The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-07-15
STRIyCrELLOw'S EuLOGY.
re,aurE TO JUDGE e. n. F'<--
HuoH's MEMORY.

In The Circuit Court yes"'""' 80 -
Major Charles :. stringfellow, on oena ', u
no, ~ the city, presented the reso'"'''"s
Tho, adopte,l at a recent meeting III respco'
- ,,o memory Of Judge Edward H. nv
hugh. In doing 50, Major string'eiio" s""'
THE ADDRESS.
NAV IL please the court; 10 ,l'v u.s., ~ Iii
~ bave nassed the summit OF Mes mn
and soc the shadows OF evening lenR.ne ~
;nc around ms as we make our way uown ~
The valley at it's foot, where All OF us mt NJ,
rcst AT last. those words OF the iso'lian P of
,ha, we learned in ourRhool..o.,Hyo aaS Wv
recur with ever increasing s'E"'"e'
omncs codem coeimur. omnium
yersatur urna, scrius, oclus
49, evitnra. et nos In aeternIm
Fxtlium impOsitura cuihoae'
v,or, this faferll urn was drawn on ihe
s-,h 81 lime last the lot Of Edward III. fitl-
h,sh late Judge Of the Chancery Court Oh
this city. and have been commissioner y!
n general meeting Of the members ~ SIo
Rencb and Bar 10 present 10 this ho, r "|' '
court the resolutions by them auop.e eu -, ~
Concession of their admiration oil ms many
cAp 49, and of their s0rrow at his death,
cd M request that they may DC spreau
I'm ia records. in perpetual remembrance
~ onr denaried friend, who wortnliy WoIe'
"a for many wears, without STAN OF IT,
nroach. hOnOrably wore the eIi"i"o VI -
need hardly say that heartily concur
l., mis- tribute 10 one who, as puDlc ON
cor commanded the respect, ana AZ a plr
waite Individual compelled the love OIL MS
fellow-citiZens.
JUDICIAL POWER.
In the course of great speech, delivered
so,ne half century since, at dinner over
,,h;ch chancellor Kent presided, MI. NeO
s,er said; "The judicial power comes noin'
10 every man. IL touches every prifat'
right and almost every prlvate lceli1s
What we possess is hardly III 10 be caHeo
our own. unless we feel secure IN lts pos
session, and this security, that ieeiing "
norfect safety cannot exist under wicked
ar oven n weak administration OF the laws
There il no happiness, there is no liberty
there is no enjoyment OF life, unless u mar
can saw when he rises in the morning,
shall be subject 10 the decision oil no uhJus
Judge to-day ,,.,.,,.,, ,orc,
and influence Of law, the fact that us rlght
full and honest administrator - tne cUi "e -
stone Of civil society, that by the purity o
lis Judges. their ability and integrity, th'
Droeress of society may be measured, ant
ihat without ability, independence, and I'M
partiality in the judiciary, social progress
4 practically impossible, and social III.
itself a burden, all men instinctively feel
and universally acknowledge.
CLEAR HEAD AND PURE HEART.
In proportion. therefore, as they execrat
him who cOrrupts its fountain and perVerts
tic streams 10 selfish or unworthy ENDS
they honor and revere the man who, win
clear hand and pure heart, holds the scales
Of iustjco evenly balanced in clean hands
and without fear, favor or affection minis
tiers judgments 10 the people IN uprlghtness.
The historian Of Today shuddefs Win MOI
ror as he writes the names and records IN
deeds of ScrOgys and Jeiireys, while nj
naoes glow with love and yeneration as n
recounis the virtues and tells the story o
The lives of Hardwicke and Hale. III
RIGHTS and liberties which England's sturd.
barons secured for the English people unde
the Oaks of Runnymede had long since per
ished and been forgotten, but for the indom
liable courage, the great learning and com
manding ability with which they have Deel
guarded and upheld by England illustrlou
Judges.
In the main, the principles of the com
mon law and the fundamental rules for III
construction of our statute laws and writ
Ten constitutions have been so firmly estat
lished ana are now so clearly set out
limited. and defined in the opinions AM
INDICTMENTS of the great jurists who hav
adorned the annals of English and Amer
can Jurisprudence, that il will rarely If eve
again be given to any man on the Bench u
WELD the influence of Holt, Mansneld
or a Marshall. BY such master builder
the foundations of the magnificent temple
Of Justice have been so deeply lald anu -
strongly cemented, its halls and apartment
SO wisely planned and so admirably ar
ranged, and the whole superstructure reared
in such enduring strength and beauty, tina
but little now remains for the hands OF tn
most skilful workman save the task OF pre-
serving il intact in all its splendid proper
tions. Surely noble task, worthy the high
est aspirations and the most honorable am
biti0n Of man.
TRUTH AND MERCY.
And so in this busy, practical age Of ours
think the best and most useful Judge ls
one who, with heart imbued with the lov'
of truth and mercy, and mind well STORED
with solid learning, strives not after th'
vain reputation OF originality or genius, Du
giving due weight TO accepted authority, Il
content to follow the great LANDMARKS 0
The law, and discharge his honorable dutie
IN the light Of that wisdom which come
from long experience, careful study, an'
a profound reverence for the eternal prin
ciples of Justice and right, remembering
ever those weighty words Of Cicero, which
should he inscribed on the hearts Of Judges
LAWYERS and laymen alike: Sed hoe veris
simiIm, sine summa justitia, republican
nullo mod0 geri posse. And such judge
was Edward ii. Fitzhugh.
VIGOROUS MIND.
He was endowed by nature with vigor
Gus mind which years OF patient study
careful training and close observation haC
greatly strengthened and enriched. 1t wa
more comprehensive than brilliant; no
wanting, indeed, in qulckness OF percep
tlon, but more remarkable for the clearnes'
and strength of its reasoning powers. An(
so his learning, which was very extensive
was practical and useful, rather snowy Of
ornamental lie listened 10 be instructed
he studied 10 learn and know; and he re
Elected, that his Judgment might be i'm
proved and his opinions rightly formed
His love Of justice was not merely sentl
lnent, but masterful passion which i'm
Delled him to give TO its administrator
every energy of his heart and mind.
His temper was even and his disposition
singularly amiable. Without arrogance
intolerance or self assertion, he was at tn
same time a man Of strong will, unilinchinl
courage and remarkable decision of charac
Ter. Fully approaching the dignity, dill
entity and responsibilities of his office, II
the performance of its duties and obliga
lions lac was courteous and kind, wise ant
temperate, but firm and determined, incor
Tuptibly honest and inflexibly just.
POLITE AND AFFABLE.
Easily approached. polite aud afiable I
all: 10 the members Of the bar he was kim
and considerable, ever willing TO consul
their wishes and convenience when tbi
could be done without the sacrifice OF publ
interests. TO the arguments OF counsel h
gave the closest attention, and never formc
his opinions in doubtful or difficult cases
until he had patiently investigated the fact
and carefully examined and weighed IN
authorities cited, and this he did with sue
sound, impartial and discriminating judl
ment. that his conclusions were general
accepted as just and correct, and his de
erees when appealed from as generally SUE
tanned. An accurate pleader when at ia
bar. he was mindful OF the proper an
orderly forms aud proceedings of the la'
when on the bench, and though he wisel
enforced them, yet, "rich In saving cOmmo
sense" he never lost sight Of practical n
suits, or sacrificed substance 20 form;
fechnicalities.
DEVOTION TO DUTY.