The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-03-15
Chief Justice Moses.

the Bench, IN order that the decision o.
the great public questions before the
Supreme Court might not be delayed
caused him to resume the discharge Of
the duties of his Office much sooner than
was prudent. The general belief is that
his sense of the magnitude of the issues
to be determined by the Court, and theil
varied social and political importance
provoked his fatal illness.
Judge Franklin J. Moses was born in
Charleston in 1904. His father, Capt
Isaiah Moses, lived in Smiths Range in
Meeting street, next to the Court House.
Capt. Moses commanded a cavalry COM
pany in the State Militia, and was sin
cerely respected by the community. F.
]. Moses, his son, was boy of promise,
and at an early age was sent to the South
Carolina College, where lie was graduated
when only II years old, dividing the third
honor with the Hon. George Buist. The
Hon. w. F. Colcock took the first honor,
and Robert Spencer the second honor.
The graduating class was large one, but
disturbances in the College caused the
expulsion of considerable number of
students. The faculty passed ten young
gentlemen to their degree, but four of
them forfeited their diploma by declining
to perform their exercise, and the gradu-
ating class was reduced to six.
After leaving College MIR. Moses COM
menced the study of law, and was admit
ted to the Bar in 1925, when he was of
age. Having fixed upon no place where
to practice, Judge Moses took trip
through the State. In the pinelands Of
Clarendon he met with Judge Richard
son. There were no hotels, but the door
of every house was open. Following the
custom of the time and country, Judge
Richardson invited Mr.. Moses to spend
the night at his house. The invitation
was accepted, and Judge Richardson was
so much struck by the manners and force
of character of the young visitor that he
persuaded him to stay several days, and
finally advised him to settle at Sumter,
at that time the shire-town of the District
of Sumter, which included the Counties
of Sumter, Salem and Clarendon. Judge
Richardson and his brothers introduced
Mr.. Moses into society, and gave him q
helping hand. Very soon he made his
mark, and acquired lucrative practice,
extending to the neighboring Circuits of
Kershaw, Darlington and Williamsburg.
The opportunities given him facilitated
him in his career, but his shrewdness and
ability would infallibly have brought him
to the front, even without the aid of in
fuential friends.
Soon after attaining a prominent posi-
tion at the Sumter Bar he was chosen a
member of the Legislature, and before
1912 was elected to the State Senate,
where he served until 1862. During the
greater part of his term of service as
Senator, he was Chairman of the Judici-
cry Committee. This was great honor,
and a signal proof of his capacity, for
among his colleagues were gentlemen of
distinguished ability.
Judge Moses married Miss cClenahan,
of Chesterfield County, who was in all
respects most worthy and estimable lady.
The offspring of this union were three
children, F. J. Moses, Jr, already sufi-
ciently known to fame, and two daughters,
one of whom married the late Gen. Baker,
and the other Capt. Mikell, of Edisto
Island. In all the private relations of
life Judge Moses exhibited kindly and
genial nature.
AS a public man Senator Moses was
remarkable for his carefulness, watchful-
ness, thorough preparation and attention,
and for his fidelity to the interests of his
constituents. Nor did he move in mar
row circle. To all that was occurring in
the world around him he was keenly
alive; and no man of his day was better
acquainted with the working of public
affairs, and the course of our political
history. A close Observer, he allowed
no fact of importance to escape him and
it was the habit of his mind to ascertain,
by close questioning, the bottom facts of
any subject that interested him. What
may be called an enlightened inquisitive-
ness, far removed from vulgar curiosity,
was a prominent trait of his character.
It is not surprising, then, that he should
have been successful in his profession,
and in the political arena. Nor was the
solid reward wanting. At the time of the
breaking out of the war between the
States he had already acquired consider
able wealth.
Even in his college days Judge Moses
confidently looked forward to the time
when he should hold high public posi-
tions in the State, and the promotion
which awaited him after the war only
seemed the realization of his destiny. In
December, 1865, he was elected Law
Judge, under the old Constitution, by the
State Legislature assembled under the
proclamation of President Johnson
Judges Aldrich and Johnson and Chan
cellors Lesesne and Carroll were elected
at the same time. AS Circuit Judge
he displayed the rarely combined quail
ties of fairness and quickness, and gave
constant evidence of his thorough knowl-
edge of the precedents and practice in
common law. The promptitude with
which he dispatched business was especi-
ally noticeable.
Under the Reconstruction Acts a new
Constitution was framed and adopted
the whole judicial system of the State
was rooted up. The new Supreme Court
OF Gue OldIc WAS w COuSlSb VI d Siiot
Justice and two Associate Justices, and
Judge Moses was elected Chief Justice.
This election took place on July %, 1868,
the term of Office being six years. Judge
Moses, on the first ballot, in Joint Assem-
bly,, received SO votes, his only serious
competitor being Mr.. Corbin, who re-
ceived SO votes. On the third ballot
Judge Moses was elected. Upon the ex.
piration of his first term he was reelected
without opposition. The only other office
he has held since Reconstruction is that
of Professor of Law in the South Caro-.
lima University, in which he succeeded
the late G. D. Melton. twill be remem-
bcred that it was suggested that the ac-
ceptancc of this Office, under the Consti-
tuition, operated to disqualify him fol
the Office of Chief Justice; but the point
was never seriously pressed.
Would that we could speak of the last
years of the public life of Judge Moses
as we could have done had he remained
loy