The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-02
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS,
A GREAT BAR.
Wilmington Messenger.

Bv turning TO the bound volumes of
"Olr Living and Our Dead you will
find brief article from the late Hon.
A. w. Nenable, a native OF Virginia,
but who came to the Granville bar in
1925. 1t gives his impression of that
great bar then, and it was written at
our request, being dictated to his
grandson, named after him, the dis
tinguished gentleman being unable to
use pen by reason of palsy. Mr.. Ven
able said that the Supreme Court of
the United States could have been
taken from the Granville bar, as he
first knew it.
1t is not inappropriate to recall
some words from the greatest Greek
petitioner: Master of persuasive
speech, whose tongue dropped words
more sweet than honey But that
tongue is forever silenced so far as
this life is involved, for, to quote am
other Homeric line, HE fell, and
death involved him in its shade. 1t
is not out of place for the living to
recall the memory of the dead and TO
tell of those men Of might who once
''fumned GER assemblies and were
leaders in thought and achievements
in their day.
Mr.. Venable was distinguished
member of the Granville bar, as was
the Hon Robert b. Gillian, after
wards Judge of the superior court,
member of the United States House,
and eX-Speaker of the House of Com
mons in the State Legislature. With
these able and learned resident mem
bers we have seen sitting in that bar
| the following lawyers of eminence in
their day. of excellent education, and
some of them accomplished bellies let
tres scholars; George f. Badger,
easily first, eX-judge, eX-Secretary of
| Navy, eX-U. S. Senator; Romulus NJ.
Saunders, eX-iudge, eX-member of
Congress, ext. S. minister to Spain;
James Iredell. Ex-Governor, and eX-
| L. S. Senator; VIM. A. Graham, eX-Gov-
ernor, eX-Secretary of Navy, ext. S.
Senator; Hugh Waddell, eH-Speaker
of State Senate and accomplished;
| Perrin II. Busbee: Edwin q. Reade,
eX- representative in Congress; eX-
Associate Justice n. c. Supreme
Court; John Kerr, eX-member of the
| L. S. House, and judge of Superior
court, and Wing candidate for Gov
ernor: John II. Bryan. eX-representa-
| tive in Congress; Duncan X. McRae,
eX-candidate for Governor. consul
general to Paris and colonel in Con-
federate army; William Eaton, an ac-
complished lawyer and writer; james
b. Sheppard, candidate for Governor;
| Henry w. Miller, one of the greatest
lawyers, orators and debaters of this
State or the South, was Wing nomi-
nee for the Congress but was defeat
ed by General Saunders. There were
some younger and promising members
of the bar we have seen in attend
ance. some Of whom became distin-
gushed highly. We cite eX-Geperal
and eX-U. S. Senator NJ. W. Ransom;
Marcellus Y. Lanier. LID, most
| learned and scientific lawyer; James
S. Amis, an alumnus Of the University
of North Carolina and an admirable
| gentleman still living. but physically
lincapacitated; Col. Thomas Brown
Venable, Hampden Sidney college
allimnus; Major James T. Littlejohn,
| L. c. Edwards. Lieutenant Colonel II.
| L. Hargrove and eX-Captain and eX-
Supreme Court Justice, Joseph j.
Davis; William A. Jenkins, eX-AttOr-
ney General and eX-Lieutenant Colon
ell afterwards. These titles were OBJ
tanned in ,he war. We mention also
| Colonel George Workman, who was in
| the war. We have given the titles
either obtained before or after the
| time when we saw them in the court.
Why might not the United States SUI
preme Court have been taken from it
lat later time than that mentioned
by Mr.. Venable-say about 1S49-'52?
Has that bar ever been surpassed in
North Carolina? If so, when WAS it?