Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1883-09-27

The following il the substance Of the re-
marks Of Ii. II. Camalier, ESQ.,, on the reso-
buttons offered by the State Attorney TO the
memory Of the late James H. Wilson at the
bar meeting on Thursday last.
Nay Il please yOar HcnOrs and feEEop-meHs-
beTs:
The event which has called ms here to-
| gether to-day is sad in the extreme. Since
the last term Of our Court look around me
and what do behold7 member of this
bar heretofore punctual in his attendance,
is now absent---anOther seat in this Forum
of Justice made vacant by the icy hand Of
death and am reminded it was occupied by
our friend and brother James Hcbb Wilson.
Yes, Your HOnOrs, he is gone from us and
forever. These crude walls which have re-
echoed so often to his manly voice aud these
sceneS Of 80 much of his labors shall know
him no more. Since my connection vi h
this Court, and am among your youngest
members, death has been busy amongst us.
The lamcnted Maddox, Downs, Blackstone
and our Chief Judge, Brent, have all passed
away since then and oh what melancholy
reflection i is that we are all passing away
day. month, perhaps year and cur
dark rOll Of death increases. We know that
the cid MUST die and the young MAY; il is
natural and we look for it. 10 see the aged
upon whose lettering forms the frosts Of
many winters have fallen, to grow faint and
die, but to see one, inst in the prime of life.
in the vigor of his manhood and in the very
full tide Of his usefulness and success. cut
down almost as suddenly as from clan of
thunder in cloudless sky, is 10 my mind
overwhelming and the reflection Of it chokes
my very utterance. | will not here attempt
10 recount 10 you the many acts of his life
O. to speak Of his tFiumphs at this bar, with
which you are all acquainted, but feel that
the best eul0gy Of him is 10 be found upon
tbe records OF this Court. He was a skill
ful advocate, prompt business man, and
he combined with these, a strong viii, indie
Iatigable zeal and an nnwillingness 10 ac-
knowledge the cause Of his clients lost, 80
long rs n ray Of hope remained "a nerve him
to the contest. knew him in his manhood
and my early boyho0d. Our families were
closely connected. Before and a short time
after his admission to the bar he taught our
public school under the hill and remained
here until the bloody tOcsin Of war was
sounded. Then true to his convictions, with
many Of oar noble SONS, he left his home,
his friends, his all, TO join that patriotic ar
my across the Potomac, IN defence Of what
they considered, just and holy cause. That
cause, Your Honors, went down and our
lamented brother with the last remnants Of
that brave little army surrendered up his
sword and came home 10 the bosom Of his
family. It was my pleasure upon his re-
turn here 10 convey him 10 the home Of his
father and family and though was but a
mere boy, that happy meeting and the re-
mark he made so full Of feeling, ''this is the
happiest day of my life," has always been
and will ever be among my pleasantest re-
collections Alas that devoted father has
been laid TO rest. Many changes and sor-
rows have come over that once happy fami-
IN and no one, save God alone, knew the
agony, tbs pains il caused Our deceased
brother. He was mortal like ourselves and
being so had his faults, his weaknesses, but
! venture 10 say that no man ever struggled
harder than he 10 correct or amend them.
Look at that solemn writing he left behind
him, under his own hand and seal, made
with himself and by himself, apart from the
world and no doubt amid tears and prayers
and say whether az not il sprung from q
noble heart longing and striving TO do the
right. To me, Your HonOrs, that paper
speaks in language far more beautiful and
touching than all the eulogies that can he
pronounced upon him and il viii live after
him as a monument erected 10 his memory.
And now, may il please Your HonoTs, Look
ing back through the eventful years that
have passed since my boyhOod days, / not
only think Of James III. Wilson whose name
i, among the last on the roll Of death, but
also Of others, Of those noble sons who left
with him, some Of whom have fallen on the
historic hattle-felds Of the far-Off South,
some on the ensanguined plains Of Gettys-
burg, and two Of the same company with
himself have recently found their graves
beneath the soil Of their own loved State.
Oh, how pregnant then with lessons Of
warning 20 us who survive is this sad occa-
siong Life, at best, is but shgt. II by
reason Of health and strength We should
reach the 'sere, the yellow leaf" Il would
still be but thread, span, 80 soon It Is
gone. Let us then, brother members Of the
bar. profit by this sad dispensation Of Prov
iaence which speaks 70 us 50 forcibly to-day
from all our surroundings, but appeals more
strongly and elOquentiy from the grave Of
James II. Wilson IN the quiet graveyard at
Poplar Hill church, almost within sight OF
the home Of his birth and his childhood.