The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-02
tNo. 12o
JUDAH T. BENJAMIN.

| My acquaintance with this highly
lgtfted and remarkable man commenced
when he was transferred to the posi-
tion OF Secretary OF War as a member
of the Cabinet OF Mr.. Davis in 1862.
Tho first time / met him we discussed
the practice of law, and in the course
|of the conversation lie asked me what
we considered II good fee in my part OF
the country, to which I replied that
we considered $500 very respectable
fee. He smiled and said: when
practiced law in New Orleans. II man
employed mo l charged him retainer.
II he came about the office much
charged him a reminder: when I had
done some work In the case charged
him a resrcsher, and when 1t was all
over l charged him a finisher."
When tho tirst Cabinet was organ
lied by Mr.. Davis. at Montgomery, Mr..
Benjamin was appointed Attorney-Gen-
eral. In August. 1851 he was trans
ferred to tho position Of Secretary Of
War. and was appointed Secretary OF
State March Is, 1852.
An English jew.
lie was born in St Croix. West In
dies. August II, 1911. His parents werc
English Jews. who. when on their way
to New Orleans, were landed at st.
Croix. His boyhood was spent In Will
minEton, N. c., to which place his
father removed. In 1895 he entered
lIale College. He studied law in New
Orleans. and was admitted to the bar
In 1892 He taught school, and in 1894
he published a digest of Orleans Terri
torial and Louisiana state court deci-
sicns. His rise in the profession was
Exceedingly rapid, and In 1910 he was
admitted as q member OF the firm of
Slidell. Benjamin & Conrad. He was
elected as a Whig to the Constitutional
| Convention of louisiana: was attor-
| ney for the commission to investigate
Spanish land titles in California In
llS47. and on his return to his home
| was admitted to practice in the SUI
lpreme Court OF the United states. He
was presidential elector at large In
ilS4S, and In 1852 was chosen as n
limited States Senator. He was re-
Ielected to second term, and remained
la member until February. 1861. when
he withdrew from the Senate.
He was. as l have said, a Wing in
politics, and affiliated with tho South
Tern wing of that party, and supported
the kansas-Nebraska bill of Mr.. Doug
lla, in 1851. After the fall OF Richmond
Inc escaped from the coast OF Florida
lin an open boat to the Bahamas; from
l lHeHCe lie WeHl 10 YANdSsuu anu uIIlNCu
lin Liverpool in September, 1855. He
Immediately applied himself to the
study of the English law, and in the
lsummer of 1866 was admitted TO the
English bar as "a practitioner. After
wards he published a book on The
Law of Sale of Personal Property
(which became at once the recognized
lauthority on that subject In England.
He acquired large and profitable
practice in the English courts, and In
Tune. 1879, was made Queen's counsel.
account of failing health. and was
given farewell banquet in the Inner
Temple in London in June. 1889. He
went TO Paris. at which place he died
in May, 1854.
Lawyer, Author, Diplomat.
Mr. Benjamin was unquestionably
great as a diplomatist, great as an au-
thor, great as u lawyer, and great as
AN orator. His diplomatic correspon-
, dcnce While Secretary of state in the
) Cabinet of Mr. Davis is equal to any
that has been published. and marks
!, him as a man OF extraordinary attain.
> n,ents. In this connection, reference
lis made particularly 10 his diplomatic
, correspondence with General William
!, Preston, envoy extraordinary and min
= lister plenpotentiary TO Mexico to his
.
aiploiila'io corresponding .'i'r WIN II ~,
1ohn S'.uei', ii''n's'er q. o. q, - W rioil
e "a. w. Manu. nirrfs.et az o,us sH. :. !.
9 Ron. James NJ. Mason munster a.
/ LONDON. ana 10 o''ieis.
AS an author. as I have already said
e he occupied confessedly the front rank
In his treatise on the law of sale oil
, personal property, with references tc
> the American decisions. and 10 the
: French code and civil law. he furnished
to the profession a book which has
4 been universally recognized as of the
!. highest authority by the House OF
q Lords and by his professo nal brethren
j. OF the bar thioughout England. II M
! had done nothing else throughout III:
i, eventtul career but produce this book
.e that alone would have been suiicient 7
y link ms name with immortality 1t al
IL most staEgers belief now ne, arriving
i, Iii England as an exile from his home
"a penniless and unknown, could. In 81
y. short time have carved his way u
"a great fortune and linked his nam
IL with those VINO stand pre-elninent TO
!, :, their genius. talent and learning.
= AS lawyer, he seemed to under
= stand the most difhcult and intricat
80 SUBJECTS as II by ntuition Wher
sy ~ n VNF aNFakt .,.,.. z.