed the sunshine
of our love. 1 gave him all my heart. and
received his In return. OF deep convictions,
earnest nature. and independent thought,
be examined, weighed and decided every
thing for himself. And it was an honor to be
numbered among his friends. An oVershad-
owing sorrow has belallen us, Mr.. Chairman,
aud would say 10 each of our mourning
friends
ssOh, faint not In a world like his,
And thou shall know ere long,
Know how sublime a thing 1t Is
TO suffer and be strong"
II beg leave to offer the following preamble
and resolutions
Death has again invaded our ranks, and on
other toiler sleeps by the waysde When
this great enemy sends his herads 10 advance,
and sickness, disease and lingering decay an-
nounce his approach, we are In some meas
ure prepared for his coming; but when ne
steps suddenly into our midst, without nole or
warning, and strikes down his victim, we
then realize that he is indeed The king OF
Terrors." Such has been his recent work
amongst us !! 1t seems but as yesterday mat
full enjoyment OF all his faculties, and actively
engaged with his accustomed diligence IN the
duties OF his profession, and to-day he is num-
be-ed with the dead WHAT commentary
upon the uncertainty of life, aud what loud
warning to us al! But II we, like him, are
! ready for the summons, "beter is the day OF
our death than the day of our BIRTH"
Richard James Davant was born on Hilton
Head. in the District OF Beaufort, on the 22d
June. 1905. He was educated at home among
the friends and companions OF his boyhood
and bis youth. and in 1925 he entered the law
Office of the late Judge William D. Martin,
and was admitted 10 The bar In 1927. Ia 1883,
at the early age OF twenty-elghi, ne was
elected by the Legislature 10 tne Important
and responsible office OF commissioner In
equity, which office he continued to hold for
thlrty-one consecutive years. when 10 1864 he
declined reelection. In 1869 the Port Royal
Railroad was chartered, ,.and soon alter, though
then filling the office OF commissioner IN
equity, Mr.. Davant was solicited bv the irends
OF that enterprise to accept the ONCE OF pres.
ident, which he filed until 1866, when he
resigned. In 1864 he was appointed one
of the board Of visitors Of the State Mill
tary Academy, and WAS elected by his aseo-
ciates 10 preside as their chairman. In 1865
the parish system OF representation was
abolished, and Instead Of four senators from
Beaufort District only one was to be elected.
H..
fll this honorable and responsible position,
and held 1t until the adoption OF the new con-
slltution.
II will thus be seen by this brief sketch that
our lamenled friend was marked Immediate
ly as he assumed the obligations of manhood
as one whom his country and his friends
needed for duty. And well and faithfully did
he perform every task that was ever assigned
him. or clear and vigorous Intellect, sound
Judgment, unspotted Integrity and unwearied
Industry, he accomplished all he undertook
with eminent success, and has lett behind
him, as q public man, name which will be
ever honOred and cherished by his fellow
citizens.
Aud now when we turn to the contem-
patlon of his character and private life
we see there every thing 10 love, admire
and respect. United from early life
10 those holy ties which alike bless and conse-
crae life, he enjoyed an unusual share of do
meslic happiness a1d peace. Surrounded by
a large and devoted family, his home was the
| or him 1t may be truly said that hospitality
stood porter at his door, AS q husband,
father. friend and neighbor, he Illustrated,
| with exemplary fidelity, every virtue which
can adorn these endearlUg relations OF life.
Con(esslng, from IN early age, his Saviour be-
| fore men, he added 10 all these the croWning
graces OF the Christian character.
Last OF all, 1t was here in our midst that
| we, who are now assembled TO lay our hum
| BILE offerings on bis tomb. knew him best and
mourn him most. As member OF our noble
profession he did everything 10 elevate it's
| character, preserve Its purity, and maintain
| It's influence. Learned In the law, liberal In
practice, true to his client, yet generous to