The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1891-10-31

The members OF tho Bar Of the First
Judicial Circuit OF the State Of Florida
present this memoeial to the memory OF
their late comrade, Geo. G. McWhorter:
George Gray McWhortsr was born in
Coosada, Autauga county, Alabama, on
February 81, 1888. In his early manhood
he was married, September 80, 1855, to
Miss Mary Roache Of Columbia, South
Carolina, and on January z, 1857, he was
admitted to the bar in Alabama, but
shortly thereafter came to Milton, Flor
ida, where he has since resided. In 1875
he was elected by a loving and enthusi-
astic constituency in Santa Rosa county
to the legislature of the State of Florida
and by the legislature was elected speaker
of the house Of repre- sentatives. In 1884
he was presidential elector, and in JAN
uary, 1885, was appointed chief justice of
the State of Florida, which position he
held until his resignation in August, 1887.
He passed from one trust to another, re-
ceiving an appointment as railroad COM
missioner Of the State Of Florida during
the same month, and continued as such
until April &c. 1891, when he resigned,
just three weeks before his death, which
occurred on May 81, 1891.
The Offices which man holds are re-
suits, not characteristics, and they shadow
forth dimly, if at all, the man himself.
Our friend as an officer was a faithful
servitOr, an ornament to the common
wealth, an unfailing source of pride to
those who loved him, and an exemplar to
aspiring imitators of a servant of the
people, and yet lord among men, But
to those who knew him his public life
lent no glory to him.
Office to him was as the atmosphere to
the sun-an aid to the reflection of the
glory, so that many might see but in no
wise increasing the glory itself.
Without Office he would still have
lowered above his fellows like ''the tall
mast of some great ammiral"
He was learned, but his learning sat
upon him lightly as flower, and the
humblest friend was as welcome to his
confidence, his sympathy and his aid as
would have been the proudest potentate.
His insight piercing and his wit was keen,
but the first was used only in the separ-
alton of truth and error, and the last,
like lthuriel's spear, only in the exposure
of false pretensions.
If he had an enemy we know it not.
If such he had. then that enemy was
wrong-for the all-pervading character
istic Of his nature was a broad liberality
which enabled him to see the right of his
antagonists position, and sense of JUS
tice, which compelled him 10 acknowledge
that right and concede to it's full legiti-
mate effect. His ever ready sympathy,
his patience with the frailtivs of others,
his out-reaching kindness and his album
dant unwavering sincerity attached all to |
him, and no man could be found to raise |
his voice against him, living or dead.
Of him as a friend we cannot speak, |
fO- we would speak too much, but those |
to whom the boon of his friendship was |
given will ever remember it as the price
less gift of a golden season, which will
always keep their hearts warmer and |
their lives better.
In all the relations of life he was such
that the quiet congregation of those who
sleep hold no nObler spirit than his.
We desire to present our small tribute
and to perpetuate it as far as we may;
and therefore it is
and g ~ =, !, I'll
Resolved, That the court be requested
TO direct it to be spread upon the min
ates thereof, and that page be inscrib-
10 the memory Of the deceased
GEO. MARQUIS, SR-,
W. A. BLoUNT,
w. 81. MILTON,
G. j. PERRENoT,
ERNEST AMOS,
Committee.
Able addresses were made by Judge