Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-17
The FOurqurean.PriCe Co.
THE CLOSING SESSION OF THE BAR
ASSOCIATION.
The Address of Judge ROse-Coke,
Bacon, and the Necessity OF Law
demonstrating Committccs-The
Banquet.
Banquet.

OLD POINT, VA, July 16.-The eighth
annual session of the Virginia Bar As
ISOLATION. which has been in progress at
the Hygeia Hotel here for the past three
days, and which has been attended by a
very large number OF the old Common
wealth's most prominent lawyers, was
brought. to close this afternoon, and
tonight the annual banquet, which is al
ways the feature of the meeting, was
given.
To-day's meeting was called to order
by the retiring president. Mr.. r. NJ.
Hughes. who read letters OF regret at
not being able to be present from Messrs
L. A. Jones. of New Orleans; C. f.
Fenner, of Boston, and Judge Roger A.
Pryor, of New York, all of whom have
made. at one time or another, addresses
before the association.
The Committee on Judiciary made its
report, which was Of routine character,
and it was accepted and entered on the
minutes.
On motion of Mr.. Stlckley. the COM
mittee to cooperate with similar COM
mittees from other State associations.
with a view to establishing a court for
arbitration between all English-speaking
hauons, was made a standing committee.
THE ANNUAL ADDRESS.
Judge w. NJ. Rose Of Arkansas, was in
troluced at this juncture, and delivered
the annual address. He was listened 10
most attentiyely, and was frequently IN
terrupted by applause. His address was
very humorous, but at the same time in
structive
In the outset Judge Rose gave a brief
history Of the work OF Sir Edward Coke,
and told OF how he cast TO the winds the
honOrs and emoluments of office and the
DEMENT'S 10 be derived from royal favor by
Informing James /. that he would do his
duty even though ii did not meet with
the appreciation OF his King.
The speaker then took up Bacon and
dwell at some length on the feud which
existed between him and Coke Judge
Rose next entered into an extensive dis
cussion or comparative jurisprudence.
during which he spoke of the fragmentary
condition OF our law.
"Our statutes" said he "are for the
most part as fragmentary as the unwrit-
ten law. Drawn IN often by some rural
member who is trying his prentice hama
on legislation, and who would not hest
tate 10 change the orbits OF the planets II
he had chance, mutiiated in the iegisia-
tive mill. laundering in the preface with
preposterous titles and irrelevant Dream-
bles. confused. riddled, and broken by dis
cOrdant and conflicting amendments, dis-
located and distorted by impossible pro-
visOs, they inspire us with a sense OF dis
may; 50 that. after perusing them repeat
eddy we are fain to confess that they are
like the Idle tears and that we know
not what they mean or II the statute IS
more carefully drawn, and by a more
competent hand. il will generally be found
TO be a mere stone or log thrown in for
the purpose Of checking or diverting some
current OF judge-made law. with the un-
81 lou
dens and plantations OF which the author
OF the statute had never a thought"
The speaker discoursed at some length
on legal arguments, which he charac-
terized as mere casino-like matching and
unmatching Of cases, involving little or no
intellectual effort" and closed his excel
lent address with the following quotation
from a modern writer:
"A petty State, having little to boast OF.
may well keep its laws or what are called
its laws hidden In obscurity; but a great
tountry loses half its dignity and strength
when il cannot in an orderly and methodi-
,al way give some account TO all whom IL
may concern OF the main reasons why its
social progress and the contentment of Its
citizens have been so well assured"
. STANDING COMMITTEES.
|, After Judge Rose concluded his address
The following standing committees wete
announced:
Committee on Judiciary-J c. Parker.
Franklin; Charles Hall Davis, Petersburg;
r. @. Southall Amelia: Claude A. Swan
son. Chatham; A. r. Long Lynchburg:
Richmond: James II. Fletcher, Accomac;
w. w. Woodward. Saluda; W. A. Jones,
Warsaw; r. Walton Moore, Fairfax; Mar
shall Mccormick, Berryville; William A.
Anderson. Lexington; Waller r. Staples,
Christiansburg; A. A. Campbell. Wythe-
Vile; H. q. Peters, Bristol; II. G. Nc
Dowell,. Jr., Big Stone Gap; John Goode,
Bedford City.
Committee on Legislation and Law Re
form-W. w. Old, Norfolk; w. p. McRae,
Petersburg: George j. Hundley, Amelia;
II. r. Miller, Danvilie; n. G. Mansion,
Jr. Lyy1nchbqrg; 5 V, southail, Char
ID. Gardiner Tyler. Sturgeon Point; .john
b. Donovan. Mathews Courthouse; W. -.
Cardwel Hanover Courthouse: j. X. NJ.
Norton, Alexandria; NJ. b. Wunder, Wood
stock; S. II. Letcher. Lexington; w. II.
Pierce, Christiansburg; j. w. Chapman.
Tazewell: r. NJ. Page Abingdon T.. M.
Fulton, Wise; NJ. p. Burks, Bedford City.
Committee on Grievances-J. l.. HUBBARD.
Norfolk: Francis r.. Lassiter. Petersburg;
]. p. Fitzgerald, Farmyille; James =.
Harrison. Danville; John n. Lewis,
Lynchburg; Lewis T. Hankel. Charlottes-
Vile; a. y. Chalmers, Richmond; Ben. It.
cester: Frank V. Winston. Louisa; s.
Carroll Chancellor, Leesburg; - NC.
O'Fiaherty. Front Royal; Thomas C..
Elder. stanton; Benjamin Haden, Fin
-. y. y L IT
anan. Marion; c. Il. Duncan, Jonesyille:
II. Randolph Hicks. Roanoke.
Committee on Legal Education and Adj
mission TO the Bar-James Lewis Ander.
son, Richmond; f. W. Saunders. Rocky
Mount; Eppa Hunton Jr... Warrenton; w.
ID. Dabney, University OF Virginia; Con-
way r. Sands, Henrico.
Committee on Library and Legal Iitera-
ture-Robert VI. Hughes, Norfolk; Charles
NJ Blackford, Lynchburg; William NJ.
Lille. University of Virginia; Charles A.
Graves, Lexington; Wyndham r. Mere
dlth. Richmond.
The association then adjourned to meet
at the call OF the Executive Committee.
The various standing committees all met
in the afternoon and organized.
THE BANQUET.
The banquet tonight was grand affair
and over 90 lawyers were seated at the
tables. which were decorated most beautt-
fully. severe storm In the afternoon
had cooled the atmosphere considerably.
and this added much TO the pleasure OF
the occasion. President Hughes presided
over the feast, and on one side OF him
sat Mr. Justice Harlan, OF the United
States Supreme Court. and on the other.
preme Court.
A delightful menu was enjoyed. after
which cigars were produced, and amid
the popping Of corks and other noises
incident 10 such affairs many witty and
eloquent speeches were made.
The following toasts were responded 20
as Indicated: I, Our Guests" Judge u:
NJ. Rose: 2, ''rhe Army" Colonel Royal
t. Frank; s. "Our Professional Brethren.
Clients" Colonel William Lamb; 5. "Our
partner Dormant" Il. G. Massie; 8, Re
iations In Law" r. w. Tomlln: z. THE
I,itigant." G. Carlton Jackson: g. The
JUDGES" Mr. Justice Harlan. c. T. b.