The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-01-16

ginia. He was the mover in the convention of
1887 to adopt the present Federal Constitution
On his grandmoIher's side he was descended
from the famous Col. Archibald Cary.
Born in Cumberland county, Virginia. the boy
hood OF our Randol phi was passed with the or
binary Incidents Of farm life and country school.
At the age OF seventeen he went to tho Military
Academy at West Point, whore the climate prov
ing too severe, he remained but one session.
Among his classmates was Jubal A. Early,
since distinguished as lieutenant general in the
Confederate army. Returning to Virginia at the
age Of eighteen, young Randolph began the study
OF law with his uncle. Judge William Randolph.
As soon as he had finished his studies, with the
enterprise of his race, he removed to Tallahassee,
Florida, and began the practice of law. Here he
remained for several years. During that time he
took an active part in the political contests Of
Florida. 1t was there he was married to Mise
Mar Pitts, of Bardstown, Kentucky, the niece
OF William n. Lambeth, at that time one Of the
most prominent merchants OF New Orleans.
Probably influenced by the new rels tions he had
assumed, he came to this city in 1S4l. In 1872,
we find him reporter Of the decisions of the Su-
preme Court, position he Continued to Till for
four years.
In 1856 Mr.. Randolph retired from the practice
OF his profession, with an independence secured
by his own efforts, and betook himself to the &C.
cupation of a farmer in the State of Missouri His
fortune having been destroyed by the war, he re-
turned to the city in 1865 ana resumed his place
among us.
Wilu ulb CSbE6eI ucI6 We dTS all 1aml1df. There
has scarcely been an important suit in any court
il which he was not prominent actor. Trained
IN the school OF the common law, he was familiar
with the practice Of the United States courts in
equity, patent law, admiralty and bankruptcy.
A hard student, he had equally mastered our
civil law and State practice, and shone pre-emi-
nent among the leaders OF our courts.
AS an advocate, he was exceptionally happy
or sympathetic temperament, easily Identify
ing himself with his client, he made his hearers
faal hoo. hot foil h uD bad ,I,a
cessories Of an oratOr-the person, gesture, voice
and bearing.
Gifted with brilliant imagination and lively
creative fancy, cultivated by contact with ali
fountains OF song and fiction, his language was
rich in colOrlng as Titan, and as varied in de-
sign as Dore. No field OF reading was free
from his patient and loving search. From Plato
to Milton; from Arstophancs to Hudieras; raug-
ing through the serted tones OF history, sport
ing among the conceits of Reynard tne Fox. he
store of illustration.
Though it vas rather when he scared on the
wing OF invention, or diversified his discourse
with the recollec ions Of men and name rs, with
which his checkered career had supplied him,
that he showed to the best advantage before ju-
jures and the bench.
Yet the play Of his fancy and the glow of his
humor but served to radiate, not weaken, the
clearness of his argument, as the auroral lights
suifuse the Northern sky.
Alas how lit lie We can turn to, when the law
yer's race ia run, as monument of his fame!
The cases he has tried are stored away in the re-
ports, as TILE deeds are put in box, to be
brought FORTH now and then, by the parties in
to all the worl beside The
principles he has contributed TO settle by adjudl-
cation are accepted by his successors as things
established, WI b no concern or thought of the
power that did the work.
The clients who hung upon his words, and re.
celved their tate at his hands, pass away andsare
forgotten. New laws appear Oh the statute books
and new precedents fall from the bench The
spirit OF change which dominates in science has
possessed the domain Of law with each succee l.
ing year; the past is less valuable with us, aud
the present more lmperious Principles are less
potent, and enactments Omnipotent; so that the
learning which in times past it was essential
to wear, as the knights OF old their armor, lik.
that, seems but cumbersome in an age OF expert.
ment and invention. II this continues, as now
appears probable, in sooth the lawyer, like the
actor who frets his hour upon he stage and then
is heard no more, must accept oblivion as his
lot, when he has made his last speech and quits
the courtroom forever.
But the change has not yet gone so far with
us. The lawyer is still something more than a
memOrizer OF statutes a. d an index Of decisions
Too many examples are now with us, here in
New Orleans, of gentlemen whose talents and
requirements ara worthy OF the brightest days of
our professional history. The power OF the bar
is sti vital one. Lives devoted to the vim lea.
ton OF truth, the establishment Of justice, and
the dissemination OF correct principles 'by free
discussion. though they leave no tangible maj ks
OF their pas age, are as important in the moral
development OF the race as in the physical world
he force that upheaved the earth above the
waters, though We see its action no longer.
And the historian knows he is but half in
formed OF the causes that change society
il unacquanted with the lives OF LAWYERS
eminent IN all respects, as he was, whom we
lament to-day, If r nothing. else, the lawyer
deserves consideration for maintaining and up
holding that greatest of all our riShts-free dis.
cussion. For without absolute freedom in dis
Guessing all questions concerning the rights OF
men, whether high or low, popular or unpopular,
there is no such thing juetite. Ii public
clamor is to deter the advocate from doing hjs
duty in securing fair trial to one under the ban
OF public opinion, whether justly or unjustly,
then there is no need OF legal tribunals, and we
are relegated to the barbarism of the middle
ages.
Truth. like sparks of flint, comes out onv by
blows. II Is not easy to lind, and is often un-
recognized when found. Error and wrong die IN
sunlight. Truth basks and thrives in it. And
he alone is worthy Of respect in whatever station
he may be, who is ever ready with all bis might
to contribute to bring it to it's native element
To US who knew William Randolph, with the
blood OF soldiers and lawyers in his velns it con-
stlutes one OF his greatest claims to our admira-
ton that he never shrank from the duty he owed
to his profession. But honor as we will, and love
as VIC may, LHeIo Is 40 staying tne SLaIt from
Azraers culver.
The opening Of the courts this fall that brought
to US renewal Of our labors, found our friend
on the bed Of death, in his native state Of Vir-
ginia. By cur ,ous coincidence, the roof tree
that sheltered him was the one from which he
started when boy, to make his way in life; and
the day he was seized by the illness THAT termin-
ated his career, was the anniversary OF the one on
which he began it. 1t was the residence OF his
relative, W. s. Jones, OF vancluse, in tho Valley
of Virginia. 1t is one Of the loveliest places in
in that most lovely valley. Nesting under the
Blue Ridge, it is swept by the ripping waters of
the Rappahanncck. Near by runs the pike trod-
den 80 often in the late war by the weary feet of
the soldiers Of another modest and brave Vjr-
ginan, Stonewal Jackson. And but q little way
10 front, lis the scene of battle fought by the
sick mans classmate, Jubal Early, supper ed by
the soldiers OF Louisiana, led by another dear
friend, Gen. Harry Hays.
With all that wealth Of natural beauty about
him, and with all the association of these scenes,
one may fancy the heavy hours Of the sck-room
somewhat ightened of their burden. Recollec-
tons of his boyhood with all the vicissitudes of