The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-02-23
In Memory of MAJ James IA. Baxter.


in the Court House during recess Friday,
18th, to take some appropriate action upon
the death of Maj. James n. Baxter. Maj.
L J.. Jones was called to tie Chair, and
! Mr. James L. Blease was requested to act
as Secretary. On motion Of Col. &. H.
Suber, the Chair appointed committee OF
three, consisting of Messrs. Suber, Pope
and Caldwell, to prepare suitable resolu-
tions expressive of the sentiments Of the
Bar. The committee presented the follow
Ing resolutions, which were unanimously
adopted:
Inasmuch as it has pleased the Allwise
Ruler of the Universe to remove from
amongst US our comrade and friend James
u. Baxter; and because under the privi-
lege based upon the holy declaration that
the acts of useful man survive him, it is
meet for US to express our appreciation OF
his acknowledged worth, and announce the
severity of our loss; Therefore, be it re-
solved,
lst. That in the death of James NJ Bax-
ter this Bar has been deprived Of the tel-
lowship and cooperation of a most able
and accomplished advocate and jurist, IN
the full tide of his power and usefulness.
End. That we have to mourn in his sud-
den death the suniering Of friendship
10 &c Uni
ted day by day in ties more close and en-
during.
Sd. That the people Of this State and
this County have 'ost in him faithful pa
triot, public spirited citizen, and man
of large social and moral influence.
4th. That while we humbly submit to
the decree cs The Omnipotent Providence,
which has called him hence, we deplore
with inexpressible sorrow this most griev-
Gus dispensation.
5th. That we tender to the grief-stricken
family of our deceased brother our heartfelt
sympathy in this their irreparabie bereaTe-
ment.
9th. That a copy of these resolutions be
transmitted to the family Of the deceased
that they be published in each of the news
papers at Newberry Court House; that
| they also be presented by the Chairman OF
this meeting to his Honor the Presiding
Judge at the present term of the Circuit
Court, in open Court, with the request that
they may be entered, with such further no.
tice as his Honor may deem proper, upon
the minutes of the Court.
just before the adjournment of Court
Saturday Maj. Jones arose and presented
the resolutions. In presenting them he
made the following remarks:
May it please your Honor: hold in my
| hand preamble and resolutions adopted at
meeting of the members of the Newberry
Bar in commemoration Of the death of our
friend and brother Maj. James n. Baxter.
AS Chairman OF that meeting, and IS the
oldest member of this Bar, I am charged
with the melancholy duty OF presenting
them to your Honor, with the request that
they be spread upon the minutes OF the
Court. Before l present them it is proper
that I should say few words.
1t is always a sad event to see one Of our
daily companions and associates sink into
the grave, even when weighed down with
the infrmities Of age, and emacisted by
wasting disease; but our grief and our sor-
row is much more stirred within US, and
our feelings more intensified, when ore OF
our friends is suddenly stricken down by
the hand of death while in the prime OF
life and in the full vigor of both physical
and mental powers. Our friend and bro
ther, Maj. James n. Baxter, whilst in the
meridian of life and the enjoyment of his
usual good health, and with bright pros
poets before him for long, prosperous and
useful lite, has been stricken down by sease
and, almost without any warning to himseli
or his friends of his near approaching end,
has sunk into the silent grave, to be seen by
US no more on earth no more to participate
with US in the struggles of this forum; no
more shall we be edited by his cogent ar
guments; no more shall we hear his elo-
quent voice pleading in this Court for the
rights of his clients. Though he has passed
away from before us we will ever cherish
and keep in remembrance his noble traits
of heart and character. His death is q
great loss to this Bar, where his masculine
intellect and discriminating mind, and de.
yotion to the true interests of his clients,
gave him great prominence. His mind was
too broad and comprehensive to be tram
meled with forms and technicalities, but
easily mastered the strong points OF his
cases, and seized and applied with master
ly hand the broad principles Of Law and
Equity upon which our judicial system is
founded, and which embodies the united
wisdom and experience of ages. 1t was
his comprehension of and devotion to prin,
ciples that gave him great power before
the jury and compelled respectful atten'
ton from the Judge to what he said As
your Honor well knows, the contests of this
forum are often exciting and worrying, and
it is sometimes difficult for the best of US to
avoid saying and doing things, under the
excitement of the moment, which should
not have been said and done; but it is a
notable characteristic of the members oi
the Bar nos to let these things mar their
friendships. No man was more ready to
forgive and forget things said and done
under such circumstances no man was
more ready to atone for things said and
done by him under such circumstances
than our friend and brother. His faults
land who of US have not our faults p were
faults of the head and not of the heart. His
impulses were Of high aud noble charac'
ter. He knew it was human to err, aDd
hence he was always ready to forgive and
forget. In the expressive language Of 40
other, "He was man of large heart and