The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-09-17

REvERDY JOHNSON.
MIR. johnson 5 energy was indomi-
! table: his earnestness Of purpose never
tagged; his confidence in himself and
his conviction of his triumph made him
the most dangerous of adversaries.
! He had been educated in the science OF
| his profession; he had devoted himself
entirely to the study Of the law: he
cared little for general reading, but
disciplined his mind for logical reason
| inc to thlt extent that lie was never
shaken in his opinions by the citing of
an authority against him until he had
subjected it to the strictest scrutiny
and tested he accuracy of its state
M .nts and the correctness of its con
| clusions | have seen him in such
case take the decision of a court, sui
ject it to the microscope of reason, dig
under its foundation stone and show
its errors and then scatter its cOnclu-
sions to t.c winds. He was counsel in
nearly all the important cases in this
State and the Supreme Court during
his active professional life. He was
eminently successful in his profession.
His tact in examining witnesses could
not be surpassed and his intimate
knowledge of human nature gave him
Il remarkable power in getting at facts
and exposing f:,lsehood. He was the
toughest customer to btat out OF a pO-
| sitiOn he once took and never surrend-
cred until he was overwhelmed by the
ruling of the highest court to which
an appeal could be taken.
CHARLES f. MAYER.
"Another shining light of that day
was Charles F. Mayer He was SUI
| genrris. When | first knew him he
had passed the fiities and was in the
enjoyment of valuable practice. He
was peculiar type ofa successful law
yer. Kindly in manner, Of even tenn
per. he was Il man without enemies.
He had graduated with honor at Dick
ingsol College. and then travelled
abroad for several years, SO that, on
his return to his native city, he had
become an accomplished linguist, and
his mind had been stored with the best
French and German literature He
was an ardent student. with a meta
physical turn of mind, filled with an in
cxhaustible store of valuable learning.
lie was conspicuous in public affairs
in the State, and having the pen of a
ready writer, many addresses on po-
litcal subjects during his active life
were the products ofhis vigorous brain
aud his untiring energy. While he
was Il Senator he gave the State the
benefit of his wisdom and foresight in
framing many of the important laws
which arc now condensed in our code
His philanthropic and charitable views
were of the broadest character.
JONATHAN MEREDITH
''Jonathan Meredith was of another
and distinct type. He had been the
friend Of Luther Martin, Harper, Writ
and Pinkney. and had met them in
many forensic battles. The ability he
displayed in the impeachment trial of
Judge Peek, in which he was the asso-
ciate of Mr.. Writ, won him national
reputation. He was lawyer who had
studied thoroughly the law relating to
commerce and finance, and was the re-
tanned counsel of many of the insur-
ancc companies and the banks.
'He was one of the old-time profess
sional men. He was thoroughly versed
in the best English literature, was IA
miliar with Shakespeare and the poets.
and with his perfect diction and knowl-
edge of the law he was an orator of the
most polished and eloquent of his day
versationalists and the most charming
and gracious companion, alike to young
and old
'When litigant approached him
with Il case which could only be won
by the articles and qnirks of the legal
trickster, or by lying in ambush and
taking snap judgments Ga maneuver of
the smart setO against the adversary,
Mr. Meredith turned away in disgust
from the otftrcd client, for he had a
perpetual retainer on the other side. ,
JOHN V. l.. MCMAHON.
Mr. McMahon was another of the
great men OF that day He had grad
ultcd with first honors at Princeton.
lis bTlliiaiiI career began When he
reached his majority, and, as a men,
Der OF the House of Delegates, he at
lractcl the attention ofthc whole State
by his mastcrly defense of the Hebrews
in demanding their right to enjoy all
the political privileges attached to citi-
zrnship. He became the idol of the
people and there was no political Office
in the gift Of his fellow citizens to
which they would not have elevated
him by their HuIirages. but he believed
that the post of honor was 4 private
station. My first knowledge of him
was when as Il youth, saw that great
avalanche Of men. gathering at Can
ton i'll 1910, As he then called the ma