The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-04-05
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"REMINISCENCES OF PUBLIC MEN.
BY EX-GOVERNOR PERRY.
FRANKLIN J. MOSES.


: FRANKLIN J. MOSES:
The late Chief Justice Moses and my
self we're admitted to the Bar in Equity
at the same time. he had been admit
ted to practice in the Court Of Law twelve
months, befose3 ri was admitted in both
j, courts at the same time. i met him soon.
afterwards in q Union Convention in
Columbia. He was then Union man I;
but one night made speech which dis
pleased hisaTU Union friends very7much:
Gov. Manning, the father of the8present
ex-Gov. Manning, was member of this
Union Convention from the same district
of Sumter, had a conversation with
Moses after the convention sadjourned,E 4
and repreved him for This speech. Z; Ehe
next morning Moses came into the con-
yention,' made an explanation, and was
received back. into full fellowship, as q
Union man., / have freqpently thought
since that this. speech characterized the
man in after life. He was wanting In
:: boldnesS and decision of characteI. and
afraid to take any step for fear'of the
consequences. cas-. -x,x x.aas]
- CHIEF justice moses rose very FapIuty
at the. Bar, aud soon. had q commanding
practice, He vas on, on, of the most in
dustrious and sindefaigable lawyers [
ever knew. He had great tact, too, in
getting business, and had one side or the
other Of almost every case at his court.
No one ever charged him with want of
I, zeal or ability in the prosecution or de-
fence OF. his cases. He was well read In
his profession. Whilst I was Provisional
Z Governor, Moses applied for the Office of
= District Judge of the United States for
South Carolina, and / endorsed his applits:
cation in; very strong terms for learning
ability and industry. But before has ap-
plication was acted On by the President
heawas elected one Of the circuit judges
of the State. He had been an applicant
for theofiee-ef district judge under the
Confederate government, and the ap-
pointment was given to myself, by Presi-
dent Davis, on the. rec0mne nendation OF
my, friends in the Legislature. ..;.If.
~ Whilst quite a.yGuug man; Chief JUS
tice Moses was, elected t0'the State Sen
ate; and continued to be:re-e elected for Is
or is years in succession. He was a
very strong man in the Senate, and spoke
well and often. He seldom let any qnes-
ton pass without expressing his views on
it. | served with him, four years in the
! State, Senate. .uI remember consulting
him, once, about some matter which was
coming2.1up in the Senate, and he ex-
pressed himself decidly with me. But
the next day he voted against, the meas
!. ,ure 1 advocated, and I said to him he
had, deceived me once, but would lneyer
have an opportunity. of doing so again.
He had great tact in finding out the pop
ular breeze, and, would never let it blow
in his face long. He made great mis-
take. however, when he permitted his son
to have him elected Chief Justice by the
Radical party. His son was, at that
time, Speaker of the House of Represen-
tatives, and all powerful with the mem
bers. :, Judge Moses was confident: that
the, whole State would be Radical I'M q
:, very. short time, that. there would be;a
j general ,tumble-over ofsthe Democracy,
and q race for Office under the new Ire
gime: rHesthought that he was only get
ting ahead of his Democratic associates.
When he saw himself deserted by all the
decent people of the State, and some of
his own kindred, he wept like child, as
!. i have been informed. I never spoke to
him after he went on the Radical Bench
as Chief Justice. I was present in the
Supreme Court when he first took his
seat there. !
He called to see me at Mr.. Janney's
residence, after his hopeful son had
Joined the Radical party, and spoke of
, hisgcourse with regret. Hessaid ,aahow-
ever, that his son had peculiar Eiews of
his own in reference to. the, matter. /
thought he intimated that his son went
over for the purpose of controlling the
party in the true Interests of the State.
This was the cry Of every corrupt scoun-
drel who deserted his colors and turned
traitor to his State and principles. They
were all for the good Of their country
Like the Dutch mistress Of George the
First of Great Britain.
I have no doubt that Chief Justice
Moses death sas occasipned by bis dis
tress;of. mind. s.Hewassagonized between
doing his duty and crushing the party
which had honored him. He was natu-
rally kind-hearted, and wanting in firm
ness. he loved Office, and yet he wished
to have the respect of gentlemen. /
have no doubt he cordially detested, in
his heart, the corrupt and vulgar scoun-
drels who surrounded him, and had be-
come his associates, He had been de-
nounced and put in conyentry by thell
DemocrahT and was: then being scorned
and hated By the Radicals!
Judge Moses made very able and fair
circuit Judge. He despatched the bust
ness ofthe. court promptly and with great
innpartiality. I never heard any COM
plant of him on the circuit bench. Nor
do know of any impropriety in his
opinions on the supreme bench. He had
senseienough to know that hee could only
acquire reputation, as o Judge, by fairness
and impartiality, and he loved reputation
dearly. He was not made, of that,stuf
which defed public opinion in doing a
base act. Boldness and insensibility are
necessary for that purpose, and rhe did
dot ypossesS Seither of. Iitbasel Qualities.
Sensibility was his yirtuea and the want
of courage his misfortune. They have
keptmany man from being afHillain. i
Chief. .JusticeeMese was,.;a social and1
cordial companion, and-a man Of great
hospitality. He lived in,handsome style, !
and likedvto entertain his friends, l.
ioncs visited him With / party Of friends,
and spent day or two with him and his |
family by invitation. q We were treated
with great Kindness by him and. his lady,
who vas d member Of the Presbyterian |
Church, and cousin Of Chancellor Job
Johnston. The Jews have q fondness for
silver all over, the world, and the. Chief
Justice had this national trait in very
great degree. do not know that I ever
saw more silver ID q private gentleman's
residence than II say: at the Chief JUS
tees, Who IaES'etth Vas then, e. however, only a
Senator and a lawyer, :" j. -.
20 The voice Of Judge Moses in debate
d was remarkable. Il never heard anything
70 e<,..al e IN a;scnrd and knrshness ax-