The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-13
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grcss. Ho was elected, but not al
lowed to take his seat. He was
again nominated at the next election,
but was counted out
lilo was an olector at largo on the
Tilden and Hendrix ticket, and in
tho interest of those gontlomcn and
tho Democratic party he canvassed
tho whole State In 1878 he again
won't to tho State Legislature, and
during the session of 1879 was
elected Associate Justice of tho Su
promo Court. Ho held this Office
until July, 1904, when he was sue
co'dod by Judge e. b. GARY, II rep
roscntativo of tho Tillman regime.
From this meagro outline it is
manifest that Judge McGowan won
his distinction by faithful service
during tho most ovontful period in
the history of tho country, and that
he is fairly entitled to be considered
rs Il representative man of South
Carolina.
Ills QUALITIES AS A SOLDIER.
AS Il military man Gon. McGowan
was very successful. Although not
as rigid and severe rs somo othors in
his discipline and management of
citizon soldiers fresh from homo, he
exccllcd most officers Of equal rank
i'll efficiency. He was an excellent
drill master; a constant maintuiner of
good order and regularity, and his
great merit always succeeded in in
spiring confidence in himself and i'm
parting to others tho magnotism of
his enthusiasm. He only ordered
his command to follow whcro he led.
AS A LAWYER AND JUDGE.
OF Con. McGowan's character rs
II lawyer and public man it is
hardly necessary to say more than
has bcrn said, thai ho practlcod h;a
profession with great success and
profit for years before the war, and
that he acquired and retained tho
ontiro conj.donco of his constituency.
1t in eithor Of these pursuits thore
were characteristics in him more
marked than all others, they we're
Il quickncss Of apprehension and
promptness and energy OF action.
AS II lawyer he manifested great
acntoncss in pcrcriving tho promi-
nrnt points of case, and ingenuity
in putting thom together. This fac
ulty, assisted by an earnest, cloar
| and powerful dolivory, rendered him
peculiarly influential with tho jury.
Similar traits characterized him as a
public man. Scorning domngogy
in all its forms, he was always plain,
earnest and wholosoulcd in politics,
ready speaker, an ailablo gentle
, man, and therefore, at all times one
of the most popular of mon.
ON TIE SUPREME BENCH.
But it was as magistrate of the
Supreme Court, holding tho scales
Of justice with Il firm hand, that
| Judge McGowan was most listin-
guishcd. lis high sense of Justice,
as we'll rs his robust intellect, and
good heart, emincntly qualified him
for tho discharge of the delicate and
responsible duties of Judge.
1t has bccn wcll said, "rhat the
Office Of Judge has always been re-
gardcd respect and consideration.
Groat and good men have at all
times in South Carolina performed
its duties and won its honors. If
duty be attended by responsibility,
if dignity bo attached to station and
power, tho judicial authority to
cocrce and rostrnin, to counsel and
command tho Legislative and oxecu-
tive departments of the Govern
mont, to interpret tho Legislative
will and its great function to dis
ponso Justice, constitute it an Office
of the highest dignity and the
greatest responsibility"
Without attempting to single out
or specify any particular opinions Of
Judge McGowan, it may be enough
to say that they arc all embraced in
the twenty volumes of South Caro-
lima Reports, (Shand,) from Mum
bcrr l3 to 33. These permanent
memorials, which will go down to
posterity, afford the best measure of
Judge McGowan's industry and
learning, and Of tho strength of his
intellect, as well as of his high
sense Of Justice. But it may bo
said with perfect truth that taken as
II whole they will be found to be
equal to those Of any ono of tho long
list Of distinguished Judges and
Chancollors who adorned the Judi
cial annals Of South Carolina.