The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1886-01-07

tucll'llBf ttul W ME a member or the Leg
I7lature Of 1915, he introduced a bill for
its suppression, which he advocated by an
able and eloquent speech
Upon his removal to Hilsboro' he pur-
chased the dwelling house of his friend
and relative, Judge Cameron and there
resided until his death.
He attended the courts Of Orange and
Granville for many years, and enjoyed the
legitimate fruits Of his unsulled reputa-
ton and ability in the large and liberal
practice which he obtained.
He was an especial favorite in the coua-.;
Of Granville, where his practice was very
lucrative. During the Presidency of Dr.
Chapman at Chapel Hill, he and his de
voted wife became members Of the Pres
byterlan Church, and during a period of
near hall century, bJ their life and con
VcrSatlon, adorned the doctrine of their
Lord and saviour. Their house was the
abode of generous and refined hospitality,
and was especially the home Of the ser
wants Of their Saviour.
tncalculatin5 III his generosity Of soul,
he had not worldly wisdom enough to de
sire the accumulation Of wealth, and in
his declining days regretted that he had
not, on account Of his family, been more
conslderate in this respect.
Judge Nash's Judiciary career com
mcnced in 1918, by his unsolicited APP
pontment to the Circuit Bench, which
post he occupied till 1896
This office requires for its Just discharge,
not only legal learning but high moral
qualltles-there are many severe trials of
patience and temper.
The Judge has often not only to re-
stain the ardor Of counsel who has adopt
ed his clients cause as his own-sternly
to hold the scales OF justice in equipoise-
but even sometimes to take care that the
client cause does not suffer from the
rashHcSs, IneXperience or neglect of coun-
sell to encourage the tinnid and rebuke
the bold.
Judge Nash was quite equal to these
duties, and, moreover possessed in an en-
| inent degree that rare and noble quality,
moral courage.
If ie erred in his opinion. he had the
magnanimity to avow it and hat too pub
icly on the bench. He possessed those
qualities which a distinguished writer,
Lord Campbell, (hinsef an eminent
Judge,) has designated aS essential to a
good Judge: ''Patence in hearing, even
| ness of temper and kindness of heart
| These with competent learning and the
urbane manners of a gentleman, acquired
| by early associations III a town where the
| traditional culture of the olden time
| still fingered, contributed to form 4 char
| ttCttI VI lttiS jli'llCliI tf\CtIICliCC
Upon his breast the ermine acquired ad-
ditlonal purity Though his judicial char
acter was marked by the courtesy and
| kindness of the christian gentleman, yet
| when duty required, he manifested all the
sternness and iufeXibility of the Judge
| He rejoiced in the truth, and boldly sus-
tanned it in all the various contingencies
of long and useful life; he was no timd
! worshipper of a false and tieeting popu-
larity, that echo of folly and shadow of
renoWn" but did his duty and left the
| consequences to his God
He resigned his seat on the Circuit
| Bench in 1926; and in 1S21-2S, represent
ed the borough of Hillsboro' in the House
! of Commons. During the session of 1928
series of very severe, and as many able
| lawyers thought, Incorporate and uncon-
StitutiOnal measures, We're proposed against
the Banks of the State. Mr.. Nash, having
no interest of pecuniary nature III these
| institutions, felt that a great principle was
often most successfully assaied by means
of a popular hue and cry, he maufully
! breasted the torrent, and in a speech
fraught with the noblest inspirations and
replete with cogent argument, forced con
| victiOn on the minds of the doubling, and
! defeated the wild and mischlevous schemes
of those who were determined, 'per fas
| aut nefas" to crush these then unpOpu-
| lar institutions.
He was again elected to the Superior
Court Bench in 1886, and in 1914 was
transferred to the Bench of the Supreme
Court to fill the vacancy caused by the
death of the lamented Castor.
Upon the resignation of the Hon Thos.
Ruffin, he was appointed Chief Justice,
which eminent position he held until his
| death
The last public act of Judge Nash was
the attendance on the Synod of North
Carolina, which assembled at his native
town the autumn before his death. OF
this body he was a Jealous and useful
member, and cordially united with its
members III the service of the God whom
he loved and adored
1t is thought that to the fatigue and
exposure to his journey home from this
Assembly his mortal illness is to be as
cribetl If So ii must have been to him
a source of Joy that he died in harness as
a soldier of the cross.
His earthly honors, however great, paled
before the glorious scene which his death
bed presented. Here might be seen how
Il Christian dies. Although conscious OF
approaching dissolution, his tender anNl-
ETY. for his family was manifested in atten-
ton to their comfort and health, IN utter
: forgetfulness of self.
these awful moments unsurpassed. The
urbanity of the gentleman still fingered
and was beautifully and harmoniously
blended with the affectionate kindness of
the father the tender devotion of the
husband was associated with the sincere
and cheerful submission of the Christian.
\ friend called in to see him when his
end was supposed to be rapidly approach
ing To him lie talked so calmly of his
future state-so cheerfully and with a
trust so firm and unshaken in his Saviour,
that he exclaimed when he left his bedside
This IS a glorious termination of life. >
1t was indeed glorious as an end, but still
more SO as the beginning of the life eter-
nal. 1t was glory, compared with which,
the pomp and triumphs of the battle field
fade into insignifcance. At that moment,
the recollection Of well-spent life was
far more consoling to himself and his
family, than if he had been the victor on
a hundred fields. He had his triumph,
and a noble one, though achieved upon
| the lowly bed of the dying christian.
To his family and friends his loss is in
deed irreparable; but they may well ex-
5 claim in regard to such a man
'.'Tis better to have loved and lost,
Than never to have loved at all
Judge Nash died at his home in Hills
borough, on the 5th day of December, 1858.