Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1877-01-16

last time in the public records of the
State.
/ knew James White Sheffey first
IN 1852, when in the fruted and Wig
urOus period of his career he arrested
the attention of all who ever met him
in business or heard him at the bar.
From that period, covering almost a
quarter of century, / have been
thrown much in his society. until, at
the close Of the last session of this
hOdy, he returned to his home, never
more to leave it in the service of the
State.
No man who ever knew him doubt
ed that he was posses ssed of unusual
powers. He started in life poor or
phan boy, and. by rigid devotion to
the laws Of business, determined to
use opportunities conferred upon him
by friends who saw the unfolled pow
ers Of his intellect, and marked him
rs "a young man gifted with rare ca
paciliCs for success.
Rarely nave | known a man who
arose to such professional prominence
while carrying successfully so great
burden of business. In the road before
him he encountered the Abingdon and
Wythevilie bars, inferior to none in
the Common wealth. He became the
peer of any of them long before their
brightest lights had begun to grow
dim. He was energetic and selt-reli-
ant to a degree rarely eXcelled, and In
buriUus to an extent that drew down
upon al almost iron constitution, the
provoked and invincible cimeter of
death. The vast aud difficult field he
had chosen for the display Of his pow
20 a l.,
atten ton, that he strobe steadily for
ward therein, abandoning political f-
fairs TO those men who came down to
us baptized in the dust of the revolu-
ton and who made the Golden Age of
Virginia so lustrous by their abilities
and their virtues, that he was content
to leave such noble trusts to their
guardianship and keeping.
When tie great guns of 1860 awoke
our sleeping people from their long
life If prosperity and repOse, he for the
first time entered the service of the
state, In the convention which had
to grapple with that storm, he quick
ly arose to prominence.
No man ever had reason to doubt
James w. Shetfey'5 position on any
public question. He was earnest in
his search for truth, bold in its advO-
cacy and fearless in its defence. In the
war which burst upon the Held OF Nlr-
ginia he had the work of Il lifetime to
lose, but he recognized the duty of the
hour and staked all upon the result.
When the last gun had been fired and
the bleeding heroes of the Southwest
came limping and Impoverished to
their homes, pursued 10y the vicious
clements that survived the struggle,
he knew no fear, but summOnlng
those dignities of character which are
the last heritage of fallen people,
have seen him beneath the unrestrain-
ed power of those who wished TO add
humiliation to overthrow, and he was
the proud Virginian still.
In the sacred retreat of his noun
tain home his was master spirit in
the development of domestic virtue.
There to-day exist in the potential
energies Of the virtues he taught and
adorned the functiOnaries of his
executive skill and moral discipline
His unceasing labors in the last ses-
sion of this House of Delegates may
not be known to all. 1t was my for
tune to Re thrown frequently in his
society l never met him that he was
not engaged In the public business
OIIen Glu lie tel llc lllut IG" IClSOho
were aware of the constant atlliction
under which he lubored. One of his
last requests made to me On this floor
was to hold myself in readiness to ac-
cOmpauy him home to his family If
the hand of disease should become
heavier than he could bear.
1t was a beautiful morning in June
when the telegraph bore to me the sad
! intelligence that he had passed away
| from the lahors of twO-thirds of cen
| ury. Ou that bright day there was
| gloom in many a heart.
| 1t was my fortune to look within
| the lIon casket on his proud and man
| ly person aS it slept the sleep Of death.
J There was the decorOus and dignilied
| cumpcsIIre which had marked him
when he grappled with the events OF
the world. The bright eye was veiled
! aud lhe strong heart was still, but |
! did not doubt that the intrepid spirit
was at rest.
Here, To day, sir let us realize that
! This is no ordinary Vlrginian whose
memory We honor and whose death
we mourn. 1t is solemn service that
reminds us of th9 sword which, at nc
distant day will surely again fall in ouI
midst, and though we may shuddel
mt the thought let us learn from the
record we to-day revive that it may
fall on figure so polished by the du'
ties of life that it can work no injury
to the name. it bears or the spirit ii
Mr.. shannon moved that the reso
lutions be communicated to the SEN
ate which was agreed to.
Ordered, That Mr. Shannon carry tht
| raunlutipna tO the Senate.
On motion of Mr.. Berry the House
adjourned.
IN THE SENATE
remarks were made by Messrs. Gree
yer, Daniel and Marshall.
SPEECH or MIR, GREEvER.
MIR. PRESIDENT: The resolutions
lust communicated 10y my colleague
from the House of Delegates, contain
the sad intelligence Of the death OF the
Hon. james w. Shefley, late member
of that body from the county o.
Smyth.
But last week we received from the
House the official announcement o
the death Of General f.. II. Bagwell
from the county of AccOmack, who
had been stricken down by deaf h IN
the pride and vigor of early manhood,
To-day the same announcement
comes to US from that body that james
w. Shetlty is no more
Death at all times is sad. ana bee
cones the sadder the nearer IL ap'
proaohes us, aud removes irom among
] -. kl.aa x.rfth uhnp1 we have beel