The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-12-22
Was made to execute the order for his

was made to execute the order for his
arrest.
The last public service rendered by General
of the Constitutional Convention of 1877,
which was presided over by our distinguished
fellow-citizen ex- Governor Charles J. Jenkins.
In framing the the present Constitution of
Georgia, General Toombs exerted an almost |
overshadowing influence. The suggestion
and the adoption of not a few of it's leading,
and, in the opinion of many, it's most
Objectionable features, are directly referred to
his thought and persuasive eloquence.
His last utterance in public was delivered
when with fearful eye, trembling voice, and
feeble gesture, he pronounced in the Hall of
Representatives, a funeral Grafton over the
dead body of his his lifelong friend, Cover
nor Stephens.
For some time General Toombs has been
but the shadow of his former great self. The
death of u noble wife, to whom he was devo-
teddy attached, proved an affection to grievous
of his dwelling, and gladness no longer dwelt in
the chalnbe . OF his heart. Impaired vision de-
privcd him Of the ability either to read or to
write except at intervals and with extrpme DIFF
suffered 'i!p"lrcincnt at the advance of age,
and the proud tread and COMMANDING
presence gave place to the bent form and the
unsteady gait of the feeble old man.
His intellect too, formerly so authoritative.
massive, and brilliant, became uncertain in
ITS action. To the last he denounced the re-
construction measuresof Congress as uncon-
sttut'onal, and proclaimed himself an "un-
pardoncd, unrcconstructed, and unrrneutnnt
Rebel"
In the morning, ut high noon, and even be-
y"nd the meridian of his manhood he was
intellectually the peer Of the most gifted, and
lowered Atlas like above the common range.
Ills genius was conspicuous. His powers Of
orat"ry were oyernnstering. His mental
operations were quick rs lightning
and like the lightning, they were duzzIing in
their brilliancy and restless in their plnv.
Remarkable were his Conversations riffs.
and most searching his analyses of character
and event. The boldest flights of fancy, the
prof"undest depths of pathos, the brondest
range OF biting sarcasm and whitening in
~vectivc, gcneralizations of the boldcst
were equally ut his command. He was u
close student and deeply versed in the laws,
statecratt, aud political history of this com
monwralth and nation: In all his glndatorial
combats, whether ut the Bar, upon the huS,-
ings. "r in Legislative halls, we recall no in
stance in which he met his overruatch.
Even during his years of dccadence, there
were occasions when the almost extinct vol
cnno glowcd again with its former tires,--
when the ivy-mnntled keep of the crumbling
castle resumed its pristine defiance with
dcep-t"ncd culverin and ponderous mace.
In the death of this distinguished Georgian
the Commonwealth has lost n son whose fame
for more than half II century has been init
matcly associated with her hopes. her fears,
her aspirations and her glory. He was the
survivor OF that famous companinnship which
included such noted pcrsonages as Cobb,
Johnson, jenkins, and Stephens. While dur
lsg his long and prominent career General
Toombs was quoted, admired and honored-
while i'll the positions he filled he has done
the State and Nation 'some service" it is sad
to realize and record the fact that he will live
mainly as n tradition. He has left no cndur-
ing footprint on the sands Of time. While
his renarble sayings, epigrammatic utteran-
ces, and caustic satires will be repeated bv
the present generation, it may not be aues-
timed that he has erected no lasting monu-
ment. Among his legacies will, we fear, be
found no substantial contribution to knowl-
edge-no token OF intellectual labor which
will pcrpetuate his name and minister to the
edification of the coming age.-Natural gifts
so great as those which he possessed, and CD.
portunitics 80 famous us those which lie
enjoyed, should have yielded fruit more
abundant, harvest less insubstantial. With
= reputation as q legislator, II statesman. a
counsellor, M advocate, an orator, a Confed-
crate o%iiiefsian and q lover Of his native State
towering among the highest and brightest of
the land, this illustriOms Georgian will be
also remembered rs IL leader not always wise
and conservative in his views-as a mighty
tribune Of the people in some respects careless
OF the genuine civilization of his age, and
sometimes dethroning images where he erect
ed none better in their places.
CHARLES C.. JONES, Jr,
Augusta, Ga.