The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1904-08-13

Dleu, alJer lingering llu0ooi az
his summer home in Sweet Springs,
Mo, Tuesday morning, August 9th'
George Graham Vest, aged nearly
seventy-,our years.
The following sketch and critical
appreciation of this great Missourian,
written by Judge John F. Philips,
long his law partner and friend, is so
complete and just that it is copied
entire:
George Graham Vest was born in
Frankfort, KY, in December, 1880
l have known him, personally, for
fifty years We had the same Alma
Mater, Center College, Kentucky
Our wives, born and reared in the
college town, are cousins. l was
present at his marriage 10 1854. He
located, just prior to that, in George
town, Pettis county, Missouri, where
he began his remarkable career as
lawyer. In 1865 he moved to Boon
vile, Cooper county, and formed
partnership with Colonel 10 Stephens.
There met him in October, 1856,
when, with license in my pocket, |
started out in quest Of a location to
practice law. It was through his
persuation that l hung my shingle out
at Georgetown. 10 1850 he was
presidential elector on the Douglass
ticket in that district, and | was
assistant elector on the Bell Everett
ticket. 1t was in this campaign we
first collded The most lmpassiOned
and persuasive plea l heard for the
preservation OF the American union,
when the very air was pregnant with
the coming storm Of civil strife, was
made by Mr. Vest in his speech de-
ltvered at Warrensburg. He was
elected to the legislature that summer.
AT the very opening OF that memora-
BILE legislature he burst upon the
public view a very Prince Rupert,
with flaming tongue, arousing a SEN
timent of resistance to what be con.
ceived to be the encroach ments OF
the federal government upon the rights
of the state, imperiliDg the institu'
tions Of slavery He became the fore
most debater Of that body, and bis
fame as a brilliant orator spread
beyond the borders of the state.
% this issue we separated. Ht
went South at the outbreak Of th'
war while l went into the unior
army. At the close Of the war WI
came together as partners 10 th'
practice Of law at Sedalia, Mo-, which
relation continued until he entered
the senate of the United States II
March, 1879, at which time was
: member of the lower house Of con
gress. His career as senator is publ
history. No word of mine can burnis
It's luster. l speak rather Of hi
personal traits and mental qualities
His temperament was sanguine
his heart was tender aud generous
His mind was "a perfect field q
cloth of gold," filed with all beauti
full imagery, and garnished with tn
: richest treasures of literature an
history. He read every book access
BILE pertaining to the science Of GOV
erument and political economy. II
garnered the most rare and valuabl
treasures of the classics, Of Celtic an
An. Ii. Saxon literature and philoSC
ply. He was conversant with tn
I writings OF all the leading publicist
and authors on international Law
He was as familiar with the debate
OF the convention that framed th
. federal constitution and the essays
the Federalist as he was with currer
politlce. He was conversant with a
: the leading decisions OF the supren
j court expounding the fundament
= principles Of the constitution. +
was familiar with the biographies
! English and American statesmen
1, He had read and mastered all Of Il
Il best in fiction and poetry. BeYor
the old masters he cared not to go.
To say that he had read all these
% to assert that he had retained, d
" gested and assimilated whatever VI
ir OF worth in them. His memory VI
x marvellous. 1t was not faculf
y y assiduously cultivated, at the expen
IL OF invention and originality. 1t W
a soil, prodigal Of nature, which new