Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-05-31
Tie Late f. L. Smith.

late T. l.. Smith, esq.,, to the Circuit Cou1' VI
the Corporation -
We are called upon to mourn the loss OF
good man, and to pay tribute to the virtues
and ability of one of the most honcred OF our
profession. Since the close of the war death
has been very busy with our little circle, aud
in this, as in other cases has been true to his
traditional love for shining mark.
1t is not my purpose to make use OF tins SAD
d,nensation as 40 occasion for iodugag 10
formal eulogy or high sounding l'anegyric--
such pcrvcrson OF the proprlehes Ut TINS
memorial hour would be more than useless and
scarcely less than sacriise. The occasion Is too
solcmn-too sacred to BE- dtstcrated ny nn
meaning rhetoric riulsomc adu!ailon. Dcatn
death has stu!kcd iuto our midst, laiu his ICY
hand upon the proudcSt form OF you Az anu
horne him aIong his terrible way-aud We
ri! never again sec the familiar face 10 the
81 t the living But memory will preserve
..na T.. IS OF that County presence, the tones
"1' .u' Liza, voice, the beulgulty OF that KIDD
VI u,ti Fnfs', ric OF that genial sympathy,
y SUM ;i's irAa >etige intellect, the type of
tnI a'no.iJI h y. -. ,bo example OF a blamclcss
rt''eSS'1'h ho n M"wrr ofa IDLY and God
be- praised for the gilt OF NJ ~oi, .nt SauJ
NAV which cnshrueS, and the III 'ouuisut "''.u
will pcrpctuate the graces and Vi. 'o'' u Jul
loved and lv5t brother too3.5
Whan was 4 youth occasionally att :uueu
III, sessions Of the Uoiled States C!rcuiI w.
far the j,0uu,? Of Alexandria, held 10 his c'iy'
|, MAS here that | first kuew Mr.. Smltb. ne
VA, ,hcn in the pride OF his manhp7a aoa ~
1h,, yipor Of hi1 lnteec;. AZ the aSSo2iate AUG
comnct!tcr of " alter Jones' James ~ C,rHS'r'
joseph H. Bradley, Philip Il. Kendall ilehIy
Winter Davis aud others --lUr there were S!an!s
in those dars-hc was distinguished tor hiS
manly craccs, professional Devotion. sunil"
reasoning and persuasive elUqueucr. WITH the
s,l reliance OF prOIound cOnvctOc DOT YET
f,,r,a NV that experience which teaches dis
,,,i.r nt ali LEGAL conclusions, h" WAS u1l1 WITH
~; ,inrmati>ln, and aggressive without trileil
~. !! were called upon 10 state what con
silercd the striking characteristic 81 Alr. Nmlih
-. l,yvcr should say that II was tie power al
anrrchcndine the Whole strength aud iorta ol ms
I,, Of Tie cas-, aui the faculty OF lgu'ring the
,ireus,n and force ut the other SIDE. ihe
s,rcn.th OF the adversary never s!oaS MS con
i1cuce or embarrassed ms clfort'. lll4 oe!'cl
III ina ,,,.. :nouutGd u all cnttluSliSln-ne De-
,i.vn! 81. let all that I've said, ani The
rn;,rn,.;,,. 81 his convictions forced them upon
a;l.r- and it Was because oi this llct III Ills
cl,-,n,, .,rumeuts were always So dangerous 10
Lic nnnoupnt \ enc vino I.ratticei with Mf.
Su,,ir ruf,i fail t., b. struck 10y the zeal ana
ardor ,yairh charartcrIz3 I'd his arrangement y! d
ease. the ingenuity with winch lie Concealed
the weakness OF hisnwn slide, ana The m"rcl!eSs
c,ilici%u with which lie exposed The wcaSucs:'
Of the other side. lie always becair" thorough
IL identified with his cause, aud |ich defeated,
although the dgolty at his reslsnatioo dis
armed the spirit OF rEuall"n when inc uefcc-
ness If the contest naturally tnsplrcu' Yet he
.yas not abIc to disguise the fast ihat h" Lett
that truth aud justice did not always prcSal;.
iVitb such fidelity, skill and energy, II Is n3t
surnrisjpg that Mr.. Smith was successful
LAWYER: succcssiul in being admitted 10 the
front ruuk of his profession; successful III reap
n. ,La ,fun substantial rewards CT his tncrlt.
Rnt time does rot permit inc to dwell upon The
,,rrfcs.;,on! uIaiiivS vi the lamCntCd deceased.
now turn to cOolcmp late him 10 those rela:
tlDus aud qualities in which he was model. l
had almost said mlracl"
As husband father, FREUD, gentleman, h
had ~ superior, and where shall We hntl MS
oacr? Though ii0t intimately acquainted with
MIR. Smith in the most sacred OF these relations,
| should have been unob5oryant Indeed II had
not sect enough Of his domestic virtues 10 coul'
,nand NY most profound respect aud Inspire
my most ardent admiration.
4 husband Of two score years. win Ill Tic
tenderness and devotion OF bridegroom, a
father Of sons and daug grown to maturity,
vet cherished in the patorna heart with Joy is
rroui and cyta,ic as when it thrilled TO the natal
rry of his first bora i friend, whose conrtn-
Dus intimacy never degcneratci into vulgar IA
miIiarl!y, aud 4 gentleman whom no emergency,
h0wcyrr uncxHrctcd or surprising, could aiartie
from The most exemplary proprlety
il Is, alas, too often the case that 10 speaking
If cur departed friends that while comllcm"r'
ating their virtues we arc compelled to draw
veil aver their iraiitcs, to offset that which eau
not be excused by cuumCratlng some excellence
with which it was associated. We speak Of i
brilliant Intellect which might have blazad with
glory bat for some appetite or pasSloo which
couded or paralyz,d it, and thus we set OIL! that
which We dcplore by contrasting 1t with what
all must admire.
But io;thc case of him whom We now honor
there is 10 such painful necessity fer contrast
or COMPARISON. lie was wise man, without
gotism brave man without vauutiug; good
~, without oslcntation, aud whether We cjn
, ,I,n, ate him as q gentleman, lawyer or
o;, "p, dctraction stauds hushed 10 the pres
onon 81 s pure and spc;cSS htc, and simple
;nst;co pro ethcs his memory IN garlands OF
." n.nt, and fragrance, all flWcrS un-
mingled with Z single thorn -.
ri uhaI . her. tage Of houor has this good
,o T" w. %;s hcr, >aved family What au cx-
am,lo hos u, srt 70 !, SO every orc oil us-ln
Ihn m'anrrr If hi. Twin g, aud IN his faith, by
"' You i" young " men, in t. w visoG Of youth or
pride Of manhood, ambilio. ~ Of that success 10
your profession, which is tie result Of honor.
able emulation, that dsdain o stoop 10 lr' re
or chance behold in our dcpal tea brother the
i,upersopatiou OF your tondcst deal; ana you
morc advanced 10 life who VIC Nd wear me
honors you have achieved with that grace "nca
catches radiance from the inner lie ma win
Christ in God, hcarken to the word Oh hnIy
courage, which he, though dead, still 5. oe"Ae'h
unto you
c,ssinn, | confess that am carried away win
my theme. which invites ue to trespaSS bcy0Hu
the Imjtc! .ilne allowed me, but must torbt ar
10 deprive others of the opportunity OF les
1nnninr with their richer garlanls the TOMB Oi