The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-02-08
rup rIMrs.R1CHMONDs VA: FRIDAY FEBRUARY 1895

or a fine lawyer and an admirable man.
President of the convention of 1861. he
presided with conspicuous dignity. and
during tho war which ensued he was a
true and brave patriot IN MS devotion TO
| tho cause of Virginia and OF the Confed-
| eracv Of which she was a member.
Burr w Harrison was without preten-
| siop hut was a most accurate and sound
lawyer. thoroughly versed In the princi-
pIes of law. and with ample supply Of
case learning for efficient service in the
| conduct OF large practice. His simple
and honorable character was heritage
priced by his sons, who succeeded TO
his practice and il was not only Kept BY
them without stain. but transmitted TO
| their sons with increased value.
THE UPPER VALLEY.
Among the members of the bar of the
Upper Valley, it IL hard TO decide which
are entitled to pre-eminence.
In the olden time Stanton furnished
Tobn Howe Peyton and Daniel ". Shelf
few and Judge Baldwin as a trio OF very
great ability. In my own memory. the
names of Thomas J. Niche. A. H. H.
Stuart Hugh W. Shelley and John r..
Baldwin claim easy pre-eminence among
those who have passed away.
Mr. Stuart's fame as a lawyer is second
To his reputation AS public statesman,
bu. i'm both departments h. was eminent.
Mr.. Niche was like his srcat-uncie,
Chapman Johnson, great legal loglcian.
but was IN ability. as a profound lawyer
and as q remarkable advocate hardly IN
ferOr 10 Mr.. Johnson.
Judge SheHey IN laborious srd careful
ureuaration in acute perception ard DIS
terminating examination OF cases. IN un-
Haggiues energy. IN the summoning OF
every nossiple means 10 secure success,
and I'm general learning as a lawyer ana
skill as an advocate. wac deserving Of
tie highest praise. As Judge and practical
lawyer me won the confidence of the
public and the sincere respect of the
profession.
inherited from his eminent father Judge
Baldwin. the right 10 professional fame;
but he. 10y original powers, Tar exceeded
his inheritance.
In the rauid apprehension OF the real
issue i'm tine vigorous grasp OF the facts
and points Of his case. In the versatile
movers of reasoning. Illustration, W.T.
hurlor and iuvcctive. ne was indeed a
great advocate. Self-reliant 10 the high-
est decree brave and intrepid, mentally
morally and physically. with strong
sense of risht and a dCtestat0n OF
wroue. with q devotion 10 truth VIM"
was intolcraut Of deceit fraud or chlca-
merry. John Baldwin was most IoiiniiiD'e
as am opponcut. and equally so as am any
IIe had mo- envy. and hence was not
capahlc OF detraction. ne had great sell
esteem. while magnanimous to the merits
OF ally or focman.
His death was a public calamity. lie
died az a period when one blast upon MS
buslo horn was worth thousand men,
and I'm the confusion which has succeed
ed we missed his ponderous blows 10
win the battles OF our people
TIE wAB GOVERNOR.
John Letcher, the war Governor, was a
type Of the lawyer whose power was IN
a. sense OF Justice and not in technical
or case learnius I'm all the skirmshes
which preccdc the general battle Cover
nor I.ntrtar nieht be worstcd, for his
plain but strong sense was not appfc-
,iatfvc of these. but when the fight was
nm the merits he WAS "a fOcman worthy
of your steel IFS vigorous aggression
would sweep away all flimsy pre1eNts 10
defeat the claims of justice, and he would
win bv The force Of truth. armed IN the
maintenance Of the real. right,
llis public career IN history ana MS
biography is. Honest John Letcher.
Judge John W. BrocktnbrouSh was I'D
learning and native ability entitled TO a
fo.er,osr Mace i'm the ranks Of the pro-
r.ss!on. He had been profound student
of law an his life was patient ana
thorough Ara preparation ana vigorous
and impressive i'm argument As a teach
ar De- was conspicuous for thorough ana
sound instruction. AS lawyer, judge ana
n,,n ne had "A notable personality a, a
brave and honorable gentleman ana q
devoted patriot To his mother common
wealth.
Judge William Mclaughlin was a law
student Of Judge Brockenbroueh, ana has
Ia, mis- DISTINGUISHED service OF nearly "a
quarter of century done houot 10 ms
Instructor i'm ihc display of jude al
talent of a high order.
Timo fails me 30 speak OF otner men ol
uower I'M every part of the State-ol me
,ypir3l county court laWyers-James D.
DItidsn1. of the Dormaus, The Moores
the Auderslus and Millers. OF the frrS-
toms the FIoyds the J0hnstoRs IN"
Camphals. " Sheney, and OF carpenter
and Price and Smiths. Of summers, l)oh
dr.dee and PudaH, Of Burks AMI MoSpS.
of Claiborne and C0ghlll. of whitehead
and Petit. OF the Intellectual BocochS
of my cherished and noble friend 'oHi
~ Thornton. who died for his country ol
dales. of Tazewell Taylor and SeaWaH
of Christian. Montague. Garnett' the
walkers and MaSOns. OF the cartons ah0
Ijftles. OF smith Taylor Brent. Be1ch
and Thomas. OF the Bdrbours ana noF
eruor smith and the Greens, oil thal
orator. lawyer. statesman, soldier, henry
4 Wise. and JOynes, Bayly and Flshef'
of the Gilmers. the SOuthalls, the Minor
and Watson and RiVes-their praise is Ia
the hearts of the people. and - reeordeu
i'm their country's annals.
VIII 1 be hardened for closing this re-
Wow of the triumphs OF the country law
y.rs of Virginia by sketchinS scene
which l. historic ard has its parallel iH
! "a Iate-Tork OF great German jurist.
While living i'm Richmond ] attended
as candidate for practice out Ike
many candidates. ] failed OF election
tha courts of Louisa county. It's people
and it's bar were true types OF old Nir-
ginia. / could draw picture of an Old
man whose costume was 50 pam ahd
chcaD that "a pauper would haidly "ea.
them. whose acute imaginative genius
EXPRESSED its thoughts ~ words oil elo'
mence on the public questions OF the
d,,- citing. with analytic discrimination
thc views Of Adam Smith, Richards, Lacy
and the other writer's on political econo-
NV Such people were not exceptional
bnt found on every cOurt-green in old
Virginia.
LOUISA LAWYERS.
only one or TWO lawyers lived at Louisa
Courthouse one was the excellent Ldelen
Minor. "a brother OF me dls'lhsuisAeu
professor John T.. Minor, OF the tniVer-
sity of Virginia. other lawyers ATTENDED
from the ue.chboriuS counties. Let me
summon. like the prophet in the Valley
of Vision. these dead magnates' that
they may be remembered
General William r.. Gordon, the planter
lawyer. the eloquent and charming public