The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-04-26
HONORs TO THE DEAD JURIsT.
The Late Jas. M. Smiley.

At a meeting of the members of the ba
held at the Court House in Woodville on
Tuesday April Sth 1879 for the pupose O.
paying the proper tribute of respect to the
memory of the late Judge James M
Smiley. Judge j. b. Chrisman was request
ed to preside over the meeting and Mr.
Louis F. Griffin Esq. Clerk of the Circuit
Court OF Wilkinson county was appointed
secretary.
On motion the chair appointed q com.
mittee to draft resolutions expressing the
feeling of the members of the bar in relation
to the death of James M. Smiley.
The committee appointed was as follows:
H. S. Van Eaton, L. X. Barber, and D. G.
Bramlett, who reported the following pre-
amble and resolutions which were adopted:
Whereas, The committee appointed at a
meeting of the bar of Woodville, and WIS.,
iting brothers in attendance on the Circuit
Court now in session to prepare resolutions
expressive of their feelings in reference to
the melancholy event of the death of James
M. Smylie, respectfully report as follows
Whereas, James M. Smylie, the great
lawyer, the incorruptible Judge, the true
man, our friend and brother, is dead, and
we feel ourselves utterly incompetent to
frame tribute worthy of his memory.
Pre-eminent az a lawyer. On the bench
he was rarely equalled. His profound and
ready knowledge of the law being such that
he readily solved the most difficult and
perplexing questions. and in so mastery
manner as to satisfy, as a general thing,
even those of us who were advocating the
losing side. Impartial, true and just, the
ermlne he SO worthily wore was as pure
when he laid it aside as when he assumed it,
So utterly pure and true was he, that SLAM
der never even dared to whisper his name.
Among many other things for which Judge
Smiley was eminent, WIS his devoted attach
ment to constitutional liberty, his undying
hostility to any usurpation of authority or
abuse of power, and in all the dark days of
our recent past, he stood as bulwark firm
as adamant against every encroachment of
any department of the government on the
rights and liberties of the people. Great
as he was at the bar, and more especially
on the bench, as citizeuj neighbor, friend
and brother, he was just, good and true.
Lovely and lovable in character, his intiu- |
ence was all for peace, for good, for the
benefit of society.
He was fearless withal. He hesitated .
not to rebuke and denounce wrong and op-
preston come from what quarter they
and utterly regardless of the conse-
quences to himself. In short, in all the
walks of life he was great and good, and
he is gone, and our loss is irreparable. .
We shall not soon, perhaps never, look
upon his like again, and it is the knowl-
edge of this fact that makes us feel how
great, how very great is our loss We may
we'll say of him honestly and heartily as
was said of another with whom Judge Smi-
ey was in all respects worthy to be ranked,
The death of such a man so capable and
so worthy. is not only family bereave-
nent but public loss, great loss to the
Judiciary, to the State and to the country"
Be it therefore
Resolved, That we cherish with abiding
affection and reverence the memory of our
departed brother J. NJ, Smiley, and we ten
ler our sincere and atfectionate sympathies
o his sorrowing family
Resolved, That we wear the customary
'adge of mourning for thirty days.
Resolved, That the Secretary of this
Meeting be requested to present copy of
hese proceedings for record on the minutes
f the Circuit Court of Wilkinson county,
hat copy thereof be delivered to the fam [
y of the deceased and published in the |
Voodville Republican.
H. S. VAN EATON.
l.. X. BARBER, y
d. G. BRAMLETT,
On motion of Col G. P. Nelson, Major a
. S. Van Eaton was requested to present =
10 preamble and resolutions to the Circuit ,
ourt of Wilkinson county, and ask to
ave them appear on the minutes of the
ourt. j. B, CHRISMAN.
Chairman.
7 ~ n