Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-05
JUDAH P. BENJAMIN.
SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF THIS RE-
MARKABLE MAN.
HIS CAREER As A CONFEDERATE.
An AnecdOte of Him Told by DIR.
Hoge-His Capacity for Hard Work.
His Flight from Richmond mt the
Close of the War.
M II Ezekiel in the Jewish south.)

Oh. T. Ezekiel in the Jewish South.)
One Of II not the most unique person
| ages connected with the government o.
the Southern Confederacy was Judah p
Benjamin, Jew. as signifed by hi!
name.
Although this gentleman was one of the
foremost lawyers OF his day, prominent
United States Senator, at various times
Attorney General, Secretary Of War, anc
Secretary Of State of the Confederacy
and more latterly Queens Counsel In
England, no history Of his life has as
vet been written. Such a work is now in
course Of preparation in England, and II
was a request for data in connection
Herewith that led In part to the writing
Of this sketch.
Judah Phillips Benjamin was the son OF
English parents, and was born In 1871.
His mother and father were on their
way from England to New Orleans. Ar
irving off the mouth Of the Mississippi
river IL was found TO be blockaded by
British men-of-war, so their vessel turn
ed back and put in at St. Croix. Here It
was, on English SOIL that young Benja-
min first saw the light Of day.
IN NORTH CAROLINA.
In 1915 the Benjamins moved to VIII
mington, N. c., and ten years later when
only lad of H. Judah was sent to Yale.
He remained there only three years, and
left before taking his degree. Upon at
tanning his majority he was admitted TO
practice at the bar In New Orleans, and
soon forged his way to the front. In lSi7
he was engaged as counsel in the famous
Spanish land cases. which involved the
ownership Of immense properties In Cali
fornia For his legal services in this con-
troversy he received the largest fee on
record at that time-S25.0Oo.
Mr.. BENJAMIN in 1852 was sent to the
United States Senate from Louisiana, and
five years later he was reelected. His
colleague was Mr.. Slidell, who afterwards
figured so prominently in the Trent affair.
1t was during this time that he was ten
dered a position on the bench OF the
Supreme Court of the United States by
President Franklin Pierce, an offer which
was declined, he preferring to devote his
time to private practice-for be II under
stood that "Mr. Benjamin. OF Louisiana"
stood second TO no lawyer in the land.
In the Senate he was among the fore
most, and Charles Sumner, whom he often
opposed in debate declared that Mr.. Ben
jamin was the most eloquent speaker to
whom he ever listened The stormy days
of '61 came on, and he, with the othe3
southern senator's, withdrew from that
body. His farewell address occupied two
days In its delivery, and was admitted
by all to be the most eloquent and forci-
BILE effort on either side. 1t was In the
main demonstration Of the legality OF
States rights.
A GENIUS.
When the provisional government was |
formed at Montgomery. President Davis |
selected Mr.. Benjamin as his Attorney |
General. Upon the contamination OF the |
Confederacy he was made Secretary OF 1
War. and later on Secretary OF State. An |
idea of the versatility and erudition OF |
this genius may be formed from the fact
that he filled these three Cabinet posi-
lions to the satisfaction OF the President
and with credit to himself. Mr.. Benja-
min was commonly referred to as the
brains OF the confederacy," and It was