Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-11
TRIBUTE OF THE BAR.
10 the Memory ofthe Late Maj. AL
fred B. Smith.


Shortly after the Superior Court was
opened yesterday morning Capt. John 81.
1uerard addressed the court upon the
deatn OF the late Maj. Alfred b. Smith.
Inc speaker called attention to the
estlmable character OF the deceased men,
oer OF the bar, and as chairman OF the
committee appointed on Monday, pre-
sehCed the following resolutions:
aired IL. Smith. for upwards of thirty
years member or this bar. died Dec. 2 1888.
iDIurihg TINS long career he faithfully served
nus country IL both civil and military ca
paclty' ana in each displayed qualities beft-
tlng the several positions, An amiable DIS
postlon which did not desert him even when
III the 0lscharge of his duty as public prose-
cntor, 1t was his lot to bring crime to punish
ment, enabled him unprej udiced to deal with
thOse VINO were under accusation and to serve
the state with an eye single to the ends OF JUS
tlce While the honesty Of his character and
purpose was such as to be recognized by all
and respect.
&c IL resokred. That the Bar of Chatham
county hold in aGectionate esteem the memo
~ OF It's deceased member, Alfred i. Smith,
an9 comments as exemplary his rectltude
ana devotion to duty.
And that these resolutions he presented to
the Superior and City Courts to be entered
on their minutes, and copy thereof sent to
the WIDOW of our deceased brother.
The report was signed by Capt. Guer-
ara, Gen. Henry r. Jackson, Charles n.
west, L. +. Ravenel and j. II. SaCssy.
Gen. Henry r. Jackson, in seconding
the resolutions, said:
May it please your Honor: 1t 80 happened
Ihat L knew more of our deceased brother as
soldier in the field than lawyer in the
court room. We were together III the winter
march OF the Confederate army to the city of
Nashyllle, when frozen roads were indeed
nf - n nd MAJ
during that march there occurred the sub
Ilmest thlng | have ever witnessed in the
breathing world. Riding through the night to
rouse my men, who were to be first upon
the road at the dawn OF day, | approached a
party who were lying asleep around a blazing
log. As they arose / observed that one of
them was without his jacket. He turned to
Itne bush upon which he had hung it, proba-
ply TO dry. The air was full Of keenly cutting
5leet, but the jacket was gone! 1t had been
stolen. No oath fell from that soldiers lips;
no word of complaint; OF reproach, or
denunclation. l heard him say simply: 81
more than !"
shivering body but subimated soul! No
Homer mas sung his prai-es, but, surely, of
such 10 the kingdom of Heaven! And yet the
occasion was needed, tire keenly cutting sleet
was needed, the loss. the trial, the suffering,
tne shlver' al OF them were needed, to reveal
the tips of the angel wings.
10 discharge the duties of a staff officer,
commlssary, upon such march, in m army of
hat Clad, Oarefooted and hungry men, with a
winters sky above him ana al empty country
around him, was to tread no primrose path.
And yet he trod it! Sadly perhaps, but with
uunagglng re5oiution-hlmself uncompl aiming
In the midst OF clamorOus cOmpialn,-calmly
ana maniully he moved forward TO the end.
1t has occurred TO me that the campaign of his
entire life may be fairly asslmiated to this
desperate march of Confederates For him
was neither the pomp and circumstance of
glorious war;" nor the delights and dis
tlnctlons of Astounding life. And vet
the man who has encountered the seet
rather than the sunshine; who has marched
steadily through unpropitiOus circumstance
ana not been wholly overcome; who has seen
the good things of this life rest aboundingly
upon the shoulders Of others, while his own
were omparatlvelY bare; and yet who has
carried throughout heart devoid OF bitter
ness toward his fellows; who. in his silent
communings with himself and in his PRAYERS
to his Maker, might have SAID simply: Per
haps they needed them more than I;'' and
who thus marched, sadly. it may be, but al
ways uprght-eyen 10 the end such an one
NAV have been the most successful man of us
ALL"
Judge Adams made a few fitting re-
marks and instructed the clerk to record
the resolutions on the minutes of the
court.