The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1885-02-05
THE LATE CONGRESSMAN EvINs.
Tributes to his Men,orY, Delivered In tho
House of Representatives.


In tho House of Representatives on
/ the Zoth Japnary, Mr.. Bratton,s srof
South Carolina, offered. the following
resolutions: 49, .E'r"s.-e, 80
ResolUed, That this House has heard
| with profound sorrow of the death Of
Hon. John III. Evins, late Represen-
tative from the State of South Caro-
lima. ~
ReSoiced, That the business of the
House be now suspended, that fitting
tribute may bo paid to his memory. ~
| ReSotUed, That, rs an additional
mark of respect, the House shall, at
the conclusion of these ceremonies, =
adjourn. ...li
Resolved, That the Clerk communi-
cate these resolutions to the Senate.
Touching these resolutions Mr.. Brat
ton spoke as follows:
Mr.. Speaker, these resolutions orc
offered for the consideration of thc
House, that we may perform q sad duty
TO departed worth; that we may do
honor to one who has occupied q scat
on this floor for several successive
terms. His career in this House is
best Known to the honorable gentle
men who were associated with him
here, and is confidently intrusted TO
tholr care. In the exercise OfAthe mol
ancholy: privilege claimed by myself
on this occasion, l speak necessarily
rather from the standpoint Of the con-
su'ucnts Of my distinguished and
iamcntcd predecessor, Of those who
knew MN as boy. and man ut home,
ana who attcstcd their appreciation by
repeatedly returning him to this truly
important field of service.
| John Hamilton Fvinc ,yoc 1,o,,, =,
Spartanburg district, South Carolina,
on tho 18th day of July, 1880. His
father, Samuel Evins, being man Of
ample means, gave his son the benefit
OF good academic and collegiate
course. Mr.. Evins graduated at the
South Carolina College in tho class of
1898, and at once began the study of
the law, his chosen profession. In
| December, 1856, hc was admitted to
the bar and entered upon tho practice
OF his profession in the town of Spar
tanburg. lie continued to be SO en-
gagged until hc was called by his State
to leave this quiet pursuit and serve
her in another field. lie joined the
ilrst company that was organized i'm
his county for military duty in the
war between the States; was elected
lieutenant; aftcrward became cap
tam, and served the cause lie had
spouscd with iaithfulncss and GAL
lantry until disabled for field ser
vice by wound received at the battle
OF Seven Pines. Though retired from
the field he was promoted to the rank
of lieutcnant-coloncl and ASSIGNED TO
light duty in Et'H rear. While thus
employed he was called upon by the
people of Spartanburg to represent
them in the State Legislature, which
\ he did to their entire satisfaction.
AT tho close of the war Mr.. Eyins
retpcncd his law Office in the town of
Spartanburg, and devoted himself
closely and successfully to his profess
sion until 1876, when he was called to-
higher sphere of honor and useful
ness. Tie entered the Forty-fillh Con-
Grcss as the Representative Of. the
fourth Congressional district of South
Carolina, and served in that capacity.
with taithtulncss to his immediate CON
stltucnts and fidelity to the whole
country, until stricken down by dis
ease. Ills death, though sudden, was
not unanticipotcd by himself and his
friends. His health had been dcclin-
ing for year prior TO his demise; and, ,
alter consultation with eminent phvsi-
clans, he became satisfied that his dis
ease was inourablc. This conviction
did not turn him aside from the path
OF duty; he entertained it with calm,
Christian resignation, and moved for
ward in the discharge of his public
duties rs undiSturbcd as if no shadow
OF death was impending over him.
On tho goth Of October last, at his
home in Spartanburg, in tho bosom of
his family, at II o'clock in the fore
noon, while seated in a chair, the mes,
Scngcr came to call him across thc
river.
lie was not found unprcparcd for
the summons. In early life he had
made q profession Of religion and at
tachcd himself to the PRESBYTERIAN
church, the church of his fathers. In
1867 he was chosen one of the dca
cons OF the Spartanburg PRESBYTERIAN
church, and in 1870 was called to be n
ruling elder in the same church. From
1868 to his entrance upon his career as
n member of Congress he was super
iutcndent of the Sunday School of his
churoh, and devoted himself to this
work. with characteristic carncstncss
and singlcncss of purpose.
, Such, Mr.. Speaker, are, as it were,
the stations which mark the course of
the life which has passed awav;. the
| prominent events which, j. the lives
or men as OF nations, arc the hill-tops
and mountain SUBMITS seen from afar
and ailording Il general idea of their
progress or decay, but no definite
knowledge Of the causes producing
them, nor any intimate acquaintance
with their real history. They arc but
points OF observation from which the
thread of the real life may be traced,
IRON which the real character may be
read, and the full history studied and
learned Subjoction TO such scrutiny
IS necessary to bring ont the true force
and merit of Mr.. EVins.
From this, the highest plane of pub
lie service to which hc attained, the
track of his life down through its fields
or usefulness to his State, his county,
his town, his church, and into tic
privacy of his family circle, glowcd
with the Same light, and was charac.
tcrized by q constant and consistent
uprightncss born. of high principle.
His cultured and highly developed
| I. L..