The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-06-29
JAMES H. BELL.
MEMORIAL SERVICES HELD YEsTER.
DAY BY THE AUSTIN BAR.
Resolutions Passed and Addresses Made on
This Distinguished Jurist - Life and
Deeds-Judges Goldthwaite and
Stayton Deliver Addresses.

In compliance with the following
resolutions the Austin bar met in the
supreme court room yesterday morn
ins to pass resolutions suitable to the
memory of Judge Jas. H. Bell:
AUSTIN, June II, 1893.
The adjourned meeting of the men,
bers of the bar of the supreme court
of Texas, in the city of Austin, on the
18th day ofJune, 1898, pursuant to the
call of the chairman of the meeting,
and on motion of John Dowell, Jas.
H. Burts was elected chairman of the
meeting and N. A. Rector was chosen
secretary.
On motion of A. s. Walker, the fol-
lowing resolutions were adopted:
Resolved, That the bar of the su.
preme court of the state deem it q
duty to give expression of their re-
gard and esteem for the late Judge
James II. Bell, native of Texas, who
died lately at his residence in the city
of Austin.
First-That the memory of Judge
Bell should be cherished because of
the learning, industry and grasp of in
tellect brought by him to the dis
charge of his duties as judge of this
court; for his great contributions to
the jurisprudence Of the state; for his
courtesy as gentleman and fidelity
as a friend, and for his patriotism and
worth as citizen.
Second That Judge George Goldth-
waite and ex. Gov. o. M. Roberts be
requested to present these resolutions
to the court and move that they be
entered of record.
Third-Ihat q copy hereof be com.
municated to the family of the de-
ceased. A. s. WALKER,
Chairman of Committee on Resolu-
tons.
The first order of the meeting was
the reading of the above resolu.
lions after which Judge Goldthwaite
presented graphic description of the
life, deeds and doing of Judge Bell.
Following this came Judge Stayton,
who delivered the following able ad-
dress, after which the meeting ad.
journed.
surroundings of early life leave their
impress on every human being, and
intensity character.
Judge Bell was born while the
echoes from bloody fields that brought
freedom to his birth and forever sew
cred Mexico from the Spanish crown
were still heard in every home and
hamlet in the land.
They spoke of the suffering, toll and
blood that freedom cost, and of the
silent graves and grand lives OF men
whose names will be revered so long
as liberty hath her worshippers.
Before his boyhood's years were
passed, he saw free government again
destroyed, and worse than Spanish
rule i'm posed on all the land that had
not spirit to resist the reign of ar,
bitrary power.
He saw the gathering storm oppres-
sion raised, and witnessed the culmi-
nation of the struggle that made Texas
free and independent nation.
He knew the grand men who psr-
ticlpated in that contest, and the no.
BILE women vino shared their dangers,
privations and tolls. and from them
came no inspiration to weaken his love
for the land of his birth.
In early life, he bore arms in her
service, and for many years partioipa-
ted in, and witnessed the dangers and
struggles of her people.
A life so spent was calculated to
make brave man, peril to country so
imminent and long continued to make
a patriotic man, but crisis in nation
al affairs came which tested the cour-
age and patriotism of all men who
lived in the South.
He is not always the bravest man
who is ready to face the lannon's
mouth; and it is easy, even for the
weak, in times OF great excitement, to
be moved by popular impulse and to
face danger or advise course which
cool reflection on their part would con-
denim, but in times of great public ex-
element when the veal Of nation is
at stake it is only the men of true pa
triotism and courage who, In the face
of overwh Ginning adverse opinion, can
calmly weigh the surroundings and
advise a course, which for the time
may cause his courage or love of coun-
try to be suspected.
For many years national affairs
were such as justly to alarm the South
ern people and In 1860 events occurred
which caused pure and liberty loving
men to believe that separation from
the states of the North was necessary
to the security and future welfare of
the South. so believed the great
mass of the people of this state. At
no period was there ever such unanim-
ity upon any question, and man in
pubic life who then uttered senti-
ments adverse to secession seemed to
have no future and his motives were
liable to misconception.
Judge Bell did not question the ex.
istence of cause for alarm but believed
that security was not TO be found in
secession; and in the words that now
seem prophetic in a public address
made at the capital of the state, he
fearlessly expressed his views; at
tempted to allay public excitement,
and to avert disaster that followed.
That such results came, argues
nothing against the purity of the mo-
tives or patriotism of the Southern
people, nor do they show that their
cause was not just, for, when differ
ences are submitted to the arbitra.