The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-01-02
The Late Judge Thomas shack
IefOrd.

The death of such a man as Judge
Shackleford deserved more than the
meagre mention we had time to make in
our last paper. His was not a life and
all example before men, to be dismissed
with a passing word as the earthly scene
closes forever for his entrance upon the
untried realities of the home beyond the
dark river that separates time from eter-
nifty. He was born in the good old historic
county of Jefferson, the fruitful mother
ilIustrious the Sd of December,
1913, and died in New Orleans, whittier
he had gone for medical treatment, on
the 18th of December, 1877 In early
manhood he removed to Madison, and
when but twenty three years old, was
elected by the people of that county to
the Office of Probate Judge. In Septem-
Der, 1867, he succeeded to the office of
Circuit Judge, made vacant by the death
of the lamented Judge Shall Yerger;
and on the 22d of February, 1868, he
was appointed Judge of the High Court
of Errors and Appeals, and was elected
Chief Justice.
This was the most essential and impor-
tant period of his life and it was fcrtu-
nate for the State in the deep gloom
which had settled around her, succeeding
the civil war, and when usurpation, fraud
and corruption held high carnival, that
by the chances of reconstruction, man
so devoted to the people of his native
State, however widely he had differed
with them on questions of public policy,
was entrusted with the highest judicial
position.
In those trying times when the sword
flashed the edicts of the conquerer in the
faces of the people, and corruption ran
riot over the land-and strong men
bowed down and worshipped the golden
calf-whatever else may be said of Judge
Shackleford, to his taking praise, it will
be recorded that no faint of dishonor sui
lied the ermine while he wore it, and that
as far as God had given him to know the
right he pursued it, and was true to the
his oath and to the people of |
his native State in their tribulation and |
sorrows. There is more than one Incl |
dent which occurred during his service
in judicial capacity under the military
regime that evinced more strength of
character and moral courage than many
even of his personal friends accred-
tied him with-such was his genial,
generous aud accommodating nature
On one occasion while holding Court at
Vicksburg, Hon. Jefferson Davis--having
ust been released from imprisonment,
md the object of the most vindictive
cruelty which remorseless and unfor
living foe could infct, and still under
he espionage of the very military power
o which Judge S. owed his appointment
entered the court room. Judge S.
business, descended from the
'ench, advanced to the railing, extended
o Mr.. Davis a warm greeting and in
tied him inside the bar to seat. Though
e had never been in accord with Mr..
Davis politically, he often remarked that
e was moved to this unusual proceeding
Which came nigh losing him his position,
ecause it brought down upon him the
unity of the military authorities-by
he grandeur of the character of the IL
lstrious chieftain and because he be !
ED in him the personation of a cause in I
7hich had been conferred the hearts and
he hopes of his countrymen Of the South.
gain in the case of E. NJ. Yerger, who >
as held in the clutches of the military i,
over which claimed the right to deny !;
i'm trial by jury of his peers in the \
,rm prescribed by the Constitution, he .
ranted bail to the accused in defiance of :
he frowns and threats of those at whose 6
i'll he held office and who welded the
word over the PROSTATE people Of his h
tate. Possessed of the finest sensibili- .
heart overlooking with gen. q
'ous emotions-the deceased was an g.,
citizen-a warm friend-a
nder father and affectionate husband
hough true to himself and to whatever Il
use he represented, and to his duty as e
, understood it, he was never known h
to wound the sensibilities of o
hers. He was lover of nature, and p
is delighted when he had an opportuni- IL
to turn aside from the rugged ways of a
e to revel in the charms of flowers, u
usic and poetry-a natural fondness for o.
lich he had enlarged by constant oul
re. We can but family imagine the
elings which they who sustained to him ST
e tender relations that exist in the st
Gle described by the sacred name of q
MILY, have experienced in his death. tt
pom the privacy of their sorrows we will til
t venture to obtrude. We can only NJ
Yoke upon them the blessings of that tt
preme Being, who in His inscrutable til
sdom has sent upon them this great al