The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-02-25

not speak the mere lsngnage OF euiogy, but
| I speak from my heart, and from my earnest
convictions, when Z say that few men in
this State, or in any other State, have left
behind them such q stainiess record OF judi
cial purity, OF flrmness, OF courage, OF in
corruptible integrity, as he whose death Is
now mourned by ell classes OF society-the
rich and the poor. the high and the low
not only as public calamity, but as a per-
| sonal affection. 49,
It was NV good fortune to know Judge
Guigon from his early life, and am proud
to know that he was my friend. At the
l.bar, on the bench, fn public and in private
| life bis qualities of head and heart won my
admiration and esteem.
I leave 1t to others TO delineate his charac.
ter as man. / speak OF him as Judge.
And in that capacity he was indeed a
model-a model worthy oi all imitation.
He had peculiar and noble charac-
teristics as iudge-courage, firm
ness, integrity, perfect Indifference to
popular sentiment; high sense OF JUS
tice, patience, and the capacity for labor.
He was eminently self-reliant, and always
ready to assume responsibility. Seeking to
do right, he was always Independent and
impartial; no respecter OF persons, but
melting out the~ same measure OF Justice to
the humble and lowly as to the highest and
most influential, it can be said Of him truly
and with peculiar emphasis, that he held
the scales Of justice with an even hand.
While he was stern and infl,xible in the
administration Of the criminal laws-and
his very name was terror to evil-doers-
yet lie was as quick to protect the innocent
as be was ready to punish the guilty.
said / would speak Of our deceased bro
ther as judge simply. Let me say now as
a member Of the Court of Appeals that the
decisions OF Judge Gngon were more fire.
quently brought before us in criminal cases
than those Of all the other judges OF the
State combined-owing to the fact that
he was the criminal-iudge OF this city.
/ can say without disparagement to others
that no judge had higher standing in
the estimation of that tribunal than
Judge Guigon. He was sometimes
reversed, as all courts and judges some
times are, for none are infallibie. But it will
illustrate the high estimate in which he was
held by that tribunal il I repeat here re-
mark made in reference to him by the ven
Grated and venerable president OF that court,
whom all men love and honor. In recent
case, in which we were constrained (Which
was seldom) to reverse Judgment OF Judge
Guigon, the president Of the court re-
marked in conference: "lt is painful
thing to me to have to reverse the Judgment
OF this good Judge. He seldom errs, and
when he does 1t is an error on the side OF
public Justice and for the maintenance Of
the laws"
But feel have detained you too long.
I have only single further remark to make.
I venture the assertion that there is no other
city ia the United States of the same popu-
lation where there is so little crime, so little
disorder, as in this goodly city Of ours. To
whom are we indebted for this good order,
peace, and quiet? 1t is to that faithful,
fearless, and honest judge who for eight
years past has been the eyer-Vigilant guard
ian Of its good order and moral government.
Mr.. Chairman, feel that my poor words
have not done justice to the character and
distinguished services Of our noble friend.
bench has been to listen, and not to speak,
that l feel I am not skilled in the arts OF
speech or the language Of eulogv. I leave
that to others. But could not repress the
desire I felt to pay my humble tribute to
the loved and honored dead.
The eulogy would pronounce upon him
(the highest and best can eXpress) is this
He was brave man, an honorable gentle
man, and an incorruptible Judge.
OTHER SPEAKERS.
Major Robert Stiles related the circum-
stance of the party in Jail who wrote to
New York advising his friends not to come
to Richmond on account OF the presence Of
this incorruptible and fearless magistrate,
and also paid feeling and eloquent tribute
to the dead Judge.
Colonel John B. Young, R. D. Ward,
Esq, and George L. Christian, Esq, fol-
lowed in tributes to the deceased that OF
Mr.. Christian was peculiarly eloquent and
feeling.
The preamble and resolutions were unan-
imously adopted.
On motion, the meeting adjourned to at
tend the funeral at 50 O'Clock p. NJ.
Judge Fitzhugh appointed under the
resolutions the following gentlemen to con-
yey the resolutions adopted to the different
courts in the city: Court Of Appeals, Judge
William W. Crump; City Circuit Court,
Major Robert Stiles; Chancery Court, Col
onel Thomas j. Evans; Hastings Court,
Captain John S. Wise.