The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-03-19
Justice by President Cleveland, is a ma
tive of Tennessee, although he has lived

tive of Tennessee, although he has lived
all OF his life, with the exception of the
first year. in Arkansas. He was we'll
described by friend as very good man
from very bad State. He is So years
old. He looks his age, although bis
thick, dark brown hair has hardly yet
begun to show any signs Of gray. He is
tall, deep chested, ad-shouldered, in
variably dresses in black, and 90 this day
adheres to the soft slouch hat of Arkan.
sas life. He has a large head. His
complexion is swarthy and dark. There
is solemn look upon his face in repose
which suggests the character Of great
tragedian. His forehead is broad and
high. His eyes are very black and deep
set under heavily shaded eyebrows. His
nose is strong, straight, and nearly Gre.
clan in its line. His mouth is large and
thin.lined. He has q very deep, rich
voice. He has been considered one Of
the best speakers in the Senate. In pri.
vate life he is fond of joking and de.
lights in chatting his associates. But he
never introduces any pleasantly into his
public speeches. He thinks that such
tightening of the burden of argument
has tendency to detract from its dignity
aud influence. He is a lawyer from the
crown of his head to the soles of his feet.
The study of the law with him is pas.
sion. He can probably repeat more
authorities by the page, and paragraphs
from his memory alone than any lawyer
who practices before the Supreme Court.
He has been one of the most valued
members of the Senate Judiciary Com
mittee, and on account of his legal
requirements is almost m intimate friend
of Senator Elmunds of Vermont,
although the two have nothing in com
mon upon the ground of politics. Judge
David Davis, of Illinois, when he was
on the Supreme Bench said that Gar.
lands briefs ranked as high as those of
any lawyer who practiced before that
Court.
1t is Mr.. Garland's ambition to finally
reach place upon the Supreme Bench.
He cares nothing about politics, and is
more of judge than partisan. He is
a widower, with q number of children.
He has no fortune. He lives in very
simple, democratic way, and will make
no attempt at appearing in the role of
society individual in the Cabinet. Gar
land is very dignified man, with great
self possession, and would appear well in
any society. He has received classical
education. Hewas educated first at St.
Mary's and St. Joseph's College in Ken.
lucky. He was admitted To the practice
of law in 1853 in Washington, Arkansas.
In 1856 he went to Little Rock. Five
years afterwards he entered politics for
the first time His predictions and
early associations made him Whig in
.ppitics. The natural bent of his mind
and his legal training makes him con:
servatiye. He was delerminedly opposed
to the Radical politicians who finally
drove the Southern States into secession.
He was Bell and Everett elector, aud
with Col. Johh R. Fellows, now of New
York, made a forlorn but gallant fight
for "the Constitution, the Union, and
the enforcement of the laws" So long
as there was any hope of peaceable
solution of the sectional differences he
resisted in the State Convention the
adoption of the secession ordinance, but
when civil war was u foregone conclusion,
he stood maufuIly by his State and the
cause of the Southern people. He was
chosen to the provisional Congress
which met at Montgomery, Alabama, in
May, 1861, and assisted in framing the
Constitution of the Confederate States.
as member of the Confederate Con.
gress, serving in both Houses, he estab
Iished high reputation for legal ability
and conservative yet resolute character.
After the war his influence in State and
national politics was exerted in behalf of
prudent yet firm constitutional resistance
to Federal eucroachments. To his wise
course aud sage advice the overthrow of
carpet bag rule in Arkansas in 1874 is
very largely due. Upon assuming the
duties of Governor of Arkansas he found
the treasury bankrupt and the credit of
the State sunk so low that it, scrip sold
for 20 cents on the dollar. In less than
one year after he became Governor all
differences were composed and the credit
of the State had improved till its scrip
was worth IS cents on the dollar. He
had the confidence of the whole people,
black ss we'll ~ white, and was elected
United States Senator without opposition.
In 1866 he was elected to the I1aited
States Senate. He was refuse" e-.nlssion
there because the State IS not then
regularly admitted back in the Union.
He made national reputation for him
self by raising the question OF the con,
stitutionality of the law requiring law
yers to take the test oath before being
permitted to practice in the United
States Courts. He won his case, as is
shown in Volume 4 of Wallace's
Reports of the Supreme Court. He
followed the practice Of law until 1874
He was elected to the United States
Senate in 1876, succeeding Powell
Clayton. He was re elected in 1888.
From his great popularity in his own
State it is certain that he could remain
in the Senate the rest of his life, if he
should 30 choose.
Considerable DeliberatiOn.
A drummer struck up an acquaintance