The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-30
INFLUENCE OF THE LAWYER.
Subject Of The Splendid Address by Nj.
Breckenridge
BAR ASSOCIATIONS NEW OFFICERS.
pr. Thomas Nelson Page Read an Interest
Ing Papor-Lsw and Equity PROCEDURE
Resolutions by Mr.. Patteson'

WHITE SrIpHuB NPEiNos, W. We "uiJ 80
Especial. The Grafton delivered before the
Virginia State Bar Association to-day by Hon.
w @. y Breckinridge is by common consent
pronounced the most eloquent. beautiiul ana
valuable address ever delivered on such an
occasion. The subject was The Lawyer and
Uis In fuence Upon Society and Civilization"
He smoke without notes and never faltered for
word. 1t is impossible 70 give an adequate
ippression of the eloquence Of the great
speaker One moment the audience were
blinded by tears. the next found them in
roaIs Of laughter. The enthusiasm baifies de-
scripti0n Al the conclusion he was CON-
pletely overwhelmed withan ovation in which
ladies and gentlemen pressed around to con-
graduate HIM
when the storm of applause bad subsidized,
ON motion OF Hon. J. Randolph Tucker the
thanks Of the Association for the splendid
GRAFTON were voted he great orator.
The only business taken up WAS the election
Of officers for the ensuing year. Hon. j.
Randolph Tucker was elected president; VICE
Presidents. Thomas ID. Ransom, A. a. Gray.
James F. Croker D. Z. Fitzgerald Henry a.
Routh: Secretary and Treasurer. James q.
Lamb, Executive Committee +. II. Mcclure,
n. Il. Davis. George n. Harrison, MicaJah
Woods. K +. Henley and G. V. Meredith.
Mr.. +. H. Mcclure and Mr.. George III.
Harrison are both mentioned for the chair
msnship Of the executive committee.
OLD 7U0rsIA LAwYEH.
The Association met IN tho evening at 9
o'clock. and very interesting paper was read
by Dr. Thomas n. Page, whose subject was
The Old Virginia Lawyer Dr. Page
said he had been taken at a disadvantage,
having been called upon as substitute for
Major Reilly, whose place he could not I'LL.
The speaker outlined with power, pathos and
fba helH nv fha
lawyer. showing the elements that went
10 make his character, his devotion
to his profession and belief in it. his unosten-
tatious charities and hospitality. The greatest
crime IN his eyes was being 'unprofessional
lie reduced everything to principles. and had
few books on circuit. He was said TO carry
his library and his wardrobe IN his saddle
bags. He did justice. loved mercy and walked
uprghtly. His size was known by the void
be left There was no record left of him as a
lawyer, but he had the reward he would have
preferred-he lott much charity In secret, an
unsullied profession and the Jurisprudence of
his State.
Mir Page spoke before full audience of
ladies' and gentlemen. and held their attention
throughout lie was greeted with enthusiastic
applause.
LAW AND EQUITY.
After he concluded report was read by
Bir 5. ). T. Patteson chairman Of the spo-
cisl committee on law reform appointed
the meeting hold at Old Point Comfort Va,
IN July, 1890, TO report upon the following
Resolved, That 1t is the sense OF this AS
ISOLATION that law and equity procedure
should be consolidated so that legal and equi-
table rights can be administered in one form
Of action"
In submitting the report of the major
ity Of the committee recommending
the adoption of the resolution Mr..
Patteson said: The resolution was Of
l.xrV IL A II
study ana much thought. The report which
has been filed shows that the committee favor
the consolidation Of law and equity pro-
cedure into one form Of civil action. The rea-
Sons printed with the report are brief and il is
perhaps proper that should add something
more by way of explanation. We are all
familiar with the maxim that there shall be
no wrong without a remedy. But we know
that IN practice cases OF great hardship are
constantly occurring when the remedy af-
forded by the law is very inadequate.
TO SEEK REDRESS.
As the court room is the place whore mod |
ern ideas force persons 10 seek redress for all |
kinds of wrongs IT is right that the mum |
merry and solemn juggling which suited the !
Imagination oil tho antique world should be |
driven out by the com nonsense methods of |
tho nineteenth century. All thorns should be |
exposed whether found in the courtroom or |
elsewhere. and controversies should be settled |
oh tncli tnclilS anu not on teclmcdltcB. !
Alter tracing the historical development |
OF tho science of law and equity |
and their separate procedure az ex- |
efnplihed in the Roman a. well as the !
English Jurisprudence. and showing how as |
civilization advanced the tendency was for |
the two systems TO become united into a !
homogeneous whole. even without the assist |
ance of the Legislatures
be showed that the fusion and consolida- |
ton recommended to the Association ia this |
resolution had been effected in New York ia |
1sis In England in 1873 and since then in ma |
lority of the fOrty-four States of the American |
Unlon and that wherever it has been adopted |
II has given universal satisfaction by has !
tening the administration Of Justice SO |
that there mas been no return TO the |
antique procedure such as we have |
mad in Virginia. The change need produce |
no confusion Like every new truth, how |
ever. which has ever been propou n ded |
the change may for time cause discomfort |
to the members Of the Bar by the disper- |
sion OF old and cherished associations of |
thought, hut as it has been accepted by the
a6lest Judges, lawyers and statesmen of Eng |
land. and found by them TO rest upon scien- |
INC as well as practical basis. it is proper !
that Virginia too should take hold of il.
PROPERTY RIGHTs.
Tomorrow morning paper will be read by |
Hon. }. Randolph Tucker. which will be |
upon The Property Rights of Husband and |
Wife" which will no doubt be heard with |
great interest. In the evening. the banquet |
will be given and the toasts responded 10 by |
some OF the most eloquent speakers present |
1t is the largest and most enthusiastic meet |
ing the Association has ever had The beauty
OF the ladies accompanying the lawyers is
especially striking