Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1880-05-29
Tribute of q former Virginian to
Judge Church.


An immense meeting Of the Democrats
of New York city was held at Tammany Hall
on Friday Of last week TO commemorate the
life and services Of the late Sanford f. Church,
the eminent New York Judge and Democrat
&c Statesman. Speeches were made b. Hon.
George Ticknor CARTS, Samuel G. Courtney,
exhibited States District Attorney, Col. j.
Fairfax Mclaughlin and others. From nc
tice Of the proceedings re publish the follow
ing report Of tile speech of the last named
gentleman.
REMARKS OF Col. J. FAIRFAX McLAUGHLiS
on THE DEATH or CHIEF JUSTICE CHURCH,
AT Meeting of the General Committee
of Tammany Hall, May q, 1880.
Hr. Chairman and Gentlemen:
Among oil the tributes to the memory Of
Judge Church none could be more appropriate
OF more feelingly expressed than are the Eeso-
lutions passed in this Hall at meeting Of the
Committee on Organization which vas held
on last Saturday. 1t is meet that the Demo-
cratic party Of the city and county Of New
York should take action when sGch vista
ton has come upon the Stare rs the death Of
the Chief Justice Of its highest tribunal. II is
a loss which We not only feel in common with
the general body Of the people everywhere,
bot We feel il in special and moro personal
manner siill,-for while oil mourn great
Judge gene who administered and applied the
, jurisprudence Of the highest Court III the State
with admirable ability aud fairness, Il e Demo-
cratic party. Of which this Organization is the
representative in the city Of New York feels
the bereavement es the loss Of 6 beloved and
leading Democratic statesman who was with
out fear and without reproach. In the death
Of Judge Church we mourn the loss OF one
whom No always delighted to honor and TO
welcome to this Hall whittier be was won't Of
ten 10 repair in true fellowship and sympathy
10 the close of bis honored life with the Tan
many Democracy.
The profound sorrow which pervades the
whole State, has given itself utterance in glow
lug panegyric, not only Of the bench aud the
bar. bu, at the tiresdes Of the people, 10 the
| entire press. In the hauuts Of business, 10 The
halls Of legislation, aud in the universal grief
which, beginning at Albion, where Sanford L.
Church was born aud died, has spread to The
remolest corners Of the State, and beyond lis
confines. This manifestation Of the respect
/ aud sorrow of whole people conveys gu i'm
/ pressiye and an eloquent testimony 10 the
/ worth of the distinguished dead. II there be
| one visitation more than another trying TO lhc
heart Of man, one power that sanders with re-
| leu.less might the ties cousecrated 10 the afec-
tious, that visitation surely is death. Yes,
gentlemen, although the spirit take comfort in
| the hope of better life beyond the grave
there is yet the pang which every heart expo
riences when q citizen whom we ell admired
/ for his wisdom, whom we oil revered for hi;
virtues and all esteemed for the gont.eness Of
his life, falls by the way and looks his las. on
world which was made better by his pres
euce in it, Ii is not merely the language Of
eulogy to say these things OF Sanford T.
| Church. l. is the truth.
In the midst Of bis usefulness he has been
called away To q Chancellor Walworth, a
Beardsley, Bronson and q Nelson, and The
other great departed luminaries who have
made our Judiciary the pride and glory Of
| New York, as well as a light and 40 example
| TO the jurisprudence Of the whole country, the
kindred spirit Of Chief Justice Church has now
| been added lie was an eminent Judge, well
versed in the common law and the equity Law,
possessing subtle power of analysis, snd pre-
/ emiuently endowed with common sense and a
| clear aud comprehensive mind. His attention
never tagged during the delivery Of on argu-
ment before him, and to the younger members
OF the bar his proyeroial courtesy and urbane
manners have long been The subject Of uuiyer-
sal remark aud praise.
Judge Church was a Democrat by instinct
ns we'll as by education and distinguished SER
vice. lie regarded Thomas Jefferson as the
great apostle Of civil liberty, and be lived up
to the spirit Of the Bill Of Nights not less than
70 the letter of the Constitution. Deeply in
lerested in the higher questions Of politics.
aud thoroughly imbucd with the doctrine Of
State rights, Of which he was an enthusiastic
devotee, Sanford E. Church Was eminently fit
ted 70 adorn the highest civic trusts Of the Re-
public, aud many OF his countrymen not only
I ia New York but oil over the Union cherished
q hope that be might yet become President Of
| the United States. nc was too pure patriot
10 employ the low arts Of political chicanc
now SO much the fashion. in order to briuG Is
name into self-adveriiseI notice No. gentle
men, Stafford T. Church never paltered in a
double sense, for he would not Intrigue Lis
way into clice, nor play the deGasogue to at-
tain his ends
As he lived. SO did be die.--a pure citizen,
an exalted Judge. far-seeing and accomplish
ed statesman aud Democrat whose memory
will be KEEP, green in the affections aud admi-
ration Of the Democratic party Of the Empir,
State, aud especially Of that par, Of it which
belongs 10 lammany Hall, long after the gen.
Grafton 10 which he lived shall have passed o.
Nay forever