The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-06-27
Mr.. Steadman's Address.


The high position which for period
running far back into the annals of our
country the Bench and Bar of this State
have held with the profession in other
States, may well be a matter of pride to
all North Carolinians. The decisions OF
our early judges marked out a pathway
in the fields of Jurisprudence which has
been followed with unqueStioned faith.
Their opinions have ever been recognized
as authority in all American courts. How
could it have been otherwise when we
consider some of the authors of those de-
cisions Ruffin, CASTOR and Daniel consti-
tuted our Supreme Court from 1888 to 1874.
What judge in any State has left a more
enduring or well merited fame, both as
a common lawyer and as master of the
principles of equity than Chief Justice
Ruffin? He exhibited rare combination
of great quarities; deep thought, patient
investigation and boundless research.
Great as was his reputation in the era in
which he lived it is still greater now
and he is destined to rise into more uni
versal celebrity in future ages.
To myself CASTOR has ever been the
most attractive personality in that age
of glory. Crowned with laurels won in
practice at the bar of over third of
a century, he carried to the bench a mind
richly stored with learning and a heart
filled with compassion and sympathy for
suffering humanity. With the fire of
poetry and glow of eloquence. his lofty
and generous soul has exhibited its own
pathos and beauty in many of his opin-
ions, which have been written with
richness of language which delights and
charms those who love the pure and beau
tiful.
Daniel filled worthily with Ruffin and
CASTOR a high niche in the temple of
fame, and few have left a name more
worthy of the emulation OF posterity. In
the erudte and chaste address delivered
by Capt. w. IL. Day in presenting his
portrait to the Supreme Court of North
Carolina, his great qualities are truth
fully portrayed with exquisite taste and
consummate art
When we leave the bench and descend
into the plains of intellectual combat, we
find during the same era, Badger, b. F.
Moore. d. K. McRae, Graham, John
Stanley. Gavin Hogg the Wrights. the
Bryans. the Manlys, Devereaux and 9TH
ers, all practitioners in our courts, an arr
ray of names, who, by their splendid legal
atainments and achievements, would he
made any other age illustrious. 1t is
pleasing to dwell on this era which,
through the ages to come will ever be
apostrophized by the North Carolina
STUDENT of law as the most memorable in
the annals of our judicial greatness.
NOT THE GOLDEN ERA OF OUR PRO
EESSION
/ am not prepared to agree with one
of the most distinguished of our public
men, who in a recent address, declared
the closing year of the last century to
be in our country the Golden Era of the
profession of law in the eloquence of its
advocates. in the learning, morality and
justice displayed in the opinions of the
courts. 1t is true that in no period OF
the worlds history has so rapid an ac-
cumulation of wealth taken place as dur
ing the last few years of our National
life, nor have mechanical arts and COM
mercial enterprise fourished as now.
Let us not deceive ourselves. Whether
this fabulous wealth be blessing in any
respect, it is not my purpose to discuss
at length today But may with a rev.
erent love for all portions of our country
and an abiding faith in its future sound a
warning which will be found in the words
Of Bacon, In the youth of a State arms