The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-07-02

TOLD by tnOee WDO nave nau OCCASION
to examine it, that it is extremely
me ager and incomplete; indeed, if half
that is said of it be tue, it may we'll
be considered disgrace to the State.
The Bar Association OF Tennessee
should make it its business 10 30 pre-
sent the matter to the Legislature al
to secure additions 10 this library, su Ii
IS will meet the necessities OF the pro-
fession. / have had the privilege OF
examining the law library, furnished
at the capitol by other States, younger
and less abe than Tennessee to meet
he expenses of Safe library, and
have always done go With a tense @
shame and modification at the insigi
nifcant collection 10 be fund at the
capitol Of my own State. We know
that there is foolish prejudice abroa
in the land against expanding none
by the State IN any ent4rpr 50 that is9
supposed to be for the benefit of
the lawyers OF the State. This view,
however, is an extremely weak and
superficial one, and l will not permit
myself TO believe that co slant, card
est and persistent effNt on the part q
the profession will noJ Ne to RI
move this pre- JUDGE am invoke fIo1
the Lei i.latule a liberal irovisio
Such a library as this State shou
possess at its capitol concerns eve
department of the COVE nm mt, al
every citizen of the State interested
the proper administration of the cd
eminent, as much, if not more, than
does the lawyer, personally. won
recommend, therefore, that spec
committee Tor one of your siaudi
committees if it would answer
purpose bet err be charged with
du Of memorable n2 the Legislat|
at its next session upon this subj
And that in relation to the laborf
the committee, every member of
association shall M Ike it his busin
to personally interview aud solicit =
members from their respective coul
to take action upon the subjec ~.
we s art into this matter With a q
mination to succeed, if not with
Legislature, then the next, or
next, or the next, l am sure that
labors will not be in vain.
DEATH OF JUDGE BAXTER.
Since our last meeting the PROBES
has been called to mourn the deaf =
the Hon. Judge Baxter, Judge Of
Supreme Court of the 6pited st =:
for the Sixth judicial Circuit.
departed this life on the Sd DAY
April, 1885. Though not membe
this association, his eminence a
lawyer and az a cit.zen renders it
improper that a mention Of his
and services should find pace uI
the record Dis of the Bar Assoc 'atloI
Tennessee. Judge Baker was born
NJ nth Carolina, in RI herford coun
on the 9Th day Of April, 1919, OF Iri n
Protestant PAL entage He was adm
ted to the bar of North Carolina
1S4l, engsged in large praCt'cs
his profession for one of bis year
Alter serving several terms in til
House of Representatives OF that Statd
b-ing Speaker OF the Hous3 10 1867
he removed to Knoxville in 1856. In
seems to have INDUCED in no poll les
aspirations sfter his residence in Zen
nessee, as he held no Office exc spt thsy
| of a delegate 10 the Constitutional
| Convention OF 1870. He was conspicu-
GUS and distinguished in his effortssto
rehabilitate and build up the material
prosperity of his State aud r, move tho
political disabilities Of the citizen, ind
posed as penalties for p 7rScipation I'M
the civil war which BURST up IN thel
country lew years after his advent
TO the State. Much that is said of
him during the troublesome times in
East Tennessee Immediately following
the war would read like romance to
those OF us who did not then or sub,
sequently have the pleasure of a
PEI sonal acquaintance with the man.
His gigantic frame, his massive head
aud fire enkindled eye proclaimed
him as man OF action, a man Of con-
vict!on and man OF bravery and of
brains. 1t has been said Of him that
he was too austere and brUsque in his
intercourse with the bsr. TO some ex-
tent this criticism may be just, but it
is greatly exaggerated. He was prompt
to decide and slow TO tolerate needless
argument, and with large accumula.
ton OF business on the dockets Oh
the various courts over which heS
presided, it was necessary to the dis
patch Of business that he act promptly
and deci lively. His large learning and
extensive experience as lawyer, with
the knowled of elementary princi-
pies, enabled him to decide questions
with great promptness. If in doing SO
he sometimes erred, rs he uuquestion-
ably did, being human, his rror5 were
on virtues side. As time rolls on, and
when that distance which lends en-
chantmeDt to the view shall have OBJ
scured some of the mora acute angles
in his character, he will present fully
rounded picture of great lawyer, and
will live in the judicial history OF Ten
nessee, side by side With those who
have rendered that history illus
tIious.
OTHER BAR ASSOCIATIONS.
In conclusion it may b9 of interest
to the gentlemen present TO know that
the younger States are rapidly wheel
ing into line with their State bar ssso-I
Citations. l learn from the press o
the country that on the II h OF Janu
airy OF this year the Kansas State Bal
Association held is first annual meet
ing at Topeka. Its president is 81
Chief Justice of the State Suprsn
Court, while the United STA es CiTcJ -
Judge does patriotic duty in the ran
by reading paper. The Central
Journal, noticing the meeting,
"The leading members of the
sion, on and off the bench
take hold and encourage by
ton those who are less gil
more backward" Ia more tb f
body of this kind leading nj
on and off the bench, selfst
away and cast the task OF mai
the organization upon their
To some extent the same
could be passed upon the pr
in Tennessee. All honor
the distinguished exceptions
this rule who have adorned c
and other meetings of
Tennessee State Bar Associat
Z T. Is Of the first importance that
r:e.nbsrs of the profession general
throughout the State, should ia
} y ore interest in cur p oceedings. u
organizat on should assume mi
| ,aanons In, lifv in regard TO the yaTi