The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-30

tox came and the first period OF
Daniels life was ended.
SECOND PERIOD.
Peace once more; arms stacked and
impoverished, hoof- be<ten desert: but
still men called II Peace! The Vete-
rams of the Army of Northern Virginia
were summoned to take UP life anew
to mould the shattered fragments
again into strength and Wilderness A
few, desperate of the fhture. sank into
dependency and inaction; that was
not John Daniels way. A few aban-
selves new lives in slster-States or
foreign lands; neither was that John
Daniels way. Lee had declared that
he was resolute to
"abide the fortunes and share
the fate of my own people"
and Daniel thought like Lee. Inheri-
ted aptitudes and family traditions
marked out for Daniel his one sure
path. That path he followed for his
country's great good and his own great
glory.
John Daniel was the son of an able
lawyer and distinguished Judge. Will
liam Daniel. Jr., after brilliant ca
reer al the bar, revealing lofty stand
ards of character and rare abilities.
was elected in 1916, at the age of forty
years. to a seat upon Vtrgtnia's court
of last resort. the Supreme Court OF APP
peals. and there served his state with
diligence and distinction until In May.
1865, the Federal President abolished
the self-organized government of the
Commonwealth and set up Francis h
Pierpont as provisional governor of
Virginia.
John Daniel was also the grandson
of great lawyer. william Daniel
power. the friend and associate Of
James Madison. one of the Judges of
the Circuit Court of Virginia, and as
such a member of the General Court
f1A FYt -
lions of our present Court of Appeals
His luminous and vigorous opinions
are still quoted. and his name stands
high in the judicial history of Nir-
ginia for clear vision and incorrupfi-
with such forbears John Daniel
seemed predestined for the profession
of the lawyer.
veteran Turned Student.
BY the autumn of 1863 the University
of the private means OF its faculty. and
on the LIST of October II was again
opened for students Mofs than two
hundred men presented themselves for
admission. most of them Confederate
veterans and among these came John
Daniel. limping on his crutch. The
head OF the Law School of that day
was John r. Minor. the man OF whom
IT do not believe his superior as
law-teacher ever existed Patience.
prudence, and punctuality; concentra-
ton and continuous attention to the
business In hand infihite tact and
painstaking sweetness of temper. mild
and winning manner, unfailing cour-
tesy and consideration. and modesty
withal--with what long and laborous
fidelity has he exercised these viz
tues"
John Daniel sat during the session
of 1886 The methods of instruc-
ton developed by Professor Minor ex-
erted powerful influence on Daniels
professional life. I am told by COM
potent authority that his own writings
with the high philosophy OF jurispru-
dence, and one of his dictums was
the simple summary of his old teach
er's practice:
''Take care of the principles and the
cases will take care Of thensselves."
In the fall of 1855 John Daniel en-
tered upon the pratice of the law in
partnership with his father, who sur
vived until 1873. He was In the prime
Of his i2tellectuai powers, be ING only
his wounds never ceased to ache, they
had not then impaired his general
health or abated his natural vigor OF
body or of mind. He was endowed BY
full features, youthful figure of slen-
derness and grace. melodious voice,
dramatic action, and that inward fire
of regulated passion. which radfates
heat through the eye, the countenance.
the gesture Of the genuine orator and
kindies into flame the emotion of his
audience. The influence of good teach.
ers, of a cultured home. of social
order not oblivious of the things OF
the mind. NOT yet infected with the
virus materialistic greed. had taught
him to know books and to love them.