The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-03-18
CITY NEWS.


Meeting of the Bar OF the suprem
Court of Appeals to Commemsrat
the Death OF the late Judge wiIIiar
T. Joynes.
A large meeting of the Bar of the coul
Of appeals was held in the courtroom
this morning, at 109 o'clock, in memoir
Of Judge VIM. T. Joynes, late membe
of the bench of said court.
On motion, Mr.. Peachy r. Grattan wa
called to the chair, and Major Rober
Styles requested to act as secretary.
On motion of VIM. A. Maury, esq.,, tn
chair appointed committee of seven t
report suitable resolutions for the consid
Grafton of the meeting. The following
were appointed: VIM. A. Maury, VIM
Green, Governor Wise, Charles L. Mosby
Judge VIM. w. Crump, Judge John A
Meredith, and A. Austin Smith, who
Maury, their chairman, the following reso.
lutions:
4 Virginia, while yet in sorrow over thu
loss. of many of her tried and trusted sons
is again summoned to turn aside from the
work of raising her PROSTATE images and
mending her broken fortunes to lift up her
voice in lamentstion at the grave Of Will
liam Thomas Joynes, another Of her sons,
who was stricken down by disease while in
the fullness of his strength and in the very
noon-tide Of his usefulness.
To be bereft, within brief space
of time, of sucn men of counsel and of
wisdom were calamity to any state in
the zenith of its prosperity and power, but
how grievous an affection, how irrepara-
BILE a calamity is their taking off to a peo-
pie in our condition, who stand amid the
appalling ruins of their institutions, and
whose salvation lies in the wisdom and
conduct of their rulers and chief men.
A man great in the law and
great on the judgment seat has gone
from us forever, and when we contemplate
the learning he had garnered and the range
and vigor Of his intellect, it is no exaggera-
ton to say that in the overthrow Of his
powers the jurisprudence of the United
States sustained loss which will not be
soon repaired.
Seldom does it occur that an individual
has been called to the bench from whom
more was expected than from William
Thomas Joynes when he became Judge
of the supreme court of appeals of Vir-
ginia and seldom is it that in long
service, expectations so large have
been SO fully gratified as they were
by him in his brief but
distinguished Judicial career. We, the wit
nesses of his labors, stand here to attest
with mingled pride and sorrow the faithful
ness and ability with which he discharged
his judicial trust.
His mind staggered not under the weight
Of its acquisitions. Its power of thought
was not impaired by erudition. Combined
with his learning, he had the valuable en-
dowment OF common sense, q capacity for
business, and o practical turn which were
not to be looked for in one so devoted TO
study.
His quick and active mind, with its
immense resources, ever at command
and ready for efficient service, rendered
him invaluable as a member of the court
Of appeals. And his withdrawal from the
bench was made the occasion by bis col
leagues and by the General Assembly of
Virginia for giving formal expression to
their sense of the loss which the public |
service had sustained.
Nothing contributed more to his emil
nence as q Judge than his ardent love of
justice and his unfagging industry to dis
cover on which side Of question it lay.
His style was terse, clear, direct, !
and appropriate to the judicial station.
He was marked by scrupulous integri-
ty. No man who had so much to be proud |
Of was ever more affable, gentle or kindly
none freer from ostentation-a he had |
a modest and manly bearing, which avouch-
ed the greatness that dwelt within him.
Seemly, then, is it for Virginia, whom |
he served and illustrated, to pour forth her |
over his tomb therefore,
Resolved, Thatit is with profound sor-
row we have learned of the death of Will
liam Thomas Joynes that we shall |
always cherish an affectionate remem-
brance of his great abilities, his distn-
guished career at the bar, his |
eminent services on the bench, his unblem-
shed character. and his. genial and unaf-
fected manners.
2. That we deeply sympathize with his
afflicted family.
8. That we will wear the usual badge of
for thirty days.
4. That the chairman of this meeting be
and he is hereby requested to move the
supreme court of appeals to order the afore-
going preamble and resolutions to be en-
tered in the minutes of the said court.
s. That the chairman of this meeting be
and he is hereby requested to send copy
Of the preamble and resolutions aforegoing
ID the family Of the deceased.
Feeling tributes to the memory of the
deceased were paid BY Judge Crump, Mr..
Mostly, Mr.. Green, General Wise and Mr..
Kelley, after which the meeting adjourned.
Upon the assembling of the court Mr..
Grattan presented the resolutions, which,
after q most eloquent and feeling tribute
paid to the memory of Judge JoYnes by
Judge Moncure, on behalf Of the court,
the proceedings and resolutions were
ordered to be spread upon the records Of
the court, and as farther mark of re-
spect the court adjourned till tomorrow
at - o'clock.
THE VIRGINIA OPERA-HoUsE was
crowded last night, to witness the play Of |
Robert Emmett" by the Magill Literary
and Dramatic union. The play was
well put upon the boards, and the differ
emit characters admirably represented. The
large audience were most agreeably enter
tanned, and we can in truth say the Magills
contain some excellent dramatic talent.