Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-07-09


OF the court, saying: You have
sacrificed your practice in Tennessee
and all you had for love Of
take the place. AS the fees belong to
the clerk YOU will receive some recon-
pense for your losses: besides you will
aid my friend Justi, Cartier, in carry
ing out a much cherished project OF
mne."
This offer Mr. Meigs also refused,
such friends as Brumlaw, MAYNARD,
johnson, Spencer, Cartier, and others.
He was nominated for the supreme
bench by Mr.. Lincoln, but Andrew
johnson, then Vice President, having
the list Of nominations before him,
drew his pen through the name of MIR.
Meigs substituting another, saving. AS
was no doubt true, that Mr.. Meigs had
told HIM he did not care for the place.
Thus to the chagrin of the President
Mr.. johnson took advantage of the
peculiar modesty of the man and de.
feated him for the honor. Such friends
as knew OF the facts have never ceased
to regret his action. Nobody knew
better than Andrew johnson the retir-
ing disposition of Mr.. MeiSs. He had
employed his talents for many years.
During the whole period of his several
terms as Governor Of Tennessee he had
consulted him upon almost every legal
point that arose. He USED to say that,
| although Mr.. Meigs was Wing and he
| Democrat. he couldget honest lava nd
advice from him. because Megs had no
tx 10 grind.
| Several times Mr.. Meigs was elected
to the House or Senate Of Tennessee,
but never did he sesk the place. The
office sought him. But whenit was
proposed That Tennessee should hold a
convention in 1861 to consider tie
question of seeding frcm the Union,
Mr.. Meigs took the stump and canvassed
great part Of the State against such
plan. Although Tennessee became d
battlefield. 1T never seeded from the
Union. The convention was defeated
by over $1,000 majority.
Mr.. MeigS' brain is as active as ever
At this day he is consulted by the
court, and to the young lawyers of the
dstrict-nay, to almost all who prac-
tice before the court-he is a veritabls
Nestor. who discusses their cases, citing
authority. book and page. Thus ht
he has endeared himself to all, and per
haps no man in Washington is more be
loved than he. His memory isperfect
His handwriting is as firm and regular
as ever. When needed, he take
minutes of the proceedings of tn,
courts, making up the record.
He is the grandson of Col. Return J
Meigs of revolutionary fame, TO whom
Congress voted sword for gallantr,
at Sag Harbor. Mr.. Meiss has tina
: sword, together with the knee buck le
Of Gen. Montgomery, who sent then
, to his efficient colonel (Meigs) when h.
fell at Quebec.
Return j. Meigs of Ohio, who wa
Governor of that State and Postmaste Ell
General Of the United States, was a
uncle Of Mr.. Meigs, and also Of Dr.
Charles d. Meigs of Philadelphia-s
beloved by the medical profession O
the whole Countrywide father @
Montgomery Meigs, quartermaster
general of the United States durin
. the war, and brother Of Judge Henr
Meigs of New York.
Two Of the sons of Mr. Meigs serve
!, in the army Of the Union. One, Cant
Fielding p. Meigs. is dead; the oths
Capt. Joseph V. Meigs. is The invento
of the Meigs railway. Anorher Jane
l. Meigs, is a distinguished enginee,
well-known reabouts from his cor
} nection with his brothers railway. {.