The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-04-22
Capt. Clark said

Nag. 10 please the Court - This court is
already apprised that death has again in
vaded our ranks and taken from us brother
distinguished for many years in the Walks
of our profession. True to the popular IN
stinet which has been moulded into an
adage, he has passed by many OF us, whose
taking of would scarce have produced
ripple upon the surface Of events 1nd mas
aimed his dart at g shining MARI, WHOSE
fall, like the great oak OF the forest, re-
sounds far and near, and whose towering
trunk and lofty branches can De replaced
but bv a century. His brethren OF the bar,
moved nv considerations of respect for his
professional learning and incorruptible in
teOritv as a faithful counsellor of this court,
and sympathizing deeply with his family il
the sore affection which has come upon
them, have come together in fraternal meet
ing for the purpose Of giving lasting ex-
preston to their sentiments and of having
them properly peTpctuated upon the records
of this court. The duty of presenting their
action and request has been devolved, in
part, upon myself, in discharging which it
is not my purpose to enter into an extended
eulogium of the distinguished dead. II
such eulogiuu be necessary, there sits by
my side one of the fathers of the bar, who,
together with the deceased, has grown gray
in the practice of the law at this bar; who
is thoroughly conversant with the incidents
Of his whole professional career; has known
him long and loved him well, and to whom
has been more fittingly coRfded the duty
Of speaking at length the praises due our
deceased brother.
But, really, Mr.. Hamilton needs no eulogy
here. That eulogy was more elOquently
spoken yesterday in yonder Capitol, when
the whole population Of a grieved city, in
which he had spent the best years of his
life, came together with fearful eyes around
his bier, without regard to age or sex, to
race or condition, and silently and mourn
fully followed his remains to their last rest
ing place. The language OF such acts is
more potent than mere words in truthfully
delineating the virtues of the dead, and the
place he occupied in the affection and
esteem of his neighbors and friends.
The grave has claimed him for its own,
and his faults, If any he had, are there
buried. Loving hands may soon rear over
him the polished mausoleum, but his true
and lasting monument has already been
fashioned and reared with his own hands,
For thirty years he has been a-counsellor of
this court, during which time proud edi-
flee Of jurisprudence has been reared here,
where before all was confusion, uncer-
tainty, distress, ana necessarily injustice.
Side by side with the great law
yers Of Texas, who have gone before
him, he stood as co-labOrer in the deli
cate and difficult work, and to-day upon
almost every stone thereof is impressed the
character of his genius. The marble may
crumble and tradition even pass into OBJ
security and forgetfulness, but ages hence
the lawyers of Texas will know that he
lived and acted no obscure part in the
gigantic legal contests of his time. To inn
press himself upon the jurisprudence of his
country should fill the measure of any
lawyers ambition, and this our brother did
to an eminent degree.
But l will detain the court no longer. In
behalf Of my brethren of the bar, and at
their request, offer the following resolu-
tons adopted by them on yesterday, on the
occasion Of the death of the Hon. A. j.
Hamilton, and now move the court that
these resolutions be spread upon its min
utes as an official expression Of the esteem
we entertained for the deceased while NV
ing, and the regrets we feel at his sudden
and untimelV death