Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-02-25
STERN, INFLEX1BLE, FEARLESS

Every season there fits through here from
Richmond, on his way to the Strlbllng
Springs, a slender little man witha rosy race,
light hair, and gentle blue eyes, dressed IN
old style, with shirt collar Of the pattern
that was worn in the days of the Revolu-
ton, and stoop in his shoulders that
might become seventy years, though the
Stopper is not yet forty. Fewpersons know
him, AS he unobtrusively looks to his trans
fer of baggage, and yet his name is more
widely known and respected than any
Judge in the State, if we except the re-
vered Judge MoNCURE. 1t is GUIGoN,
the famous Judge of the City Court of the
metropolis of Virginia. He was gal
liant captain OF artillery during the war,
and after it, resumed the practice of law
in Richmond. But how he ever got to be
elected Judge is a puzzle to every body that
knew him. When the first Conservative
legislature assembled in the capitol, the
CANVASS for the judgeships was fierce and
noisy. The few who knew, and were lntl-
mate with GUIGoN would have recon-
mended him for any judicial position un--
der the Government, but then so few knew
him. He wouldn't be known. Quiet, mod
est, extremely reticent, about all the popu-
lace saw of him was little sign stuck on
a dingy door: ga. B. GUIGoN, Commits
sioner in Chancery." Perhaps he would
have been there to-day, had not his part
ner, the eloquent criminal advocate, MAR
MADUKE JOHNSON, who was splendid
talker, and who knew and appreciated the
man thoroughly, determined to elect him
whether or no, for GuIGoN always refused
absolutely to turn finger towards accom-
plishing it, believing that it was beneath
the dignity of the Office to take the slight
est step towards his own election. When
he was elected he stepped into the hottest
place that could have been. found for a
lawyer, except that generally believed as
their final destination. Richmond for the
first two years was bubbling with recon-
struction excitement. Every decision Of
the court was watched by political parti-
Fans in Richmond and Washington; the
most complicated cases arising under new
State laws came into his court; scenes of
violence, even to the taking of life, were
frequent; struggles for the control OF the
city, like that CT ELLYsoN and CAHoON,
all conspired to render the position of City
Judge hardly bed of roses. But this
SToNEwALL JACKSON of Judge trod his
way fairly and fearlessly, never doing a
wrong or suffering one to pass unchecked.
His great ability was only equaled by his
absolute fearlessness. Neither the high
character nor the desperate character of
man deferred him. The half done work of
nerveless juries he completed with a strong
hand. He was open to no influence OF any
kind, and feared neither the power OF the
high nor the violence of the low, and, best
of all, was as little moved by his friends as
by his enemies. He was reelected few
days ago by the legislature, but day or
two before the election Richmond letter
writer said:
81 have not heard that Judge GUIGoM
will have any opposition. | know that
many of the legislators would like to see
him ousted, but no man can be found who
has the hardihood to oppose him, and there
is not the man in Virginia who can beat
! him."
mot the man in Virginia who can beat
him. A compliment as true as it is great.