The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-11-08
Hon. W. P. Bynum Makes
Remarkable Address.
PORTRAIT PRESENTED
Vivid Picture OF Character OF Famous
Man and the Times in Which He
Lived. Chief Justice Clark
Accepts Portrait for
Court.

III the famous men OF the past SencF-
alton and for seven years a member
al the Supreme Court was presented
10 the court by his children through
,x-Judge William p. Bynum. Jr., of
Greensboro
Judge Bynum'S address was strong,
eloquent and magnificently proper
TONED, giving a review of conditions
in politics and in the Nation as faced
by Judge Settle and his relation TO
affairs that will prove of great value
- Il historical paper.
The portrait, which is stated To be
fine work of art and an excellent
likeness, was gracefully received and
ordered hung in the court room by the
Chief Justice.
The presentation address was list
cned to for an hour and three-Quarters
v a most distinguished company of
iurists and quite a number of ladies
who were in the court room for the
occasion. OF the children of Judge
Settle. who make the gift. there were
pusent Hon. Thomas Settle. of Ashe-
vile. Mrs. Ben Sharp and Mrs. w. p.
Hcall. of Greensboro.
Hon. W. u. Bynum's Address.
Space fCrbidS but q most scanty re-
sumo of Judge Bynum's remarks. In
part he said:
May it please your Honors:
AN eminent lawyer in q recent adj
dress has truly said that every declar-
alton of Il court of the unconstitu-
tional,ty of statute is Il test Of the
loyalty of the people to the majesty
Of the law, and the acquiescence of
the people is magnificent tribute to
the judiciary.
The Supreme Court Of North Car
olin". from its organization nearly
ninety years ago. has justly held the
respect and confidence of the people
more steadfastly than any other
bfa1ch of the state government. This
is due not only to its power and its
exhalted function as the head of one
of the great departments of govern
ment established by the constitution,
hut i'm an especial sense to the char
actor and achievements of the thirty
eight judges who, during that period,
have been members of this Court,
Coming from the different walks of
life. with varied talents and exper-
fence. they have performed the duties
of their office with that uniform wis
dom and fidelity which have endeared
them to the State and justly entitled
Them To be numbered among the great
builders and interpreters of our law.
Their splendid services need not be
recounted here. The record and re-
suit of their labors may be read in
The decisions of this Court. the chron-
cleS of their time. and their names
will be revercd as long as the profess
fion which they ennobled shall en-
dure.
What stranger. even. entering this
hall and beholding the faces which
adorn its walls. does not realize that
he is I'm the presence of extraordinary
men? He finds not here the stern
cOuntenance. the severe eye, of the jul
diCial type of old but a company of
gentlemen whose dignified and schol-
arly. yet mild, benignant features
show clearly the warm heart, the
broad, charitable spirit of just, mag
unanimous men-judges who were not
feared but loved.
Into this splendid company of the
dead and their worthy successors. the
living, the portrait of Thomas Settle
today is brought by his devoted child
rem and presented to the Court that ii
may take its place in Ibis stately
gallery of our judges Elevated TO
the bench at the age of thirty-SeVen.
the youngest judge that ever sat IN
this court, his term of service was al
together seven years ana MS quaftleS
Of mind and heart were Such as 10
cndear him throughout not only TO
his associates on the bench but TO
the bar generally, and won for him
the admiration and affection of all
who know him.
Judge Bynum then sketched the
family history of Judge Settle. from
the time when his great grandfather
Josiah Settle, came from England TO
settle in what is now buckingham
county. The Settle Enc was first Jo-
siah, then David. then Thomas. ire
father of Judge Settle. who was born
in Rockingham March s. 1889. This
Thomas Settle the elder. was llb-
orally educated and widely influential
man. q lawyer, and serving with abil-
ity several times in the House of Com
mons, In which. as speaker. he cast
the decisive vote which prevented the
passage of the bill designed to destroy
the three banks of the State, the State
Bank of North Carolina. the Bank of
New Bern. and the Bank of Cane Fear
Afterwards Thos Settle the elder was
elected, Judge of the Superior Courts
of Law and Equity, resigning in 1857,
the year of his DEATH and after the
ability and promise of his young son
and namesake had already been
proven. Judge Settle, the elder, was
both lawyer anG judge and teach
er of the law. among his students hav-
ing been Alfred M. Scales and John NJ
Morehead both afterdards Governor
of the State, the one a born general
the other the great constructive states
man of North Carolina In politics
the elder Settle was an old-line Wing
-.i'l free-soil prOrlivities. He be-
lieVed that slavery was wrong and
LIQUID be abolished by gradual eman-
cipation under proper regulation and
with fair compensation provided by
l"r, the course SO earnestly urged by
Mr.. Lincoln in 1862"
The Settle family consisted of two
sons and five daughters. two of whom
died in infancy. OF these daughters.
Henrietta bpcan1a the wife of David
8 Reid. afterwards Governor of the
State and Senator: another. Caroline
married Hugh Reid Esq. brother of
the Governor; and the third, Fannie,
was twice married. first to Col. j. W.
Covington. of Richmond COUNT, and
afterwards TO the late Hon. Oliver III.
Dcckery. All of the children are now