The farmer and mechanic., 1915-03-02
General James Johnston Pettigrew

rope where he had devoted himself /,
20 us study and whence he had re-
turned With the diploma of Doctor Of
Berlin
To the thorough knoWledee Of the
law ne added the graces of an ex-
tended literary culture. A classical
scholar Of no ordinary merit. and a
prohclent in the languages Of France.
Spain, and Germany, the broad fields
OF ancient and modern literature were
open to him and from them he drew
strength and inspiration His Judi
clal eHorts and especially those ad-
dressed TO the highest appellate court
or the state were remarkable not less
! 1or their sound law and close logic,
| than for their elegance and finish. In
a brleT period he was in full practice,
enjoying the respect and confidence
OF the community and Of the profess
sion.
| The position he had attained and
the strength and fullness of mind
which he manifested on all occasion
which brought him before the public
soon drew attention to him as one
| whom the Interest of the community
| required should be placed in the leg
islature Of the State. At first he de-
clined to enter into political life or
| to become a candidate for a seat in
the House of Representatives at the
| approaching election. The impOrtu-
nifty of his friends who, aware of his
talents, were anxious that he should
have wider field for their display,
| overcame his own inclinations and he
consented to serve, and was elected.
The session at which he first took his
seat was an important one. Three
grave question, after having been
earnestly discussed in the State. were
formally brought before the legisla-
ture for decision-the remodel of the
judicial system. the re-opening OF the
!, slave trade. and the relations of the
State to the Federal government In
the debate in the first Of these ques-
, tions Petugrew took a prominent part
. | and his closely reasoned, vigorous
speech would have done honour tc
| any man in the Assembly, 1t gave
him at once q high position in the
Legislature and the State. 1t was re.
! garded as a remarkable speech, the
2 highest expectations were formed ..
? a career SO brilliantly begun
fl The first fruits of it were his ap
l pOintment although one OF the young
est members of the House, upon tn,
. special committee to report upon tn,
proposition to reopen the slave trade
All the resolutions and bills upon tina
7 subject were referred to the commit
{ tee with leave to sit during the reces
: and to report at the ensuing session
: OF the legislature. During that inter
e val Pettigrew had SO impressed th
e committee with his ability that tina
r portion of it, coinciding with hi
views requested him to accept TIL
: post Of chairman OF the committe
I and make the report. the actual chair
: man Of the committee, with grea
l. courtesy and magnanimity waivin
: his right to the position and insistin
i on PettigreW's acceptance Of it. Sue,
q accordingly was the arrangement
e made and Pettigrew twasl instructe
, to frame the report. To this labou
d he devoted much Of the summer in
IS tervening between the two session!
O. How he performed the duty is we
s. known. The report is justly regarde
j. as one Of the abiest State papers eve
is submitted to the legislature. Th
h question was not local. 1t had bee
" for some time a prominent topic {
If discussion with the press and publ
l. men of the South and parties ha
J. been formed upon it, still it had neve
,e been fully and thoroughly investiga1
< ed or reasoned out in q broad an
j. comprehensive spirit. To this Petit
in grew now devoted himself and s
40 thoroughly did he exhaust the subje,
ct | in his report that from it's publics
1e ton the revival OF the slave trad
e. ceased to be an agitating question
r. politics. But while such was the e
ad feet produced by the publication
ed his report, few were aware OF Il
tx careful, patient, research, the dee
no and earnest thought he had given
ad the subject before submitting the r
a. port to the country. 1t was my priv
T lege to be intimate with him and
IT, be at the same time interested in
e. kindred branch of the same QueStlo
ce and thus to see and know more Of h
on labours than the majority Of his a
e. sociated. The study OF the history
&C. the slave trade in this country,
~ growth Of progress, the legislation
II the several States for it's suppr essio
the discussion upon the constitution
Tas clause upon 1t In the Y. .. conventi
ne of 1889, Isic1 mad the final adopti
,ar Of the prohibition, were not enoul
dr. to satisfy his eager inquiries out WI
L. no os1ans ion IN