The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-04-29
HOYT g. CO., Proprietors.

graduate of Harvard and New Englander.
have likewise stated that he was ever loyal tt
the State of his adoption and home. But be
was not like some Northern men, who protesseo
to be more Southern in their views, than the
people of the South themselves. Preslden'
johnson once made q remark, which heartily
endorsed Speaking of some Northern man
who had come South, and was great "hre
eater" he said, "damn a yankee who processes
to be more of Southern man than am
Chancellor Dunkin, in his love and devotion
to South Carolina never undertook to deny the
instincts of his heart, and the instincts of every
honorable mans heart, for the home of his
birth and youth. Whilst on the Western Cir
cult be received letter from Mr.. Edward
Everett his class mate in the Harvard Univer.
sity, urging him in very warm terms to attend
the celebration of II think) the fiftieth ami
versary of their graduation. He showed me
the letter, and he seemed delighted with it.
All the associations of his youth and college
life seemed to be revived in his memory and
heart. He was fond of good joke and seemed
to enjoy it much, but seldom saw him indulge
in hearty laugh at any thing.
The State Reports, embodying his decisions
for thirty years, are an enduring monument OF
his fame and ability as Judge. The judicial
opinions of no Judge in South Carolina were
written with more marked ability, or in better
taste. His style was admirable, and his judg-
ment was always sustained by authorities and
learning.
In person, Chancellor Dunkin was fine
looking gentleman, rather over the ordinary
height, and remarkably erect in old age: His
manners were digni6ed and refined. On the
Bench, although punctilious, he was courteous
and civil to the Bar and every one. He never
for moment INDUCED in any petty tyranny,
or coarse rudeness. He was gentleman by
birth, education, association and nature; and
he never forgot the respect due from one gen.
tleman 10 another, under any circumstances.
He always exercised great patience in listening
to the argument of case, no matter how dull
and heavy it might be- No one dared to talk
to him, off the Bench, about Tie cases in
Court.
I have said his DEGREES were always we'll
written and sustained by the citation OF author
tiles, as we'll as logical reasoning | be-
lieve I remember only one exception. filed a
bill in the Court at Anderson, 70 set aside a
marriage as fraudulent, null and void. In a
fit of delirium tremens, an old bachelor of con-
siderable property, sent off for woman in the
neighborhood and married her. He gave as a
reason that his clock had told him that if he
did not marry her forthwith, heswould die that
evening. He remained all night madman
and never went to bed. The woman went off,
and CAME back the next day, when his fit had
passed over, and he refused to let her enter his
house. There had never been any intimacy
between them. I made an elaborate argument
in the case, and cited good many cases. Gen.
Thompson and Judge Reed, also argued the
case with me, and Judge Whitner and Gov:
Orr were on the other side. We all expected
long and learned decree. The Chancellor
took all the papers with him, and after keeping
them two or three months, sent mis- decree in
the following words: "In this case, the bill is
dismissed, B. F. Dunkin." Very short, clear
and explicit, but surely neither elaborate, logi.
cal or learned in its conclusion, or reasoning
If there had been any wisdom, or decency in
the Legislature, after reconstruction, Chief
Justice Dunkin, so eminent for his learning
and ability, would have been retained in his
high Office. But he was thrown aside to make
room, as all the other Judges were, for those
who were willing to barter principles for office.
1t is to be hoped that this will not continue
longer than the next session of the Legislature,
and that learning and responsibility will then
be preferred to ignorance, low breeding and
vulgar tyranny.