The Daily clarion., 1877-01-27
Remarks OF Hon Ca NJ. Lester

4 tlofjS Ju-G SuOulfttGl- >BONitl fCCt httos =
had tailed to perform duty that | owe to
myself, 10 this Hon-r, md IN th" people
whom represent. di not say something
relative TO the life. character and services
of the distinguished subject of those resnlu-
tions And in al TEN ptiug to do his, Whicn
is to me of the satilest duties oil my
/ life. let it not be supposed that it Is my
purpose to indulge In the trite ana stefeo
| tvpe phrases of the tulogist, but to state
plain, simple facts, truths, which always
! constitute the highest tribute that can pe
! paid t0 the memory of a true ana trieu
! friend Though it is hard 70 realize the
! fact. vet it is true that William Il. Bark
1 dale is dead, but lie needs no euogy AT my
hands to perpetuate his memory. Amid the
sadness aud gloom. however, that over
shadow lis now in meGOratinS MS
death, 1t should not be forgotten that MS
tory requires some record of his lite, and TO
/ that it g my purpose now to contributes.
| He was born in I.auderdale county, IN the
| State of Alabama, on the 26Jh day OF Apfil,
| A. D.. 1884, and died at bis residence Ia the
town of Grenada, in Grenada county, Mis-
sssipp, on the 10th day of January, A D.,
1877 and was theretO} e, at the time Of MS
death. ~ years. months, and IL DAYS o,
age, just entering the period of his full
manhood. In his infancy his father moved
with his family from Alabama to the State
of Mississippi, and settled In 1alobusha
conntv and in that county he was raised
and passed most of his life. His early, or
hoy hood life, was passed mainly on the
farm, and the foundation of what, IN MS
subseauent life, became q finished educa-
ton and ripe scholarship, was laid i'll what
il known as tie old field schools OF that
day, those nurseries of SO many OF tue
b ightest intellects that adorn the history OF
f this State. In early life he manifested a
decided fondness for books, and, deyotlng
his time to study, soon began to give evi-
dence of that innate strength of MIND
which marked his maturcr years. After I'm
ishing his preparatory or academic course
of study he, when yet but boy, entered
the University of Mississippi, when the late
Judge Longstreet was President OF that IN
stitution. and graduated with the honOrS of
his class in July, 1855. 1t was at the Uni
versity | first knew and learned to apprtci-
I ate him as one com bling not only the ele-
, ements of great mind, but also the quali-
4 ties of devoted friend. Whilst nature had
denied him strong physical organization,
she had in other respects bestowed her
gifts with no stinted hand. With mind
naturally strong and brighs as burnish-
he had the moral courage, the
nerve and the manhood always to de-
nounce the, wrong aid to dare and do
whatever his conscience dictated TO be
= right. Having taken his degree in the
l UniyersiJy, he passed into the faculty.
where he served for time in the capacity
of teacher, and then entered the Law De-
partment Ot that Institution, then in charge
{ OF Prof w + Sterns, and graduated in
= the law. after having taken the full course
required. in July, A. D., 1889, and at once
engaged in the practice Of the law at COZ
= (eeviltr, the county site of YalObu>ha cOun-
= ty. He and the lamented Francis NJ. Aid
ridge were the deiegateS from 1alobuSba
i county in the state Convention that
i adopted the 0 O.dEance of Secession. Botl
showed their faith by their works. and of
: fered their lives to sustain it. Aldridge te
y at the battle of oiIiloh-Barksdae lived tt
= share with his people the fortunes of tht
Lost Cause" L first met him in he army
as AdjntantGentral,O on the aft of Gen
| Winfield ,. EeatherStOn, i'll whose brigade
= it was my good fortune to serve. There
, saw him almost every day, and whether
! ! seen in camp, on the march or in battle, hi
- - was the same infieXible unyielding and ar
. dent advocate and supporter of the cause h'
= had espOused and believed TO be right
Combining, as he did, the qualities of true
soldier and effective officer, he was stern
| rigid and eXacting in the discharge of hi
duties, but always kind and courteous, anC
when others about him were suffering ant
n in want, his noble heart, liberal hand and
i strong sympathetic nature prompted him tt
:. contribute to their relief. He endeavOreG
l. always to temper justice with mercy and tC
:. meet suffering with reli9t. These qualities
the sure indices of the great and gooC
= man, could not have failed to m axe him tn,
q pet and favorite of the command His Ca
# rcer as soldier closed with the battle o
J. Franklin, Tenn., where he received : sever,
: wound, from the effects of which he did no
q recover until the war had terminated. A
: the close of the war i'm 1865 he resumed tn,
practice of the law at COffeeville, and wa
elected to the Office of District Attorney, O
# what was then known as the Terth Judicia
q District Of the State, In this Office he sooa
!, developed into one of the first and ables
d public prose 'utors in the State. Early il
n 1866, 1t was my pleasure and good fOrtun,
o to become associated with him in the prac
! tice OF law, which associations, or partner
J. Ship continued without interruption til
20 the formation of Grenada county, when h,
d changed his location to the town of Grena
n da, the county site of that county. 1t wa
;. in the law-office | knew him best, ant
there all my impressions OF hin
J. found fullest confirmation. finished
J. scholar, learned aad profound lawyer, a
% pure, UprigTt man. Such was William r
10 Barksdale. AS public prosecutor he knew
u no man and yielded to no influence excep
d that which controls the honest and fathfu
J. ohcar In the discharge of his public rune
I'll 'ns. HIS very nature revolted at Grim,
al ana VI 'lators OF the law shuddered at hi
e approach. AMI when crime was commttet
al or innocence made to suffer by The hand 0
is guilt, his voice was always heard to de
ct nounce it. In civil practice he likewis
u eXceiled, and In the management and cen
}. Duct OF causes entrusted to him, he wa
le prompt, energetic and faithful. Spurnini
n always the pettifogger and subterflges an,
a tricks OF the shyster, he guarded the inter
le ests of his client with ability, fidelity an,
truth. Over and above all these, his virtue
RS shone brightest in the social and fam
,r circles But | forbear and will not enteI
r the sacred threshold where yet bleed tin,
/ hearts OF his stricken family and friends
re he is gone from among US and sleeps in tn
n bosom of Mississippi, for whose deliveranc
ic he had done so much There let him res
1t In peace. His name belongs TO Mississipni
r and he needs no other epitaph to perpetual
u, MS memory than the impress of his life o.
l. the hearts of the people
t.
d Semarks by Hon. A. u. Sykes.
J,