The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-26
THE LAMENTED LAMAR.
TENDER TRIBUTES TO THE MEM
DRY OF TIE DEAD JUSTICE.

Col Mercer Presents Resolutions in
the United States Court and Judge
speer Eloquently Eulogizes the
Great Georgian-Mr. duBignon Pro-
nounces Him One of the Great Men
Sure TO Live in History.
The memorial exercises yesterday in the
United States court, in honor of the late
Justice L. Q. G. Lamar, were of an inn
pressive character. A large number Of the
members Of the legal profession occupied
seats within the bar, and there we're also
number of other spectators.
The resolutions presented by the commit
tee, through its chairman, Col. George A.
Mercer. spoke feelingly Of the noble quail
ties which the dead jurist had exhibited in
every station which he occupied in his long
career of usefulness, and recounted his
commanding attitude in the councils of the
nation and in the forum, and his endearing
personal qualities and high character as
Christian gentleman.
"The high judicial qualities displayed by
Justice Lamar during his brief tenure
on the bench" said the resolutions,
have commended him to his
fellow citizens without regard TO creed,
politics or profession, and be has passed
away in the ripeness of his fame with the
unstinted respect and approval OF his
eountrymen.
A MAN OF MASSIVE THOUGHT.
'His judicial attribute 10 some extent
could be predicated from the qualities of his
life. He was a man whom conscience gave
direction In all his course. He was PAINS
taking and thorough. His views Of legal
and constitutional questions were broad and
comprehensive, and his official labors evil
denced a massiveaess OF thought and effort.
"HIs severance from public Office was
detrimeut to the people,
Hon. +. g. duBignon seconded the reso-
buttons In q few eloquent remarks. he re-
ferTed to the eminent services of Justice
Lamar in the three great departments OF
the national government, the Senate, cabi-
net and the supreme court, aud held him
up as one OF the great men OF his time,
whose deeds will live after him in unperish-
able fame in the history Of his country.
de had, said Mr.. duBignon, O charm and
sweetness of manner in his private rela-
tions of life which made everybody love
him. He had that greatness which men
love most to honor-a greatness which by
affection gave life to adIniration-and won
for him immortal remembrance by inn
mortal love.
JUDGE sPEER's EULoGY.
Judge Speer's eulogy of Justice Lamar
was a masterpiece. He delivered it with a
touching eloquence, which betokened that
he keenly felt he had lost dear friend.
Judge Speer said:
have no heart TO speak in measured words
and studied eulogy of our great friend and
Justice who is dead. AS did many of the men,
beers of this bar, l knew him and loved him.
The events Of his great life are now matters of
history. No repetition of them would be neces-
sary or appropriate on this occasion. Like many
of the great men of Georgia. Justice Lamar was
very close TO the brave, true and sensible people
OF this state He understood them and they
understood him. The people of his adopted
state. largely made up from immigration from
tnis state, appreciated his character as he appre-
cated theirs. His mother was q woman of re-
markable power. This is true of many great
men.
OF his father, who was a member Of that
historic family who in the field, in the Sem
ate, on the bench. in every walk OF life. have
Illustrated every nation to which it belonged,
something has already been said His mother
was perhaps more typical Georgian than the
father, mean in possessing those qualities Of
shrewd, practical, and forceful common sense
Tor which the people Of this state are noted
s RSS the union she was greet Neth0
Georgia was rendeyouz for the Methodist
Clergy OF that time.
JUSTICE LAMAH's RARLY LIFE.
1t is difficult for gentlemen who are reared 10
the associations OF this seaboaTd city, with its
English traditions, where every priest is sup
posed TO wear the surplice, to understand the
power the eloquence and fascinating influence
which belonged to the great Methodist clergy OF
that day and time. His early life was spent In
intimate association with such men as DR.. Low
ick Pierce. whose grand powers of eloquence
and whose vigorous satire was exerted for the
cause OF the south in the great controversy be-
tween the Methodists of the two sections.
lie was younger, though in a certain meas.
ure contemporary of Bishop Pierce, George
T. Pierce. He loved to listen TO the words Of
wisdom that fell from the lips of Sam An
Irony ana James Evans aud many of those
great preachers whose names are now his
eorlc in the annals of that church, and 1t is
not surprising that there should have been
throughout his entire life a devotional tinge
to all his utterauces and an imaginative cast
to his appeals TO his fellow men and TO listen.
ing senates. 1t is true also that the habits of
the great men OF Georgia of that day brought
rnem more nc closely in connection with the
stephens, Robert Toombs, Ben Hill, Aiexan-
der II. stephens, Justice Lamar were known
as intimately to the residents of the smaller
eillages where they resided as were the bows
who belonged to the families OF those resi-
dents.
MAN OF POWERFUL MEMORY
II would be very startling, indeed for the
denizens of this metropolitan city as they came
ont to business in the morning to see ths grave
and dignified members of this committee sit
swapping yarns with the merchants aud the
people, and yet that was common character
site OF those great men of whom speak,
knew some or them; | knew their character
representative men nearer the people than are
she great men of the metropolitan cities. They
understood the people and the people under
stood them IL was said Of Mr.. Hill once that
1e could throw down any man in Latirange in
lwrestle, an accomplishment which was some
times valuable TO him in contest In forum
not strictly forensic
| often talked with Justice Lamar about
these characteristics. IL | may SO call them, OF
the great men of Middle Georgia, and he attrib-
uted to those habits much OF the strength
popularity, and influence which belonged TO
them.
HIS MENTAL ATTRIBUTES.
His mental attributes, while remarkably
powerful, were remarkably singular He told
me on one occasion that whenever he made a
speech he thought 1t out as an entirety, not
only In substance, but in the expressions and
application of the precise language which he
purposed 70 use before his audience. Then he
wrote out the speech thus perfected. You can
We'll perceive how this process would add to the
powers OF excogttation He had a singular and
powerful memory
In an address at the commencement of En-
DRY College, about three years ago. he took for
his theme three addresses which he had heard
there when student One was the first com
mencement Grafton at that college delivered
oy George f. Pierce, then a young preacher;
the other q sermon nv Risbor1 Gnula and