The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-06-28

good laws fntellizently administered by
an enlightened and honest judiciary. Ii
Is therefore the chief object OF the Bar
Association to keep the legal profession
on q plane where its rule or ethics win
exclude the shyster and encourage the
lawyer who sacrediy observes the oath
which he took when he assumed the
important trust that has been commit
ed TO him by the supreme court OF Dur
state No law can be successfully en-
forced which does not have the sanction
or he good citizens OF the state. and
above all things We should remember
that no one viii respect the settlement
or n Enigated question when the YER
dict upon which Ii Is based Is the result
OF unprofessional methods practiced by
n lawyer who has entered the profess
sion with the commercial idea" upper
most in his mind. II the members Of
the bar maintain that high standard
which should characterize our profess
will we succeed in popularizing the en-
forcement OF the laws. II is with these
things in view that we ave formed an
organization composed Of the lawyers Of
the state. and we are here for the pur-
pose of comforting with one another as
to the best methods to be adopted In Or
der to attain the highest professional
standard.
THE membership OF our association
includes representatives from all sec
ions OF the state. Those OF us who hail
from the mountains OF Western North
Carolina, as we'll as the Piedmont re-
gion, are here to mingle with our breth-
rem of the east, in order hat We may
obtain the benefit OF each others coun-
Sci in u efforts to promote the best
interests of our state. The fact that
our annual meetings bring the men,
bers Of the profession from the different
mutual advantage to all parties con-
cerned. The more we see and know Of
each other the greater will be u ca
pacity for inaugurating and enforcing
a rule of procedure that will be benefi-
cial to the people, as well as the legal
rofession.
Il have istened with much gratifica-
ton to the cordial welcome which has
been extended to us on his occasion.
and I assure you that We are not in
doubt as to it's sincerity. We have
evidences of hospitality on every hand
since we entered your beautiful and his
toric city. 1t is fitting that we should
assemble in this section, among a pso-
pie whose ancestors were noted for their
patriotism. 1t vas here that Ashe n
Hooper lived and died. They were
among those who have contributed to
the glory and renown Of the honorable
profession to which we belong. The
bar Of Wilmington has furnished some
of the ablest men Of our profession.
The distinguished gentleman who vas
the first president Of the Bar Associa-
ton was born in the City of Whining
ton. Inc the present incumbent has
spent the greater portion Of his life as
an IGNORED member Of your bar. These
gentlement a. discharged their duties
in a manner entirely satisfactory to the
has been such as to entitle them to rank
among the ablest lawyers of the land.
To Wilmington belongs the proud dis
tinction of having furnished the first
governor who was elected by the people
of the states, as we'll as her citizens be-
ing among the first to give expression
to the patriotic sentiments which Gull
minated in the freedom of the American
people. There is no section of the Old
North State wherein a more determined
nd effective resistance was made to the
unjust and tyrannical methods OF Eng
land than that of Wilmington. You are
a people peculiarly blessed with natural
advantages that are calculated to make
you rich and progressive.
with the settlement of the recent
disturbances in China, and the wonder
full development which is now being
made in every branch of southern in
dustry, the future of Wilmington is full
of promise, and I confidently predict
that the day is not far distant when
Wilmington will attain that rank which
she is so justly entitled to occupy
among the great commercial cities Of
the country. The people Of your beau
tiful city ave ever been noted for their
hospitality. In early days the British
governor Martin, while on a visit to
Wilmington, having occasion to respond
to an address of the citizens. Is said to
have styled Wilmington as "the region
Of politeness n hospitality" The
splendid ovation which we have been
given on this occasion is assurance Of
the fact that the Wilmingtonians of to-
day have emulated the noble traits Of
their illustrious ancestors. We accept
your welcome in the spirit in which
it is rendered, realizing as we do that
we are in the midst Of a brave n gen.
erous people, whose chief desire Is TO
uphold the good name OF North Caroii-
ma, and to perpetuate her Institutions
I'VE appreciate the great honor which
the ladies confer upon US by their pres
ence on this occasion. No great enter
prise has ever been successful without
their advice and encouragement. e
have been foremost in all great move
ments that have been inaugurated Tor
the elevation Oh HdUhllu, anu II 10 Go
pecially gratifying to those OF us VINO
are strangers in your midst to have the
ladies Of the city of Wilmington join
with her population in h demonstra-
ton of welcome which greets us on this
occasion.
I'm conclusion, permit me, on behalf
Of the Bar Association. to tender to each
and every one of you the sincere thanks
of that organization for your generous
welcome.
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
Next followed the annual address de-
livered by the president of the associa-
ton. Major G. NJ. Stedman. of Green's
boro. For an hour the speaker held the
strict attention Of the audience on the
subject, 9TH Lawyer" 1t was a mas
terly production, well conceived. n
admirably delivered. Major Stedman's
diction was elegant and the thought
elevating and inspiring. Very frequent
ly his remarks were greeted with loud
applause. On every side Major Sted-
ls-lr- commitments