The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1883-07-05
GENERAL JAMES CONNER.


General Sessions, in Charleston,
that the court adjourn in token of
respect to the memory Of the Hon
James Conner. From the spoken
tributes, We give the following:
REMARKS OF COL. MCRADY.
When, may it please your Honor,
I read yesterday morning on the
bulletin board the announcement,
''Gen. Conner died at Richmond 4
o'clock this morning" it carried me
back at once twenty-one years. 1t
seemed we were still in the war,
and that he had died of his wound
he received at Mechanicsville on
the 26th of June, 1862-dicd Of the
wound I saw him a few days after
lying, suffering under at Rich
mond. And as l mused, your Hon
or, dream and reality blended to-
gether, and I realized that he had
died at last Of his wound-died, too,
still fighting for his country after
twenty-one more years Of hard SER
vice in the field and at home for the
State he loved and had served so
well. ........
1t was just twenty-one years to
the day Of his death that he fell at
Mcchanicsville at the head of his
regiment. But what an age in those
years had he lived. Going back to
the army with his wound unhealed,
he led again, as brigadier-general,
many battle line until shell car
ried away the limb that would not
mend. From the moment Of his
first wound to his last breath his
life was one Of pain and suffering
but he never complained.
We, his old comrades, thought he
had done full service to his State,
and might give what remained OF his
strength and his shattered health to
his family and his profession. But
the day of trouble had not passed
for his people, and in their ex-
tremity, bowed on his crutches.
he was their guide: worn and maim-
ed as he was, when domestic war
and strife arose he again was the
captain Of our citizen soldiery.
How much our people owe to
Gen. Conner's courage and to his
caution, how much to his political
sagaeity in 1876 it is hard to esti-
mate. for the skill and conduct
which dares to endure and hold the
hand of violence leaves little mark
or remembrance, save in the con-
sciousness Of him who knows how
near and great the danger was that
he avoided.
Gen. Conner was strong man
strong in his mind--strong in his will.
Doubtless there are those amongst us
whose views and wishes came some
time in conflict with his, and when
so they found him an unbending
opponent. But his strength was
the strength Of a clear judgment
and an honest conviction. Mis-
taken he no doubt was at times !;
but not even in the moment Of the
keenest contest in this room did
any member of the bar for mo-
ment question the sincerity of his
purpose.
It was the common remark that
no argument could ever overcome
the clank of Gen. Corners cTutches
in an assembly of citizens. But it
was not pity for his suf1erings that
gave him such weight in our coun-
sells. Our people loved him for the
dangers he had passed, and for the
blood he had shed for them. But
it was not on that account they
followed his advice. It was because
they trusted his Judgment, and well
knew that the popularity he wished
is that (which follows, not that
which is run after" ''that popularity
which sooner or later never fails to
DO Justice to the pursuit Of noble
ends by noble means"
May it please your Honor, I have
known Gen. Conner from my youth
upward. My introduction to him
as lad at school was his interfer-
ence to protect brother Of mine
from the violence Of an older boy,
protection to which, as it happen
ed, his own strength was not suffi-
cient. From that time. more than
forty years ago, [ have known him
always the same heroic character.
I speak, l am sure. not only the
sense of the Bar, but Of many who
have followed Gen. Conner in battle,
of many who have been guided by
his advice, and for whom his voice
has been heard in this Court, Of the
community at large, when | ask
your Honor's permission to second
the motion of the Atsorney-gcneral
that your Honor should adjourn the
Court, not as cold IL ark Of respect
for his memory, but that some Of
the public business a. least may be
suspended for q while that we may
pause for a moment to think Of one
who spent his time and his blood
as well for the public. ..
REMARKS OF JUDGE WALLACE.
/ have known Gen. Conner, gen
tlemen, for many years. With the
interest and pleasure Of personal
friendship I have observed his ca
reer from its beginning to its close.
1t was filed with high aims. distin-
guished achievement and duty done.