The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-04
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uated in 1856. when 81 years old. He then
taught for his board near st. Stephens, in
Alabama. the children OF Judge Ptoeniy
Hairs and was permitted to read bas law
books.
HIS law studies were completed in the
office CT Hon. William p. Chneon of rala-
dega, who afterwards became a judge OF
the supreme court, and lor whom TIC cnei.
ished u grateful attachment.
He obtained his law license and married
Miss Francis w. Edwards on December ~,
1897 when he was " years Old and set,
tied in Ashev.lle. She died GA November
81. 1888, and he married Mrs. Catharine
E. Borden on DeceL0er 10, 1854.
His first public office was that of repre-
sentative in the legis azure of Alabama. TO
which he was elected IN 1888 when "a years
old. Two years later he removed 10 ths
Republic of Texas, which was then strug-
Cling for recognition as q nation, and es-
tabl.shed k!mseiI in San Augustine, IN
Eastern Texas, where he engaged in the
practice of law.
In that frontier town he encountered
the ablest bar of the Republic. LIS nleth
1ele were Thomas j. Rusk, Il. A. Scurly,
Richard S. Walker, ]. Pinckney Henae.,-
aon. Thomas J. Jennings, w. b. Uobi!-
Tree. d. S. kaufman. Royal I. WheesGr,
George ". Terrell and John ii. Reagan.
Henderson was afterwards attorney seu-
eral oil the Republic. minister 10 England
minister To Washington and governor OF
Texas: Jennings became attorney general
OF the State; Ochiltree became judge, sec
regaGy OF the tr.asury and attorney gem
era4: Rusk became secretary OF war. con-
gresham of the Republic, CHIEF justice OF
tLe hepublc and Uulted StaGes senator,
X. A, Scurry became district ana SUI
preme juoge CT the Republic. member o.
congress and speaker OF the house OF repre-
senustiye5 X. 5. Wake" a dis rlct judge anu
comm ss ioner of the court OF appeals; Geo.
W. Teirell became judge OF the hegup.ie
and minister 20 England; Reagan n district
Judge, member of congress, postmaster
general of the Confederacy and United
States senator, and r. l.. Wheeler n chez
Justice Of Texas. Such were the early as
souaIes and professional antagonists OF
Judge Roberts, and II greatness should be
measured by distinguished ana beneficial
services TO the SEaIe, he was the peer OF
the greatest of those men.
The enforce mont of Jaw among rude IRON
tier men who came 10 Texas rom 1885 10
1886 seeking adventure required N us Of
ficeIs both capacity ard courage. Pres
ident Sam Houston who knew Roberts per-
soDaily, appointed him 10 the office OF dis
trct attorney, and so we'll did he acqrit
himself that he was appointed district
iudge by Governor Henderson in lsi5-
In 1857 he was eleated an associate JUS
tice of tho supreme court OF the state
Judge Roberts was so constitute llat ne
would in any age Of The world have bseone
O. rebel against oppression, whether threat
ened by king kaiser or cong SIS; anu 50, IN
1861, when State convention assembled TO
consider what Texas should do ~ view OF
threatened aggression by the Fslsral gov
ernmca.. or what he regarded as t9e r.
served rights OF The state, he was made It's
D.. siding officer.
He regarded African slavery as domss-
tic institution OF the State over when tne
federal government had no CONSTITUTIONS
mower. and believed that its continuance or
abolition were matters pertaining aionv V
the people OF the states in whlca II eAlsle,,;
Hence no recognized IL the aue7.ion ",
slavery only an Incident of the no VIAL
,nd oyfrshadowing question OF protecting
against Federal usurpation tae Hs y,
the States and the people. as reseFFea ~
the written constitution. :, ~
COMPARED with the great auesNoh VI '.'e
unconstitutional right OF eash s.ate 70 ina.'.
age is domestic affairs. African sia,e.y NJ" Nc
in his Judgment but as wafhed dust W nne
haIanoes. The principle. and not the vaiu;s
Involved. determined his action. ne WIZ
have thrown the tsa and stamped paper ino
pos,on harbor without considering n,snsT
te was fond OF the one or ~o1iu ere. ~
need OF the other General sam non,sso,
WREN speaking OF the secfss'o. III, ~ hrt
said: III don't know what tney WIZ ao' W.
Roberts Is honest. ,.;onei his
,..s;tion on the supreme bench ana orsah-
,vest 4 regiment which he led thfouEh soine
- ~ most sanguinary battles OF 'he We.
o. , ,ne s soliei,,de for the welfare OF ms
men listinguishei him on the eam 1,a, anu ~
The march. and no prince or p ar.aSa ersss
confronted foe with more aaunA's'
than he, 80. r,,.,.o. Wheoler 10