Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-11-17
The ssnth aud the Late Judge
Black.


The South happened, fortunately, TO be
represented in the person Of Judge T. w.
Brown, of Memphis, at bar meeting
held some weeks since in Pittsburg 70
take action in regard to the death Of
Judge Jeremiah S. Black. The proceed
ings have since been published in pamph-
let form and circulated widely among
members Of the profession. Judge
Browns remarks appear in full, and have
been highly complimen,ed by the press
and the bar The following letters re-
eeived by him among many others are as
flattering as deserved. The first one is
from prominent Democrat of Arkan-
saw, and the other is froma noted Repub-
lican lawyer and politician of Kentucky:
0soEoLA, ARK, November 8, 1888.
Hon. I. W. Brown, Memphis, Tenn:
Dear Sir-Accept my thanks for the
pamphlet containing your Pittsburg
speech, in honor Of Hon. Jere Black. |
have read it with delight and no small de-
gree Of pride, when / remember tina
yours was the speech Of Southern man
Upon the occasion, the South most GER
tainly carried off the palm; for while the
addresses were all good, as TO matter yours
only was like a speech. Permit me to
say that think your estimate of the life
Of Judge Black is even better than those
who knew him intimatel y; and the lesson
which you educe from il Is one which all
young men should, in particular, lay tn
heart. Aye, 1t is better to deserve a
statue than to buy one; better leave such
an example as that of Judge Black, than
to ill every Office in the gin Of the peo-
pie. and at last die and leave a name
which stamps the career Of the deceased
as cheat, accident and chArlAtan. The
single speech of Judge Black in the Su-
preme Court Of the United States in de-
Tense ofthe right of trial by jury, Deeem>
Der term, 1866, Is q grander achievement
and Of more solid worth 10 the country,
and the youth Of the country in particu.
lar, than all the work of a whole genera,
ton of average politicians.
/ am, truly your friend
lSignodl II. N. MCVEI0H.
CoYINGToN, KY, October 81, 1858.
MY DEAR JUDdE-Thanks forthe copy
you sent me Of the Pittsburg memorial
tribute TO the memory Of Jere Black, con-
tanning your appreciativo truthful and
beautiful address. It had, by some mis-
take, gone to "Covington, Tenn, whence
l received it.
As an impromptu effort your discourse
Interests me in more senses than one.
Not unfrequently is it that an occasion
sudden awakens unexpected powers. And
this, though II often so happens, is not
strange manifestation, but one in accord
ance TO the laws of intellectual and moral
being for deep thought and feeling,
like smouldering fires, are long cherished
and repressed until some suprem
opportunity calls for Their display. What
we call impr0mptu effort is in many in
stances sudden utterance ofthe sentiments
and convictions of lifetime. In what
you said of Constitutional Restoration
the entire drift Of his Judge b. 81 labors
the entire burden of his political cons
troversy and exposition, " / recognized full
expression Of thoughts concerning consti-
tutional limitations | remember to have
heard you advance, when, long years ago,
"A beardless boy, in Shelby College, you
tackled Governor Stevenson before
committee of the Kentucky House of
Representatives.
Black was from cornerstone to turret of
his mental and moral manhood Chris
tan. You discerned that telling trait,
He deserved good and appropriate eulo.
gies, ] am right glad he got them.
With esteem, very truly your friend,
r. RICHARDSON.
Hon. Thomas W. Brown.