Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1879-01-11
4 HANDSOME PRESENT.

On Wednesday, the LIST day of January,
the Parish of West Feliciana, through
her talented and highly respected Judge,
s. Nice. Lawrason, was made the rec ipi-
emit of q handsome, life size oil portrait..of
that able and much revered jurist and
statesman, Hon. John B. Dawson, who,
as Parish Judge Of West Feliclana and
| the representative of the Democracy of
this District in Congress up to 1916, com
manded the respect of all who knew him
while living, and endeared his memory
to every admirer Of honesty, integrity
and ability in public life.
| The distinguished gentleman present.
ing the elegant portrait, Gov. Robert
C. W ickliffe, is the worthy son-in-law of
this noble statesman, gentleman who
occupied the proud station of Chief Ex-
ecutive of Louisiana in the good old days
when the proud Pelican State was justly
STYLED the Queen of the United Confede-
ration, which fact lends another value to
the inestimable worth of this priceless
gift.
The gentleman whose portrait now
adorns the wall of the Court room, near
the Judges stand, was elected to Con-
gress in 1910, by the Democrats, time
when whiggery was at its zenith of pop
uiarity, but also when honor, integrity
and ability were deemed paramount to
even party ties. Judge Dawson filed the
position to which he had boon chosen
with much credit to himself and honor to
his constituency, up to June, 1s4o, when
he returned to his homo in this Parish and
yielded up his life victim to consump-
ton. The following is the correspond
ence between the doner and recipient of
the valuable portrait:
ST. FRANc1sv1LLE, La, Jan. LIST, 10.
To Judge S. McC. La,crason:
DEAR S1R-Will you allow me, through
you, to present the portrait of Judge j..
Is. Dawson to the Parish of West Felici-
ana, that it may be placed Ill suitable
position in the Court room of the Parish
And in doing 50 hope may he pardon
ed in saying that he wore the judicial err
mine, as Parish Judge of this Parish, with
stainless honor and integrity; and it
gives me pleasure that l can with the
same quantuns of truth say 1 address this
| note Of presentation to one who has alike
honored and graced the judicial bench of
this country. am sir, truly yours,
y.
ST. FRANc1sv1LLE, La, Jan. 9th, '79.
To the Hon. Il. C. WickHGe:
DEAR sIR-Allow me, in acknowledge
ing the receipt Of your letter of January
1st, 1879, with accompanying portrait OF
Judge John b. Dawson, to return, on be-
half of the Parish Of West Feliciana,
thanks for your very valuable present.
Judge Dawson lives through his talents,
in the memory of the citizens OF thi; Par
| ish, and it will be particularly gratifying
to them to have his features recalled in
the place where he once presided with
that integrity which characterized bin
in all matters, public and private. None
know better than yourself the good ct,
| feet which the pictures of those honoreC
for their talents, refnements and up
| rightness, have when placed where mer
meet to mako or dispense the laws o.
their country. There is a certain virtue
that goes out from them, which raises II!
| ! and makes of us better men, with higher
I | motives. We learn to look unconscious
ly for their approval, and to fear thei
reproachful glances should we be direlic
in our work. The portrait of Judg'
Dawson, in reminding us of talented
4 and upright Judge, will serve to stinu
q tate us in the pursuit of excellence II
a that procession which, Wien practicet
right, is the safeguard of liberty and tn
: protection Of the weak.
a In conclusion, allow me to thank yo'
for the great compliment you have pal.
+, me, in selecting me to receive your git
- to the Parish. However undeserving o
your fatteripg estimate of me, I canno
9 but feel grateful to you for this yer:
high mark of your esteem: I assure yo
will always remember with pride TIL
occasion. I am sir. with great respect,
Your obedient servant,
II S, Nice, LAWRASON