Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1880-05-04

Ahe coHlmlltee rellled, ana IN ther abb
sence Col. j. w. Newman, Of Fayete-
vile, made few remarks eulogistic of
the deceased.
Gen. W. B. Bate, from the committee
on resolutions, made report, which he
prefaced with touching eulogy upon
the lamented jurist.
The report was read by Col. f. Z.
Williams, as follows:
The members of the Bar, and the peo-
pie from various portions of the State,
have assembled to pay a suitable tribute
to the memory of the Hon. Connally f.
Trgg, who departed this life at his home
in Bristol, in the bosom of his family, OH
the evening of the 25th of April, 1880.
While your committe regret their
want of full and accurate information as
to the early life of Judge Trigg,
they learn that he was born in Abing-
don Va, in $50, and that there he was
educated and spent the early part of his
life. For awhile, he was an efficient
clerk Of one of the courts of record of
his native county. He was active and
Jealous in the practice of his chosen pro-
fession Of law, and was at one ZINE
partner of the Hon. Beverly johnson.
In the heated political campaigns of
1914 and lS4S he took an active part,
and contendcd upon the hustings sue
cessfully and to the great satisfaction of
his party, with the ablest leaders of the
opponents Of Clay and Taylor, whose
election he so earnestly advocated.
About 1856 he removed to Knoxville
. and began the practice Of law, and for
years enjoyed the confidence of the peo-
pie as faithful, honest lawyer.
When the conflict of arms ensued, he
was not in doubt as to the position he
would assume. While nc was moder-
ate man, he was yet firm and decided,
and would die martyr to his honest
convictions. He knew that his own peo-
ple--those nearest to him by ties of kin
drod and friendship, were largely OPP
posed to his views, still he unhestating-
ly espoused the cause of the Union, and
conscientiously devoted to it his best en-
ergles, and never once wavered nor fall
tered in his devotion to it. But while
he did this, he was no bigot in his zeal.
Far from 1t. He believed there were
true patriots and chivarous gentlemen
on both sides Of this question, and that
they but honestly differed In opinion.
Fortunately for our country, Presi-
dent Lincoln, on the nth of July, 1862,
commissioned him Judge of the District
Court for the State of Tennessee.
He came upon the bench at n period in
orr history when all the great powers of
his mind were tried to their utmost ten
sion. The military were constantly and
perhaps naturally, encroaching upon
the civil rights of the people, and almost
every one not connected with the army
looked with grave apprehension upon
the probable result to which events
seemed tending.
But Judge Trigg, while respecting the
rights Of the military chieftain and his
army, was determined, so far as he was
concerned rs Judge, that the Constitu-
ton should be observed, and that the
military should he kept in strict subord-
nation to the civil authority. And he
was man not to he swerved from his
line Of duty by brlstling bayonets or the
cdlcts of military satraps.
He was the first United States Judge
to declare unconstitutional the so-caled
| lawyers test oath.
BY his mild and pacific, yet firm and
decided course upon the Bench, he saved
our people from the evils of confsration
and persecution, that for time seemed
( o threaten the destruction Of our coun-
try.
For his just, yet mercifIIl administra-
tralon Of the law, our people, of all po-
litical compilations, owe him n debt of
gratitude which they have never been
able to repay.
Judge Trigg had an active, energetic,
incisve intellect, His faculty of retain
ing IN his memory the various and con-
licting facts Of II protracted lawsuit,
was marvellous.
He was nm able aud upright Judge,
and withal, one Of the most modest
men we ever saw.
Though well read and accurate as u
Judge, he did not Orrogatc to himself
all the law Of given ease, but conceded
that the lawyers who had devoted days
of laborlons reseurch knew something Of
The principal Of law involved In their
lawsuits.
And then he always listened attentive
~ and diligently to what you had to say
about your cuse.
lie was patient palns-tabing Judge,
determined TO nnd the iuslice Of Il cause,
and desplsed trlckery and indrcctlon.
Another trait Of his character, not
found IN every Judge, we would not
overlook-that wus his Kindness and
courtesy to the younger members Of the
profession. These he would assist In
every way he could, and bear with their
mistakes and plumbers and not seem to
notice them, or II he noticed them 4 was
but TO help them out Of some tangled