The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-06-11
HON. w. 7. DORTCH, ONE OF
STATES BRILLIANT MEN
4 Man If Forceful Speech and Pointed Arguments
His Gifts Always Applied to Cause Of Justice and
Fairness-As Lawyer, Statesman and Citizen.
b. &. =.

I!ltlf lie - N'"' 't'
admired him for his sterling honesty;
for his unwavering integrity; for his
unboundinG generosity; for his anna
bic disposition; for his gentle man
ners: for the spotless purity Of his
public life: fer his unbiemiShed repu-
tation; for his loyalty to his principles
and to his friends, and for every noble
and generous virtue that can adorn
and embelIish human character.
love to dwell upon such a life and
! only regret that l cannot find words
to portray in such cOlors as 1t should
be. so as to transmit it to poSteIlty
as a priceless legacy and q glorious
example for the guidance Of the youth
of our country. Such men are q
Country's jewels, and their name
should be held in grateful remem-
brance. If in depicting the charac-
ter of Mr.. Dortch. l shall at any time
indulge in a glowing language | nope
| may not be accused Of what may
DC Chrlstened "BosWeilism' or a dis
position to ldOliZe any man living or
dead, for | am not ashamed to admit
that | admire the noble qualities that
constitute his character and in speak
ing Of his virtues | can say of him
what one great man said of the viz
tues Of another, that they resembled
those celestial fruits and flowers which
the Virgin, Martyr of MuSSinger sent
down from the garden of paradise
to the earth and which were distin-
guishcd from the productions of other
soils. not only by a superior bloom
and sweetness but By miraculous eff
fiCaCy to inyigorate and to heal, and
that they are powerful not only to
delight, but to elevate and purify"
William Theophilus Dortch was
born in Nash county August 3. 1924,
and died November p, 1889. His
father was William and his mother
was Drucilla Dorch. lie was edu-
Gated at the common school and at
the bingham School. at HillsborO. He
never went to college. He studied
law with the Hon. b. f. Moore, of
Raleigh, obtained license to practice
law in the county courts at - years
of age and-SuperiOr court license at
20 years Of age. He settled in Nash
Vile and was elected county attorney
Of Nash county. Ia 1S49 he removed
to GOldsbOrO, and was at once elected
county attorney for Wayne. In 1885,
he was elected to the House of Com
mons from Wayne county and 0 II
tinuously Except one SESSION. until
1860. at which session he was elected
Speaker of the House. I have heard
gentlemen who were members Of the
House say he was q mode presiding
officer, fair and impartial in his rul-
ing. dignifed and courteous. and dis
patched business with the greatest
ease and facility. After the State Sc
coded and joined the Confederate
States, he was elected to the Confe
crate States Senate. which position ht
held till the fall Of the Confederate
government in 1855. In 1859 he wa.
rendered the office Of Superior cour
judge by Governor Ellis, which he de
clined. He could not afford to give
up his practice which at that time
vas one Of the largest Of any lawye,
TN the State, for the small salary at
tached to the office Of Judge. H
was elected to the State Senate from
the district composed Of the coun
ties of Wayne and Duplin, in 1875
1880 and 1882. and was chairman Q
the Judiciary COMMITTEES; was presi
dent pro tenn of the Senate, in 1873
When the Code Commission was or
ganized In 1881 to revise and Lonsoli
date all the laws Of the State. h
was one Of the three members Of tina
commission and was elected chair
man.
Let me speak of him as a lawyer
as q statesman and as a citizen. ]
is as a lawyer that he won his great
est success. He recognized the fax
hat the law was a Jealous mistres
ana ne never allowed anything I
divert his attention from his practic,
l have known him to enter a politics
campaign and make speeches and q
soon as 1t was over he returned I
his office and eSumed his bushes
with as much system and method {
if there had been no interruption
Participating in politics is calculate
to demoraliZe most lawyers, but
was not so with him. Mr.. DOrtc'
while not q classical scholar or ell
oueEx orator. was the best pract
toner, and the most successful ma,
: ager Of a case in the court house b
fore juries that I have known in n
day. He was noted for his homes
and integrity and had the confiden
Of his clients. In personal appearan
there was a striking resemblance
Mr.. Blaine, only the latter was a
tie taller and a little heavier. but tn
both had the same cast of featuI
and the same thoughtful dreamy loo
When | was reading law with Jud
pearson I frequently talked with h
ho,+ tho prominent LAWYERS of t