Bridgeton pioneer., 1897-05-06


referred to the character of Col. Potter,
IN the following language.
my 1t please the Court
cannot find it in my heart to let the
occasion pass, without offering an humble
tribute to the memory of my lifelong
friend, comrade-in-arm and fellow
membe of this bar, admired and loved
by us all, Colonel William E. Potter.
Well known and honored throughout
this community in which he had his
birth, and where he lived for more than
half century, it would be a work of
supererogation to enter now and here
upon biographical sketch of his charac
ter, or attempt to portray at length his
many virtues or attainments.
Admitted to practice in 1865, after an
honorable service of his country in the
War of the Rebellion, for one and thirty
years he has been among us, commend
ing himself by his genial nature and
kindly manners to our affectionate re-
gard; and by his learning and talents to
our admiration and respect. How well
we remember the deep interest he mani
tested in all that pertained to the fair
fame OF our nation, the welfare of our
state, and the common concerns of our
community and city. We can listen, and
almost hear the cadence of his eloquent
voice as it falls like music upon our ears.
and penetrates the hearts of jurymen and
audience alike. Endowed with a good
mind naturally, and an excellent
memory, it is not strange that by exten-
sive reading and diligent study, he
became an acknowledged authority in
various lines of legal learning. and at
tanned an intelligence in general matters
that shed its lustre around about him.
1t was my privilege to share with him
in the pleasures and pastimes of early
childhood: to grow up with him as a boy
from his earliest school and home life
to be fellow student with him, first in
the office of our preceptors, Charles E,
Elmer and Judges John T. Nixon and L,
| q. z. Elmer, and later, in the law school
OF Harvard University, where he gradu
| ated, inllS6l, with the degree of Bachelor
OF Laws ln those halcyon days of school
| life, knew him as brave, manly fellow,
strong physically and intellectually, his
mind and heart aglow with youthful en-
thusiasn and ingenious affection, domes.
tic in his tastes, fond of sport, but free
| from the slightest leaning toward cruelty,
ever ready to do favor or reouite 3
| Kindness, feeling no envy, bearing no
malice, chivalrous, valiant for the right.
and overfiowing with patriotic ardor. /
can see him as boy of twelve, comand-
ing small company or tribe of Mohawk
Indians, of.which he was chief, marching
them to victory against rival tribe of
Chippeways, all of whom looked upon
him as born leader. Who knows but
that this, and other early experiences in
playing soldier, better fitted him for
active participation in the battles of our
late Civil War in which he took so dis
tlngulshed a part? And when, later on.
while student at West Jersey Academy,
as member OF literary Society, he
engaged in forensic debate, or became the
orator of the evening, we were charmed
with his FURNISHED rhetoric and i'm
pressed with his impassioned eloquence.
But his oratorical powers were manifest
to the best advantage when called upon.
during and after the war, to present or
accept flag, to dedicate soldiers monu-
ment or address his veteran comrades on
the occasion of their annual re unions.
Few men in our country were better
versed in its military history, and rarely
have we heard grander descriptions OF
the stirring events of camp and field than
emanated from his lips and pen. Patriot,
orator and scholar, he stands before US in
our memories, with all the characteristics
embodied therein, beautifully blended
and lndelibly fixed. But not alone to the
brightness of his intellect and the ardor
OF his patriotism do we bring our tribute
of praise. The rather would we com
memorate the nobler virtues which
adorned his private character: his manli-
ness, his integrity, his simplicity and his
lovable nature. Combined with all these
may we not entertain we'll founded
hope that the crowning element in ones
,haracter-a deep religious faith-pos-
sessed by him in his earlier days. was
also his in his declining hours. No one
believed more firmly than he that such
faith was the souls unshaken anchor in
the day when "the silver cord is loosed
the golden bowl broken, the pitcher
broken at the fountain, and the wheel
broken at the cistern; when the dust
shall return to the earth as it was, and the
spirit return unto GOD who gave" These
very words from the wisest of Preachers.
not few within the sound of my voice
have heard him quote with the deepest
earnestness, as he stood upon the very
floor where we stand day.
Full well l know that the tribute that
we now pay to the memory of our de
parted friends, like the mists of the
morning, and the fragrance of the fading
flower will soon pass away. No ardent
wish, no eloquent word, no earnest
prayer can refill the vacant chair or weld
~ y