The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-02-25
OULl, LYONS, and GILES.
MEMORIAL MEETING OF BAR YESTERDAY.
Tributes OF Respect Paid in Resolutions, and
in Speeches Made by Mcssrs. l.. II. Page,
w. W. Crump. 7. J. Evans, ID. ii.
Nash. J. B. Young, f.. Y. Cam
non, and II. G.. Cabeil.


Robert Ould, James Lyons, and Thomas Il.
Giles. On motion OF Mr.. Boulware. Hon.
Edward III. Fitzh1gh was called to the
chair, and on motion OF Nr. +. Y. Cannon,
Mr.. A. A. Smith was called upon TO act rs
secretary.
THE OBJECT OF THE MEETING.
The Chairman stated the object oil the
meeting as follows:
Gentlemen Of the Bar,-Tobert Ould,
and in quick succession after him, James
LYONS and Thomas 7. Giles, have gone the
way Of all the earth. and we meet to-day to
give expression to the sense OF the loss we
have sustained in the death OF these dis
tinguished members OF the bar.
On the Goth OF April, 1870, we met to do
honor TO the memory OF three OF our men,
bers who had been suddenly hurried into
eternity in the memorable calamity which
occurred in the Capitol on the 9th OF
April OF that year.
Patrick Henry Aylett. Nathaniel Z.
Howard. and Powhatan Roberts were the
victims Of that appalling disaster.
In the gloom OF that day, after the reso-
lutions presented by committee appointed
for the purpose had been laid before the
meeting, and few broken sentences had
been uttered by its chairman, no man
spoke. The full heart refused utterance.
In the language OF the lamented Peachy Il.
Grattan, who has given brief account OF
the disaster in the 10Th volume OF his re-
ports, "Under such a calamity silence and
submission was our proper attitude, for
who shall dare say unto God, what doest
Thou?'"
Since then we have followed others OF
our members to the grave as one by one
they have passed away. But we meet To-
day for the first time since that great ca
lamty again TO mourn triple loss.
The friends whose deaths we now de-
plore were not taken away by any sudden
calamity. Death came to them as IT Will
come to us all at the appointed time. Two OF
them lived beyond the allotted threescore
wears and ten, and "came to their graves
| i'm a full age, like as shock OF corn cometh
| in,v in his season. Each died in the peace
| ful quiet Of his own home, and their last
hours were soothed by the minstrations OF
loving hands. All OF them were leading
men ut the bar in their day, and their
ability @s accomplished jurists and elo-
quent advocates was universally rec0g-
nized. But like almost all eminent men In
our profession, few memorials have been
left TO attest their powers.
II is the common history OF the most
eminent lawyers that the memory OF their
ablest efforts, the results OF profound study
and research, displaying intellectual pow
erS OF the highest order, rests only in ira
dition. / see before me those who were
intimately acquainted with our departed
brethren; those vino in the contests OF
our noble profession have in past days
wrestled with the giants who now sleep so
quietly in Hollywood, and have measured
their strength. Those forensic contests
left no sting-only admiration for the
genius and the eloqucnce, the learning and
the skill, that were encountered.
am sure it will be melancholy pleasure
for those who survive them TO bear testi-
mony to-day to their exalted worth and to
the eminent abilities for which they were
so distinguished.
| II is right thus to honor the memory oil
men who during their lives were an honor
TO their profession, and to commemorate
their virtues and their talents. il Is duty
we owe not only TO the memory OF the
dead. but to the living. For their fame is
an accession TO the renown OF the bar tc
which the wise and the good OF our profes'
| SION l0Nt llOlD ~
generation. Their reputation is new pos
session TO which we can all lay claim as II
part our own. And as we thus pay thI
debt which is their due, we increase anC
confirm our own inheritance.
COMMITTEE APPOINTED.
On motion, the following committee wa
appointed to prepare suitable resolutions
! Leigh L.. Page, w. w. Crump, Il. j
Evans, John B. Young, W. w. Gordon
| II. Coalter Cabell, Robert G.. scott. james
| Alfred Jones, Robert Stiles, Joseph Chris
tian, Edward Y. Cannon, W. W. Henry
and Il. ii. Nash.
MEMORIAL ADDRESSES.
The committee, after consultation. re
ported through Mr. Page that they would
offer resolutions with reference to eacl
| deceased.
MIR. Page offered those in memory oi
Judge Ould, and followed them by ti
butte distinguished as well for eloquent
utterance as for careful analysis and ius'
estimate OF the deceased-c0nsidered as
LAWYER, public speaker, Christian gentle
man, and genial friend.
Judge Crump delivered an eulogy upor
Hon. James Lyons, in which he presented
with characteristic vigor OF mind the pro
minent traits OF this gentleman, who wa'
for near sixty years leading member OF
our bar, for much OF that time conspicuous
i'm public life, and ever patriotic, devoted
and hospitablc citizen. Following his re-
marks. or preamble, came the resolutions
Colonel Thomas j. Evans offered the re-
solutions respecting Mr.. Giles. lie traced
with loving and skiliul hand the life OF this
eminent LAWYER and scholar and humble
Christian. long removed by disease from
the active duties Of his profession, but who
held till death a noble place in the ranks ol
the good and great men OF the state.
sEcoNDING SPEECHES.
Mr.. Nash seconded these resolutions, and
smoke of Mr.. Giles as he knew him when
he [Mr. Nashl first came to the bar. lie re-
ferred to the fact, not heretofore published
that Mr.. Giles was distinguished gradu'
ate OF Hampden Sidney ana received nj
diploma in law from Harvard.
Colonel John B. Young now probably
the oldest member Of our bar, Dut yet IL
the full tide OF active practice) gave tender
recollections OF all three deceased, dwelling
more at length upon Mr.. Lyons, whom III
had known longest and best, ana upor
whose character and abilities he put th'
very highest estimate.
Mr.. Edward Y. Cannon lwho studied
law in Mr.. LyoHs's oIiee) followed in
tribute 10 Mr.. LYONS marked by felicity o
expression and deep earnestness, especial.
where it attempted to incucate the lesson
OF these frequent memorial meetings OF tn
bar.
Colonel Coalter Cabel was the last speak
er. He gracefully and ieelingiy referre'
to all three, but more especially eulo
gized Messrs. Lyons and Giles; aite
which tho resolutions were adopted an,