The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-24

He admits that he did not believe in the
Christ as God, but as a man merely He
states that he was an 'admirer in his later
years of Theodore Parker. Emerson and
Claiming" all Unitarians and rejecters of
the Son of God. He says he belonged to
no church. accepted no creed-that he was
too great" too broad" too simple" to
unite with any church. There is much
other evidence at hand It would be easy
to multiply authorities and some of them
intimate friends of the distinguished
President.
/ have written no little of North Caro-
linians of the past One of the foremost
in all that was noble and good and true
whom l knew personally after 1860, was
the late Chief Justice w N. H. Smith.
He ranked high as a citizen, as a jurist,
Jas statesman. He was indeed true
man everywhere, and of distinguished
legal learning He had very easy, agree
able manners, and drew his friends to
him with cords of love. He was one to
admire and hold in reverence. Since the
celebrated trial of William w. Holden by
the Legislature, have held that his
speech was the ablest in the trial on either
side, when Governor Bragg, Governor
Graham, Mr.. Edward Conigland and Major
Sparrow all spoke. Mr. Smith served in
| the United States and Confederate Con-
crosses. In the United States House of
Representatives he had a commanding re-
putation, and once came very near being
elected Speaker; if / am not tricked by
memory not so good now as it was when
/ had fewer years to bear. Since the great
war North Carolina had as Supreme
Court Chief Justices several able, high
toned, most honorable gentlemen-Smith,
Merrimon and Clark. Long may it be
that such noble breed" of men shall
disappear from our annals
/ have mentioned above two lawyers
had the pleasure of knowing we'll I
merely wish here to state an impression
as to Governor and Senator Thomas
Bragg. He had two distinguished broth
ers. all of humble parentage-G General
Braxton Bragg. u. S. Army and Confed-
crate Army. and Judge Bragg, of Mobile,
Ala. Governor Bragg was the strongest
lawyer I ever heard at the bar. The
greatest law speech to which l ever listen
ed was from him in murder case tried in
Warren county, with four lawyers OPP
posed to him, among them Bartholomew
F.. Moore l do not except the very SUI
perior Badger, who was doubtless great
er. but did not hear him after / was
grown. He. was peerless in the judgment
OF the ablest lawyers who attended the
famous Granville bar between 1870 and
1S60-Gov Iredell, Judge r. NJ Saunders, |
Gov. Graham, Judge R. B. Gillian, Judge
g. G. Reade, Hon. A. w Venable, Judge I
John Kerr. Dr. Marcellus v. Lanier, I
Henry w. Miller Col Duncan K. Nc |
Rae, Hugh Waddell and Others Bragg
was tremendously vigorous, trip ham
mer in his logic, rugged of language but T
with mighty grip on case, jury and au-
dience My impression is that he and his /
two distinguished brothers were born in
Warren county, and perhaps in Warren
ton. Some two or three years before his
great speech referred to, he delivered
powerful speech in Halifax court in an
othr murder case. prosecuting in both Ia
stances He was a thoroughly honest,
frank earnest, bold man, and as Govern
or, u, S. Senator and great practitioner
at the State Bar deserves to be held in
faithful remembrance.
/ knew the late Edward Conigland we'll
He was my true. personal friend. He was
a brave, pure, faithful man in all his
bearings, and was worthy of all the con-
fdence and affection / could bestow. He
was Irish born, and of noble impulses and
thoroughly Independent. He was quite
deaf, and it initiated somewhat against
him, and caused his sad death, but in
court he was an able advocate, and not
without some of the kindhngs of genuine
Irish eloquence. He was much respected.
and died In his prime. He was killed by
Il train on the W. and w Railroad.
Walking on the track he did not hear
the approach of the train, and was killed
He was lawyer of requirements. and
well educated otherwise. He was one of
the best lawyers in the Halifax section
Of the State beyond fair question, and en-
joyed good practice.
1t Is altogether probable that the late
eloquent and very gifted Dean Farrar's
two chief religious works. the Life of
Christ" and the Life of st. Paul" have
had far more extended sale than any
books of their class in this country and in
England. The work of Conybeare and i
Howson on St. Paul is most valuable, but
III mas not met Win the sale or FarrarS
very interesting work / have read vol {
umes of the Lives of Christ, the very
Of many the Lives Of Christ the very
useful, large volume by my very
late Rev Dr. Charles F. DEEMS Bishop
Ellieott's work; that by Dean vailings:
that most scholarly and valuable work IN
two volumes by Rev. DR.. Geikie. and the
one by Dean Farrar. / regard the last as
The most attractively written as to style
but not of the purest and best The most
learned, elaborate and informing is by i
Geikie. 1t is an admirable companion to
have near you for ready reference or re- :
peated readings. There are many others I
Of merit which | have not owned or con.
suited.
Chancellor D. W. c. Huntington is an J
eminent Northern Ii. d. He has publish
ID an article giving hints or suggestions
20 "some preachers" They are eight in \
lumber. He warns against too much
fire, particularly at the beginning. It {
S natural for an orator to speak in ele-
rated tones when moved by his subject Of !.
stirred with emotion But bawling aud
saving the air do not constitute power