The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-09-20
HUMAN LIFE GROWN CHEAP
GROWTH OF DIVORCE EVIL
Good Laws Well Enforced the Only Safety of Society,
Declares DIR. Kipgsbury. Criticism of
the Leopard's Spots.
CORRECTION-HUMAN

AND OXFORD-COTTON MILLS
LONDON-DIXON CRITICISED.
Writing lately of well known witticism
memory forsook me, and I could not give
lit correctly. My good friend, Chief Jus
tice Walter Clark, has kindly supplied me
with the whole incident, which l am gra
titled to avail myself of, and so copy what
he says of the anecdote in full:
1.-THE incident in English History, quot
ed by you, you win find in Campbell S
Lives of Lord Chancellors.' 1t occurred
in House of Lords (not Commons)
Thurlow, then Lord Chancellor and hence
in the Cabinet, had agreed with his col
leagues to support the risky measure OF
a regentcy on account of George III. S
evident and increasing insanity. But
Thurlow, getting bacl1-door information
that the Kings mind was improving, af-
ter His colleagues had spoken surprised
them and the audience as well, by making
violent speech against the measure,
winding up, with streaming eyes, and up
lifted hand "When 1 forget my King, may
nv God forget me- John Wilkes, who
was cross-eyed, and hated ThurloW,
caught on He was standing on the
steps of the Dais, not far off, and looking
cross-eyed at Thurlow, said, in the same
tone, God forget you! He will see you
damned first" OF course, this was
soto voce as Wilkes was merely by
stander.'
have owned Judge Campbell's valuable
volumes for long time, and many years
ago read the sketches of Thurlow, Bacon
and others. 1t had been so long since l
had forgotten as to the account given by
Judge Clark.
Human life, according to statistics of
crimes, is dreadfully cheap in this once
orderly, law-abiding, conservative, safe
State of North Carolina, The courts are
worth but little now in suppressing or
furnishing crime. They are mainly valua-
BILE in making money for the lawyers and
taking care of the court officials. With
poor, inefficient criminal laws, and a de-
bauched law of divorce, North Carolina
is decidedly decadent and fallen. 1t is
painful and pitiful to contrast 1903 with
$4,000, and behold the retrogression and
downward course. Search the records Of
North Carolina prior to the great war,
and l do not think you will find a record
in any one year of over twenty-five homi-
cides, if so many, an yet in 1902, there
were 2S6. That statement is probably
true, and it is a disgrace to the State.
During last year, l have seen it stated,
there were over 1000 divorces granted in
North Carolina. No man should be voted
for as legislator who is not resolved,
God helping him, to change radically the
present outrageous, barbaric divorce law.
The churches should take it in hand and
insist upon the enactment of a divorce
law that is strictly Scriptural, and in ac-
cord with the law of God. How can there
be justice dealt to murderers and men
slayers with a criminal law in sympathy
with crime, and a Judiciary Of the most
tender-footed kind? How many of the
2S6 men-slayers in 1902, in North Carolina,
were hanged by the courts? Were there
five? Were there even three? AS sure
as the sun shines if the courts do not meet
their duty with stronger and more reso-
lutte hand, the law of the mob will sup
plant the findings of courts in many in
stances Good laws well enforced are the
only safety of society and the hope of
a free people. Keep out barbarism and
enthrone justice once more. From all
can learn respect for and confidence in
the courts are well nigh departed.
hear often strong and angry comments
upon the failure of justice, and the pro-
lection of .seoundrels whose hands are red
and reeking with the blood of their vic
time Who are in their graves. Fiat
Siustitia, ruat coelum-Let Justice be done
though the heavens fall.
was grateful to see that Mr.. Alexander
Hamilton, one of the ablest and best
equipped lawyers of the Petersburg Va.)
bar. had been elected president of the
Virginia Bar Association. / have the
pleasure of an acquaintance with him.
He was born in Granville county, North
Carolina. is a son of the late Robert A.
Hamilton. and a grandson Of the once very
nrominent citizen of the famous Nutbush
section. Patrick Hamilton, a Scotchman
of wealth and high character. 1 see it
stated that Mr.. Alexander Hamilton was
born at the famous home of his grand
father. Burnside near the old Colonial
village of WILLIAMSBURG 1 purpose, Cd.
w. to write one or more articles on
Burnside and the superior civilization
of the Nutbush section in the remote
past and later.
I will correct here an error into which
I fell in writing of some lawyers of lit
erary culture 1 had known at the Gran
vile bar prior to the war l referred to
George Sprull. 1t should have been
Thomas E. Spruill, son of Mr. George
Spruili of Warren county. He was a
well cultivated young lawyer of refined
manners and attractive appearance, who
died in his early manhood. He resided at
Oxford / will mention an impression
have of the village of Oxford about 1912
1855. do not think of its size it had
any rival in North Carolina as to its
general culture. u had not more than 700
inhabitants, l believe. 1 feel warranted
in saying that there were more men Of
good education. literary reading and fair
abilities than in any other community in
the State not counting any more heads
l think there were twenty-five men-or
onethird-who could have written re
spectacle essay, and dozen who would
have surprised the natives as to its
cleverness. Without undertaking to name
Ill T Ann 1n