The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-06-12
NYE Asa JUDGE.

NYEAsiAJUDGE.
A Story Of Nevada's Ex-senator.
When james W. Nye was a young man,
not more than thirty, lie was appointed
one of the Common Pleas of Judges for
his native county of Madison, N. z, and
gave great satisfaction by his popular
manners, personal courage, and large hui
manities. Nye was always favorite
with the old Democratic leaders of the
Empire State, especially with Martin Van-
Buren, and William L. Marcy. Although
an extreme Democratic partisan, his ready
humor AMI instructive generosity made
him the center of circle of friends Few.
men surpassed him in private converse
ton or public speaking, as those who en-
joyed his society and heard his speeches
during the war need not be reminded.
But to the incident intended to relate:
When he became judge Of the Madison
courts he one day visited the county pri-.
son in the character Of an inspector, and
was surprised, to find among
the INN ates lad Of twelve or thir
teen years Of age, sent there to await his
trial on charge of theft. Struck by his
youthful appearance, he asked him wheth-
er he was guilty of the charge laid against
him, to which the boy replied in the af-
frmatiye He said his father and mother
were miserably poor, and that in despera
ton he had broken into corn-crib and
supplied the family with corn. Believing
from the lads manner that he was worthy
Of being reclaimed, he called on neigh
Dor and had him bailed out to make his
appearance at court. At the opening of
the sessions the lad and his surety were on
hand, and the young judge appealed to the
District Attorney to enter mol. pros.
which that officer sternly declined on the
ground that the prisoner had confessed
his guilt, and that the end of justice must
be indicated. "Well, then, said" Judge
Nye, II will state the facts to the jury and
take the responsibility" The jury was
impanneled, the case came on, and the
District Attorney presented the facts with
much feeling, after which the Judge said
that he would simply state what he knew
of the case, without calling counsel for the
defense After relating what he had
heard in the Jail from the lips of the boy
land you may be sure he did his best to
correct the emphatic presentation of the
officer Of the law, he turned to the jury
box and declared that he did not believe
there was man of the..twelve who could
coolly vote to send this young creature
with blasted reputation out upon cold
and heartless world.
It's needless to say that an instantane-
GUS acquittal followed. After the adjourn
ment of the court the Judge sent for the
boy and found that he and his parents
were very destitute, but that he was nat
urally bright and intelligent, ambitious to
learn, in good health, and had previously
borne an excellent character. Gov. Mar
cy was at that time Secretary of War under
President James K. Polk To him, there
fore, as one of his closest friends, whose
lead he had followed in the Democratic
party from his first vote, Judge Nye wrote
letter relating the story as / have tried
to tell it, and asking him to secure for the
lad the appointment of cadet at the militia
ry academy. In answer, Gov. Marcy said
that he regretted his inability to comply
with this request: that the dosslble vacan-
cies at West point had been filled in ad.
vane both by the Congressman and the
President from his list at large; but that
he had it in his power to send him to
the Naval Academy at Annapolis. The
lad was accordingly entered among the
acloyts of that admirable instetution. and,
by good conductsand close application rose
rapidly in the service. During the war he
was one of the ablest of Admiral Farra.
quits captains, and it was always agreea.
BILE. to sit by and hear Nye, who himself
grew rapidly in the esteem and confidence
of his country, relate this simple story,
and especially the success which had
crowned his Efforts to save his prOtege
from life Of shame and set him forward
in the path of honorable distinction. The
rescued boy became in after years brave
and brilliant seaman, and Nye grew from
county judge to Governor of Nevada in
1861, and then Senator in Congress when
the Territory becaMe a State, beginning
his term in 1865 and closing it in 1873.
So that it may be said that in this case at
least the best way to help ones self is to
help our fellow.creatures.
Soldiers, Attention.!
Soldiers Additional HOmesteads bought,
and the highest cash price paid by the sub
scriber at his office in Princeton
II. F. BARKER.