The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-02-08

The triumvirate, primi Inter psres. IN
the decade 1000. were Il name mem ~
alphabetically order. for how e!se deter
mine their precedenceD: 'nspnsu
Johnson, Benjamin Watkins Le'en ana
Robert Stanard. In the reports OF thst
decade these hold unqucstioned pre'emi-
nencc.
GREAT soPBrsr.
Mr.. johnson was "A grcst iofcisn'
Starting with primcrdial principles, ne
,coyed with majestic tread ana WIN
great dei;beration 10 his almost irresiis-
able conclusion. so subtle was MS IN
.iction that Il required great scu''heS"
I'm Els antagonist 10 detect his depsr'uIs
from the right line OF reasoning IN tne
successive stages OF his progression ana
I'm the United States Bank vs.. SteenoeI
ysn. so successful was his powerful az
sur,ent as 10 disturb the balances OF inc
Judgment of Judge Smith. who presided ~
the trial at nlsi prius. and his celeora's'
antagonist, General Walter Jones watcn.
inc with Impotence his triumphant
march. with an acumen or VIII u ne ""S
master. said to his colleague; lie Is
grest sophist. IL Is itGposs!bie 10 "hs"e'
by following him; he can of,S DC W.
reversing his reasoning, ana py p'oN'.-
his conclusions, final and successive, 10
he error because contrary to estapishe"
So,is,ons and to principles settled py au-
tboritv. This will prove the rahica' 'dl'a
80, I'm his reasoning. which cannon be wei
exposed by following his steps, ,.,.n,
7 have often heard him when Nh."
nothing OF law. lie impressed me
ala his compeers. as a noble type OF ,
, u,u sdvocate. an honorable man ana
learned lawyer. He was IN me .,''
Assembly a short time, and IN INC con
ysrtion Of fs29-'30, where he dlspiaA "a
oreat ability but with less success 't''"
at the bar. ,..,,.h =
Mr. Leigh was a close friend. though
rival of Johnson. Ills mind mad diNefe'
qualities from those OF that great TO-
man. He met his logic by the sassc..S
OF genius. which discerned the truth FROM
af,r, and no reached his conclusions oy
rare persplcacity Whlch ue',N''
fallacy with analytic precision ana eN
posed it with perspicuity OF style, ~
which he was unsurpassed. furs
streams OF the best English ran IN M
deep channel OF the clearest thous"'.
Error entrenched behind a fortress OF
logic was compelled 10 yield 10 the io'Ne
OF his argument, based on general print
pies. and to his favorite reducuo al Az
surdum. Besides he welded the weapons
Of satire and invective. which at the oar
and I'm the Senate OF the United Sta'e'
made him eminent as debeier an"
prominent as leader.
I'm the convention OF 1890 he hell
! a masterful position. lie, WIN IN"
Charlotte statesman. we're inc enc
champions Of tho East; they Counseiei
together and fought side by side IN
! friendly alliance. with that lbcrality 81
nature which excluded Jealousy, he wrote
my father these words. Try the way. 10
me tell YOU for your comfort. John Ran
! dolph rose 10 stupendOus magnhnde 'h
tho convention. As "A public speakT
! there was no man who came "lthih
! thousand miles Of him But that vas
| trihe He brought more OF the statesman
| 10 the convention than all the rest OF u
! put together
| FLANK MOVEMENT.
Rob, n Stanard was a profound student
OF the primordial principles OF law. ne
was though. occasionally IN the "eneIa ~
| Assembly and In the great convention
! always and everyW here. a lawyer. win
! great acumrn and analytic power cases
! yvcre siIbordinatod 10 the principle on
! which a contention depended. W hil' MS
! styie Was not SO easy aud pcrFpltuou7 as
! that of either OF his rivals Tho th"us'
vas always clear; and so adroii Were "'
| tactics Il get this from one 10 "noh
am infinitely indebted mat ne N"N'"
| sometimes. in the midst ~ s'el'lI-
| disastrous rOut by an uucNpcctoH Mann
and change defeat into victory
| This triumvirate had competitors, l"
| ferior. IL may be. but not lonso lh''I
vallo. II / had time would love
sketch them.
tohn Robertson a most subtle ana acute
thinker and forceful advocate, once ~
,ornev-GcucraI and then chancellor oi
Richmond; John &. Cooke, "cll-udmcd IN
Winchester as the Law y Gonah. whose
genius tor statement OF a case was such
that President Allen said 40 argument
was needed TO sustain u, Samuel Ih} loi'
strong and excellent lawyer, conway 40"
mson. whose studius HE made MN as
counsellor and advocate most learned ana
formidable IN all forensic contests ana
enabled him 10 achieve fanr as duthoi
| OF hfs elaborate work OF practice, when
| IL recognized H England as well as
| America, r.. Travers Daniel, tho brilliant
| Sheridan OF the Virginia bar, 5 ). lax
ter. Attorney General OF Virginia. ana a
most able lawyer: James Lyons. bold. clio
aueut. aggressive, and run OF resources.
native and acquired as an advocate ior'
turtfg and courts, and Wlthal splehull
gentleman. whose generous nature ah1
free hospitality so many OF us recall Win
affection; William II. Macfarlsnd man
| of finances. az well as lawyer accurate
and able in a forsensic combat as nc was
honorable and fair. and one OF the most
| charming OF friends In the social inter
course OF his home Joseph Mayo, m"
criminal lawyer and author; Robert -.
| Scott. one Of the most efficient criminal
| LAWYERS OF the state: Peachy Il. Graiian,
| the reporter Of one-third OF our cases. an
accurate and honorable counsellor. ana
| one OF the most excellent OF men, -. ~
| Johnson son or Chapman Johnson. an'
/ Robert G.. Stanard. son OF Robert Siahat1
| both able and worthy representatives, oI
| their great ancestors, James \. seldom.
who whether a. the bar 300 Congress. o.
in tho Cabinet at President Davis. vas
acute. accurate and able. and always hH
| honorable gentleman. Arthur a Morsoh
| "A partner OF Seldom, coming 10 Richmond
| after 1870 was emiueutly surc'ssful A. an
earnest ana conscientious counaeltot ana
as a vigorous and resolutc advocate in me
cause ne cspoused. ana was admirable aul
noble IN private life. the accomplished
Meredith. OF whom | have spoken, ana
| his Old partner John b. Young. seWpe'
| paratus, and a formidable, though iair.
! foeman: tnat strongest scion Of Jenefsoh
profound as lawyer skilltul ln forensic
| debate. as on the moor OF the convention
! OF 1851 a brave soldier. and an able Sec
rotary Of " ar, the esteemed ana hont-'
! George Wythe Randolph. whose ls7t
speecn upheld the consumption act 100 bur
roughs vs. Peyton; tne fertile ana r.
| sourcetu lawyer In an branches. but me
prince Of criminal advocates. our INins
friend. william ". Crump, the sofa, M
/ tcIIect ana forcible ana learned jbt's'
| James Alfred Jones. the clear-hea1'l ana
| lucid ana eloquent dcDater. my old sehoo'
| and collegemate. John >. CASSIE ui' or,
! liant wit ana charming companion. as wei
o