Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-09-15
THE LATE AVERY MRRI.
WETHER.
A Beautiful Tribute 10 Hts Mem.
DRY by majOrJ. q. Maccabe,

The resolutions adopted at a bar
meeting held July rs, referring to the
life and death Of Avery Meriwether,
we're presented to the Criminal Court,
Judge JIM Greer presiding, this fore.
noon, BY Major j. O. Maceabe, who
made the remarks chat follow. The
resolu' ions were ordered spread on
the minutes.
May it please the Court:
At a meeting Of the Memphis Bar, con.
ven don the 18th day of July last, a pre-
amble and soioiutions, touching the UNI
timely death Of our brother, Avery Meri-
wether, were adopted, and the duty Of
presenting them to and asking that they
. placed upon the minutes Of this honor
able court was entrusted TO my humble
self In presenting them here and a king
from your Honor action responsive TO the
prayer Of the resolutions, l might well
deem the labor Of love assigned me nj an
end, for they embody so graceful and
appropriate a tribute 10 the memory of
our lameuted brother that they may be
safe y left TO perpetuate' his virtues and
protect his youthful lame. Yet in this,
the closing scene, the hour Of final fare
well, 1t may be pardoned me II, yielding
TO the dictates Of fraternal feeling, | offer
a few additional thoughts. The human
hegrt instinttively rebels against the fate
which takes away from life
'In the mora and liquid dew Of YOUTH
the gifted and the loved, However much
science may explain, or religion see the
will Of heaven in the act, the fatal sum-
mons, unwelcome at al times, seems then
especially harsh aud unnatural-a VIOLA
ton Of the harmony of that divine law
which moves all things in stately order
from youth to age, from the blossoms of
hfe's springtime IT, the mellow { nit and
rounded maturity Of its descending wears.
Reason stands confused, and faith gives
place to despair and rebellion beside the
bier Of the youthful dead. We ask our
selves in vain why did they die? WHY
are the noble, the generous and he warm
hearted 80 often cut off in the very dawn
ing Of q useful and beautiful career2 How
dearly they were lovedl How many
glorious hopes crowned the promise Of
their futurel Aud yet they died, leaving
hearts wounded and hopes blighted for
everl Beside the death bed Of our loved
ones we learn the bitter truth, that what
ever .aly have been the mysterious and
divine purpose yelled in the taking off. a
patient and reveIent resignation to the in
eyitable is all that is left US. But time is
gentle and merciful, and the day comes
at last when u bereavement is softened.
and we are %reconoiled to our sorrow; when
tha mamoru Of nttr oorl,s ao.I 3, 49,
a pang, but q pleasinglY sad retrospect.
IKE the recollection Of q receding shore
whose headlands and oapes the exile's
ship left gloriied in the purple mists and
golden tints OF the last sunset, Then It is
we remember our lost and loved as they
were in lile-not worn by disease, or care,
or years. but bright Of eye, glad Of heart,
with the grace and mobility Of youth and
health, and the bloom Of the morning yet
upon them. Their daily life, their words
and ways crystalize into pleasant pictures
in our memory, and we think of them as
in some far-otf, peaceful land, waiting for
us to join them. Thus the handsome
genial and refined Avery Meriwether
shall live unchanged in our recollection
We shall still think of him as imbuod with
the fire of a noble ambition,
That glorious fault Of angels and Of gods -
Still in pursuit of those virtues whose
pra ;tice won for him golden opinions
from all sorts of people, and linked him as
with hooks Of steel to tho hearts Of his
friends. But how shall we estimate his
loss to so iety and to his country Out of
the studious years of the unattained fu-
ture he might have developed a greatness
OF mind that would have been a blessing
to his countrymen. In the unexplored
field and possibilities Of that lost future
we can only conjecture the extent Of our
own greatest loss. As il is. we cannot
well spare such conservative element ffom
the ranks Of our young men. He set be-
fore the eyes Of all. especially before his
youthful contemporaries, asalutary exam
pie, teaching them
ITO soorn delights aud live laborious days. "
perhaps, in this latter, erring on the
side Of an over-Zealous ambition to accom-
plish much. A native of Tennessee he
was foremost in the ranks of our progress
i've young men, who are liberating labor
from its traditional dishonor,. and who are
laying broad and deep the new founda-
tions OF Southern prosperity. He united
In his brief career the culture and refine
ment Of the old Southern school, with the
love Of work and practical utilization of
time, which are fast becoming character
istics of the now. His pr waite life was
above reproaeh. He was faithful TO his
friends, candid and manly toward his OBJ
ponents-tor enemies, / believe he had
none. IN his newspaper writ ngs he en-
deavo cd to set up a high stand I'd of
Southern manhood, and to inspire a con-
tempt for all treason and traitors TO the
honor and material interests of the South.
Guided by the spirit Of a sound Democ-
facy, he saw in the political integrity of
the several States the safeguard of the
Union, and hence failed not 10 den unce
every mfr ngement by Federal power on
the rights of the >tates, and believing that
is the surest shield of free in
situations, he was Il friend Of univer nj
education and labored to strengthen the
hands of all those who aimed at the intel
leotial elevation Of the masses.
No local or race prejudice narrowed bis
love OF right and just CO. He was the out
spoken friend OF the poor man and the
oppressed whether ut home or abroad.
This was notable in the staunch and con-
sistent advocacy with which, in the Free
Trader end Meriwether's Weekly, he
espoused the III Of the Irish people. In
their unequal struggle against a despotic
power for the restoration of tho right Of
local selfgovernment. 1t was evident in
the warfare which his paper waged against
grinding monopolies, wherever found, and
tue encouragement which it gave work.
ing men and women, everywhere, to sus-
tam the dignity of labor and stand boldly
by their rights. And II was made mani
fest in his defense oil the Southern people
from the malicious misrepresentation Of IAN
partisan press, whose bearded
chiefs had learned 10 fear the incisive logic
and keen invectiye with which this youth
ful champion dashed their political malice
and hypocrisy.
In the home and social circle of our In.
mented friend was an element of cheer and
brightness. He was ali that q son and
brother should be at home; all that a
gentleman should be in society. A faith.
full obedience to the duties of hlial love
made him the idol of his parents, espeoi.
ally Of his mother, between whom and
himself the most tender and beautiful
relation existed. Out of this love and
admiration Of his mothers Jas a flower from
9 kindred stem, grew a chivalrio respect
for and knightly bearing toward all
.womenkind, which was a distinguishing
trait Of his character. How pleasant now
10 recall these traitsl How beautifully |
they stand out in an era whose youth are
not especially noted for observance Of the
NTH commandment or respect for the
spirit Of that axiom Of chivalry which
proclaimed every woman lady in sight of
her sexl Yet the son who to life's end is
never wanting in afiectionate and dutiful