Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-21
NORWOOD DIES.
LEAVING BOOK
UNFINISHED
Georgian Won Fame in War, Sen
ate, on Bench-Death Fol-
lows Short Illness.

SAVANNAH, GA, June 20.-Judge
Thomas M, Norwood, soldier. states
man, jurist, orator and author, died
at his country home, "Haddock Hall, -
at 1920 o'clock last night. He was
i'll less than three weeks. He
was II years old, and at the time
Of his death was writing a book
which he intended should be the con-
Guiding work of busy career of over
half a century.
Judge Norwood was born in Talbot
County April 26. 1880 He received
his education at Culloden, Monroe
County, and at Emory College. being
graduated in 1850. After a short
time teaching school, he entered the
law office of James Milton Smith,
and a few years later began the praC-
tice of his chosen profession as a
partner of Claudius c. Wilson, who
had been admitted to the bar at the
same time. The firm Of Norwood &
Wilson stepped into the front rank
and was winning fame and emolu-
ments when, in 1861, the Civil War
began and the young attorneys Joined
the fighting forces Of the Confed-
eracy.
Became a Senator.
At the cessation of hostilities Judge
Norwood resumed his law practice
during which he served briefly in the
Georgia Legislature. His talents as
an orator and constructive statesman
received general recognition, and in
1871 he was a successful candidate
for the United States Senate.
1t was during his term in the SEN
ate, when the breach between the
North and the South appeared to be
widened by the horrors Of the Recon-
struction period, that his talents as a
statesman were called into play. That
he acquitted himself creditably is at
tested by all the historians and
statesmen of those times.
During the debate on Summers
civil rights bill, Judge Norwood de-
livered an address, in which he pitt
lessly excorlated sectional fanaticism
and reconstruction policies The ad-
dress was accounted a masterpiece
and over $4,000 copies were printed
and distributed by Democratic Sena-
tors.
Accomplished Much in Office.
He added to his fame as an orator
and statesman by his addresses in
the Senate opposing the admission Of
2. 3. S. Pinchback, a negro, as Sena-
tor from Louisiana. He was recog-
nized in the Senate as a tower of
strength. where he accomplished
much for his section Of the country.
Retiring from the Senate he re-
sumed the practice of law. In 1880
he suffered his only political defeat,
when he was defeated by Governor
Colquitt, a candidate for reelection.
From 1884 to 1889 he represented
this district in Congress. In later
years he was elected judge of the
City Court of Savannah, having civil
and criminal jurisdiction over a dis
trict with 100000 population. When
he retired in 1907 he embodied his
reflections and conclusions in a paper
which he read from the bench.
Judge Norwood always was a man
Of letters. The concluding years of
his life, when he lived in his library
and gave himself entirely to study
and authorship, were the ones he had
looked forward to from early man
hood.
Was Talented Political Writer.
Among other works, he was the
author of "Plutocracy, or American
White Slavery" written while he was
in Congress and published in 1888;
Mother Goose Carved by a Com
mentator" and Patriotism, Democ-
racy or Empire, a Satire"
For over a year preceding his death
he had given his time to writing a
book which he intended should be the
browning work of his life. This book
was never finished. In the spring of
1913 he became i'll. When he recov-
cred he accepted an invitation to de-
liver the Memorial Day address to
Confederate veterans. He finished
the preparation of this address, but
on the scheduled day Of its deliver
ance was unable to leave his home
Parts of the address were read to the
veterans. A few days ago he was
taken Ill, and from the beginning 1t
was seen his busy life was soon to
end.