The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-07-15
Annual Session Of the Bar Association
Opens.
PRESIDENT HUGHES ABLE ADDRESS.
\ Learned Discussion on the subject oi
"Contractuai Exemption From hi"-
biIity"- Reports of the other
omccrs-Thosc Present.
OLD FONT COMFORT, VA. July a

ed auspiciOusly at the h46e" 'iiS H'0'
,,r Every train and boat on Monday
and to-day brought In members. Most
90 the members from Richmond and Vi
cinitv arrived on the afternoon train yes
terday. until the ingenuity Of the Messrs'
Pike and their subordinates was sorey
taxed TO give every one the most oe-
slrsh.s room IN the house. But TINS
,sor-popular hotel fully sustained IT'S pre-
vious reputation. and the management
handled The crowd of arrivals with great
prompincss. and came as near to sa'is-
fyine everybody as is possible.
A marked feature of this convention is
tbs LARGE number of ladies who have
acconpanied the members. and VINO at
teul the meetings of the associauoA'
whether the learned addresses OF lne
orators of The occasion, ana tne ol9
cussion Of nice points Of la" interest
them as deeply as the white NahFei uiii-
forms of the defenders of our country
on land and sea. this deponent salth ho1'
but certain 80 is that, 20 the casual lu'.N-
culine observer. the attention pala Dy
the fair sex 10 each is equally IlatteIIhs'
Possibly in this inspiring audience may
tie papers and discussions which nave
thus far taken place.
Tho opening session of the association
was held this morning in the spacious
and breezy ballroom Of the hygeia.
Promptly at II o'clock noon judge
William j. Lcakc chairman of the fA-
,cutiye Committee. called the association
TO order, and said.
1T is with great pleasure that / intro
duce TO you your president. Mr.. Robert
NJ. Hughes. of Norfolk. Va, who will
address you.
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
Mr. Hughes then read the Presidents
add css.
Ine paper WAS a learned and inter-
osting discussion of "COntractual EXemp-
TINS from Liability Ills address oX-
hiblted remarkable familiarity with the
poplexing subject and plainly revealed
the result OF wide legal research and
careful and painstakng examination OF
the records and opinions of judges.
The ADDRESS consisted OF thirly-four
pages of typewritten matter and would
nil more than lun page OF The Times.
Any attempt AT synopsis Of this adj
mirablc address would be unfair 10 the
learned speaker and his subject. The
paper is decided addition 10 lex scripta
form FOR diltubHtiou.
In opening the splendid address Mr..
Hughes said:
Gentlemen Of the Virginia state Bar
Association. in deciding upon "a subject
worthy the attention of such body as
this. l have labOred under peculiar diff
cultics Following distinguished jurlsts,
law-wrtcrs aui litcrau. whose official
addresses have so greatly entertained as
enriched records ! shrink
the inevitable contrast and think of their
productions with mingled admiration and
despair Nor can 1. even at the risk Of
drawing invidiOus comparisons refrain
from expressing special reluctance to
follow the distinguished gentleman who
Immediately preceded me. whose paper,
COuchcd in choicest diction. replete with
the eraces of elegant composition was
in itself the best possible yindicatiOn of
his thesis. that legal and literary pre-
eminence are not inconsistent, but close
ly allied. j cannot expect TO initiate it.
nor can hope To- instruct the many
seniors whose partiality has elevated me
10 this chair ON any ordinary theme
drawn from tine usual class of legal sub
iects.
Hence, I'm arriving at a decision, 1
have been largely governed 10y the motive
OF making "a selection which may place
aud enable me to say something which
will not De elementary and common
place TO the trained minds Of my audi
ence'
In concluding. he spoke as follows:
'lf. therefore, the reason of the law
IS the life OF the law. and the law ceases
when the reason ceases. we may deduce
from these general principles that public
corporations independent % statute may
not supulatc against an negligence, while
others may. and We may ask the courts
t. leave publi0 policy to the Legisla-
ture. and. blind 20 the special case, rest
thcir judgment i'm first principles from
which our laws have sprung
II Is essential 10 the development Of
our law that It's successive expansions
should Doe dcduced from its first elements.
irrespective of the special facts. The
wonderful ileXihihty of the common law.
hy virtue OF which principles originating
IN distant past adapt themselves to
the muliiforfn needs OF modern civiIiza-
ton, makes 10 to-day govern the frecst
ana wealthiest nations Of the globe.
Starting in the mists Of tradition. de-
yeioping Us general features on the main
lines OF Us origin, despite pOlutlons from
Romans and Noruans and Danes and
Ecclcsiastlcs IL has cast on it's excres-
cences. and no prophet is needed 10 pre-
dict That I'm the future IL Will cover the
earth As the waters cover ti7c sea.
Standing to-day. listening to The throh
bling OF this magnificent roadstead we
are reminded OF the common law whom
We think Of the rivers that compose ifs
tide. Born In some limpld mountain
spring. at the foot Of everlasting rocks
the little rim bounds towards the plain.
constantly swelling hy acccssions from,
fountains equally clear Temporary
floods or tributaries rising i'm unclean
regions al times muddy lis stream and
cause US 20 forgct its stainless source.
Polluted substances find their way into
it's bed as IL flows through infected lands.
But IL pursucg the onward wav ever
striving 10 put away all deiemcnts
against the rocks and ceiaracts, AMI
when. az last. it has reached the sea and
we look upon is waters ripping and
sparkling. and the crystal waves laugh
ing az The carcsses OF the sun. we realize
that our rfaf-whNc mountain torrent has
ieft behind II the impurities which in-
truded upon it ana mas again become
pure and pe.iucd us when r-st IL left
its birthplace IN the clouds Of heaven"
Mr. Hughes address was listened TO
with close attention. and al It's conclu-
sion was warmly applauded
The President then announced that tho
next business was the appointment Of the
Committee ON Publications and the com
mi,tce 20 Nominate Officers for the en-
flinr year. aud announced as members
81 those committees The following: