The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1904-11-11
JUSTICE NICHOLSON
Portran d Famous Columbian Pre-
sented To Chattanooga Bar.

In the Supreme Court at Knoxville
on saturday. Hon. Lewis Shepherd.
representing the Chattanooga Bar, pre-
sented the court with a portrait Of
- A O. p. Nicholson thu first
CHIEF Justice. of the tribunal. Tie
S-s.alI. VAS palSteu ~ .MI. bIanson,
II Chattanooga, and is a handsome
LIKENESS OF the deceased.
In his presentation speech. Judge
Shepherd sand: -
We see. hanging on the walls of
this court loom. piotIaits of some OF
the great, now gone 10 theiI rewards,
who once presided over this court.
These are testimonials. to the uprIght-
ness and ability OF these eminent men,
| given to as and to those who will
co me after us, 10y their friends and
admirers. who knew them, and went
IN and out before them. while they
severally held the highest judicial
oihce known TO our Constitution and
| laws.
In order that this gallery of fame
may not be incomplete, the bar at
Chattanooga presents TO your honors
and to the constituency which you
| represent, the portrait of the first and
most lllustrious of the Chief Justices
hon. A. q. p. Nicholson. The picture
is an excellent likeness and super d
work of art, painted for us by MI.
Branson, the most talented artist in |
tennessee.
Judge Nicholson was, in many |
respects, the most remarkable man |
tennessee ever produced. He was a |
man of most wonderful versatility. If |
he had cIystalized his great powers
into the judicial office, he would un-
douttedly have Deen given in the
estimation of the Nation, position
alongside the most eminent judges of
America
He laid aside a lucrative law prac-
t1ce to become the editor of his pa1ty's
organ at Nashville. whence he went
to Washington as the editor of the
leading. DemocIatIc paper of the Ma
ton. He was so fond of the editorial
profession, that he declined to quit it
to accept Cabinet position. He was
a United States Senator and took a
conspicuous part in the great debates,
at time when there were giants in ,
the Senate.
1.-THE separation OF Tennessee from ,
the American Union terminated his
career In the United States Senate,
1
that body after his State had cast her !
with her sisters OF the South. ,
He was one of the chief architects I
ind builders of the Constitution Of J
1870. and became the first Chief Justice :
If the Supreme Court that was pro- +
7ided for by that Constitution.
'He wrote an opinion in nearly
,eIy case that came before him; he
lad such a pIodigious capacity for
work. that the LAWYERS of the Supreme
Court would submit their cases to him
without having them go through the
Usual process of hearing and argument
,efore the full bench; his kindness
f heart and his desire to be always at
work. induced him to take on himself
large amount of extra work. II
His opinions were carefully pre-
ared and were exhaustive CT the law
nd facts His head and hand worked
ogether, and he transferred his =
thoughts to paper with ease and
apidity. His language was as smooth
5 the current of placid stream flow
1g without a ripple.
His knowledge of law seemed intui- =
ve, his grasp of facts was thorough
nd comprehensive, and like a genius,
Q had command of language to
xpress with clearness and force his g,
)nclusions of both law and facts. ~
Judge John L. Sneed, Chief Justice
icholsOn s associate on the bench,
I'd Hon. JAS B. Hiskell, who was
ttorney General and Reporter at the
me time, also paid glowing tributes -,
the great jurist. ro