Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-07

that these courts consisted In general OF
the best men In the respective Counties
was as true az IL was just. ~ neither
love OF power nor desire for money couIu
be RTatifed by seat on the bench,' 'h"ne
who were Influenced by such consioera-
ton were not inclined TO become apph-
cants for the Office. Men, prompted W
an ignoble ambition. would not De uis
posed to seek place In which the SCI
vice was purely gratuitous and the re-
wards Of duty we'll performed were ol'iy
to be gained. The incumbents, anliha'en
by feeling OF just pride and a sense
Of their own dignity and importance az
we'll as love Of country. would not be
likely to recommend as their
soclates and Successors those VINO
did not command the respect and con-
fidence Of the people. These courts might
sometimes. be misled by artful and wary
advocates, or by those In whom theS
reposed great confidence. and. necessarily
they often make mistakes. but they coulc
not be inundated. nor were they SUD
jccted to any suspicion OF bribery ana
corruption.
COUNTY-COURTD DAY.
At a very early period, as far back as
tradition or historical sketch carries u.s.
tercst TO the people Of Virginia. Gene
rally. IL brought forth all classes ana
conditions OF society The farmer came
To exchange his commodities for the goods
OF the merchant 10 settle his taxes, anu
10 hear discussed the current topics OF
the day. The rich and aristocratic planter
was on hand, mingllng freely with his
less prctentious neighbors There was 10
be seen the Jew. which his pack Of cheap
jew clry, carried about on horseback. ana
there, too. was the ubiquitous Yankee
pedler, with his clocks and snowy goods
spread out in gorgeous array on tenn
porary counters In the courtyard.
Ever present, when an office was IN
view. was the smiling and indefaugable
candidate. proud and happy to grasp the
hand Of the bone and sinew OF the land-
the orny-handed sons Of toll. II was
great day I'm most Of the mountain coun-
ties for the county bully 10 exhibit MINI
self TO his admirers, eager for the Tray
which was 10 settle the question OF couh-
tv championship. | can recall many an
afternoon Of County-Court Day when the
Younger members OF the profession col
Iected on the tavern pOrches 10 witness
the battle Of the giants-tall. dthletic
fellows-who stood up and beat each other
on the face and on the breast with re
sounding blows. to the great delight or
the spectators. a ring was generally
formed around the combatants. A
screaming. shouting multitude OF angry
men surged to and fro, ana cheered on
their respective champions, who were
never parted on interfcred with until one
Of them acknowledged defeat. NO FOUL
play was allowed. no weapons used. eN-
ccpt what God and nature had furnished.
As "A general rule the victor had himself
but little to boast Of as was apparent
from his bloody and bruised face. ana
his torn and tattcred garments, when led
forth in triumph by his followers.
THE COURTHOUSE IN POLITICS.
Bot the glory Of the County Court was
when the courthouse was converted into
a political arena for the contest Of the
party champion. | once heard Howell
Cobb. of Georgia. who had served in the
Federal Congress many years. say that
the Virginia scqr-santatVes in Congress
were regarded rs the most effective and
eloquent speakers and dehatcrs i'm the
United States. When | first commenced
the practice Of law, and for LONG zine
Afterwards. Virginia could boast Of
George Summers who was one Of tho
most eloquent orators l ever heard eN-
cept Mr. Clay. Ballard Preston. Henry \.
Wise, John H. Floyd. John Baldwin, shell
ton +. Leale, John Minor Bolts. William
&. Rives. Extra Billy Smith. r. VI. Y.
Hunter. Governor Mcdowell. John VI. Pat
ton. Walter Preston, Phillip DO11ridge.
Alexander VI. Stuart. and others whose
names will readily occur 10 YOU; these
were men Of great and distinguished
powers Of debate. 4 man who has had
the good fortune TO hear "A discussion be-
tween any two Of these noted champions
will retain a vivid recollection ~ II Ia
his dying day. ! have often heard the
older lawyers Of the Southwest speak in
enthusiastic terms Of q memorable Do
bate between William &. Rives and Gov
ernor Mcdowell. first at Fincastle and
again at Giles Courthouse. in the presi-
Dental campaign Of 1910. Governor Nc
DOwell was one Of the most accomplished
speakers i'm the whole country: graceful
and superb in his flights Of oratory; but
overmatched by Mr. Rives in vim, force OF
argument, and aggressive power. \
friend Of mine dhc late Frank WysOr
was never weary Of referring 70 the dis
Cussion AT Giles Courthouse. lie could
repeat whole paragraphs Of the speeches
Mr.. RiVes often referred to himself as the
Little EXpUnger'-a term his enemie,
had applied to him in dcrlsion on account
Of his vote in favor Of the eXpungina
resolutions.
MIX. III tS = lOlti.
In the course Of his speech Governor Nc
Dowell travelled ont OF his way TO assai
the profession Of law and the lawyers
lie said: II thank God that neither my
necessities nor my inclinations have eve
lei me TO adopt that profession"
Mr.. Riyes, in his reply. said: II an
not lawyer, nor the son OF a lawyer
hut I thank God that there is such
profession as lava profession which in
slrcs To us all the protection of life
liberty, and property. Yes. / thank Goo
there Is class Of men qualified by habit
4 learning. and experience. TO engage ia IN
great duty OF administering the laws %
a free country; a class Of men from
whom have sprung Mansfield and
N'tshal, and other great Judges, VIII
have been resOiuta ana undinching j.
! resisting the aggressions OF arbirar
rover, and the c!amorOus demands %
porular t.muH. Does Che Gentleman IOr
I st that John Hampton. a lawyer, lai'
down his life I'm defence Of constitution
government? Docs ne not know that wfei
liberty was threatened with extinction il
Tnrlnud IL was placed upon an i'm
u-lishabc basis by the genius, the clo
,a,nc,. ana the daurilrss courage @
Thomas Ersl;iuc. q lawyer? Surely h
cannot have forgotten that James on
4 ana rou.ck Henry. by their eloquenc,
kiual-a a hlme OF FIRE on this continen
/ which can never d. cXunsuishcd; and
say to MIN now that IL al me grca
STRUGGLES for freedom throughout tn
world in every age and country, IL
lawyers have been tho foremost cham
Y'os of constitutional goNernm III an
of popular freedom
Air Wysor SAID that Governor Nd
Dow-u VS. much donariized by the un
expected tugu thc debate had taken. -
/ protested that Mr.. Kiycs had entire.
understood Dbl. meaning, ana done Din
/ great mu.l,. The lawyers, OK course
were lullsut at this triumphant an
noble defence made IN behalf ct tlei
I profession.
here Jet roe say further, Nireinian.
early days. always Eorei in discus i9i
II, never cared very much f-r mere sperr
on one side. WHAT Zee delr,t was L.
T.. element. ,hc hugrIh. The onset the II
u3rtce Js Wen a. the argument n q
/ animated debate. IL dld not matter h2'
DISTINGUISHED or elevated the char Ger
tie speaker. be mast be ~ ly 10 NEE
/ any respectable adversary 4 N.e OPPOSITE
party. in ,h- course of my hume.e 90
FER / have been forced into discussion
which | would gladly nave avoided D..
II was always necessary 10 pretend to !
quite anxious for The fray.
ATHEIST ,x,rNEpc ATTENDED.