The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-08-11
THE DEATH OF JUDGE DAVIS.

ness of evening, at his residence in the
town of Louisburg, there passed away
from earth the spirit o.. Joseph ].
Davis. He died in the county Of his
birth among the people that he loved,
and his last glance fell upon faces that
were full of sorrow and weeping. The
news of his death will cause many 4
heart to throb and many an eye to
grow moist, for there never dwelt in
manly frame spirit that was gentler,
braver or more unsellsh. He served
his people as soldier, as statesman, as
lawyer, as Judge, as citizen. He lived
an times that tried mems souls; he
passed through the furnace of war
and reconstruction, of political de-
bauchery and social upheaval, of
poverty, debt and defeat, coming out
of them all as pure and clean as
polished steel. His neighbors loved
him as a kinsman and his fellow
citizens everywhere esteemed and
trusted him as true and blameless
gentleman, a genuine modern knight
without fear and without reproach.
He was born gentleman; he was
gentle and affectionate with little
children, whose hearts went out
quickly to him; he was kind and
courteous to the poor and humble of
both races, who recognized him as a
genuine friend; he was patient and
gentle with dumb animals, and for all
nature he felt intense sympathy and
reverence.
He was pure and modest; he had
the courage to face shot and she'll, to
dwell in the daily horrors of Delaware
and Johnson's Island, but he blushed
like girl at indecency or profanity
Although three times elected to Con-
gress after campaigns of great earnest
ness and heat, he never allowed
indecent personalities or BLACKBOARD
thrusts. Only once was it attempted.
His thoughts and his words we're clean
and pure. He was true and honest;
never for one moment did he waver in
loyalty to his people, his party, his
religion. There were no variations in
the compass of his character. Amid
the corruption that marked political
life while he was in Congress he re-
manned pure and undefiled, rich in
character and integrity. Lobbyists
and bribe-g ivers shrank from his
presence as evil shrinks away from
virtue.
He is gone; and North Carolina has
not a nobler son remaining. For
five years he has exemplifed as a men,
Der of our highest judicial tribunal
the wise and unerring judgment Of a
pure and honest mind; for six years he
stood in the halls of our national Con-
gresS living retutation of vne SIAN
ders against Southern honesty and
Southern manhood; for two years he
suffered in Northern prisons, insulted
by negro guards; for two years he
fought with Lee; for over half a CEN
fury he has illustrated the beauty, the
sweetness and the strength of human
character purified by Christian faith.
He was born in Franklin county,
April IS, 1928. He wa, educated at
Wake Forest and at the Universe ty
receiving the degree of Bachelor OF
Laws in 1850. He was captain OF
company G, 47th regiment; was cap
tured at Gettysburg July srd, and was
in prison until near the close of the
war. He was in Congress from 1874
to 1880. He has been a Justice OF the
Supreme Court since 1887
In every station in life, whether as
husband, father, friend, citizen, soldier,
statesman or Judge he used his best
powers for the performance of duty
and died with conscience void of Of
Tense toward man or God.-Stute
Chrovt-Ir