Year: 1877

"
March, 1871, while the general assem-
bly, was in session, and whose memo
ry is still fOudly cherished by his
friends. The other is that of James
w Sheffey, who died at his home in
Marion, the latter part of June, 1876,
and who bad occupied a prominent
position in the House during its last
session.


And now. as we stand in mental
view of his newly made grave, we are
again forcihly reminded that we too
are jOurneying to


THAT undiscov cred country, from whose bourne
No traveller returns"


That the span which measures our
stay in this life is short, and that soon.
er or later the fatal arrow, from the
bow of this insidious archer, will
strike us down for no station in life,
however high or low, is beyond his
reach.


In the death of Mr. Sheffey, his
family have lost a devoted husband
and an affectiunate father. his county
an able and labOriOus representative
aud this general assembly one Of its
most prominent and talented mem
bers. In early years he turned his
attention to the law, and judging from
his life, one is led to believe that he
regarded his profession as a Jealous
mistress from the devotion Nth
which he knelt at her shrine.


When | was boy, large enough to
know anything of the prominent men
of my county, Mr.. Sheffey was engag-
ed in q large and lucrative practice,
which continued up 20 the time of his
death and in all the courts in which
he practicGd. including the court Of
appeals, he was regarded as al able
lawyer, and those Of his profession
who crossed lances with him, found u
"fOeman worthy of their steel.n


At the time OF his death. he was one
of the cOunsel.in a suit now pending
before the court of appeals, which, for
the large amount of money involved,
and the principles to he settled, may
justly be regarded as one of the most
important cases which has ever gone
to that court of last resort in this
commonwealth.


HIS clients ever felt that in him they
had found legal adviser who would
use every energy for the success of
their causes.


Mr.. Sheffey was much more promi-
nently known in the State as a lawyer
than politician, as his inClinatiOns
and tastes led him to other than a pO-
litical field. The only two political
stations which he ever filled during
life, were as member of the state
convention Of 1861, when Virginia Sc
ceded, and as a member of this gener-
al assembly for one session.


At the meeting of the general as
sembly, at its last session, he was APP
pointed chairman of the committee on
privileges and elections, and also "a
member of the committee on courts of
justice and federal relations, the du-
ties of =. hich he discharged with his
accustomed energy and ability, though
much of the time he was suffering in
tensely from the disease which termi-
mated his earthly existence.


Though others little dreamed that a
fatal disease was undermining his life,
yet he felt that his end was near, and
proceeded to put his "house in order"
for the change which so soon awaited
him. While member of the House
of Delegates last winter, he wrote his
will, aud i'm 1t disposed of his large
property, even to the mi:iutest detail,
for at that time de did not think it
probable that he would be permitted
to close his life in the bosom of his
family, and have his last sufierings
soothed by the hands of affection,
from those nearest and dearest to him.


Though he had accumulated very
large estate, he never ceased, till short
time before his death, to attend to
business, and never INDUCED in any
of those dissipations which too often
impair the usefulness and mar the
happiness of the friends of those of
alfluence.


he was devoted to his family, from
whom he could only be separated by
the most pressing business !, and he
expressed to me only short time be-
fore the close of the last session of the
general assembly what pain it cost
him to be separated from them.


That devotion was rewarded by the
affection and attention which they
gave him through life.


Mr.. Shefley was at the time of his
death, and had been for many years
previous, member and elder in the
Presby terian church, and died In iis
faith.


His age was about 63 years, and un,
| til very few months of his death, &c
all appearances, he had many years
yet vouchsafed to him,


He was followed to his last resting
place by large concourse of relatives
neighbOrs and fellow citizens.


To say that he had no enemies


would be more than could be said o.
any man actively and successfully en-
gagged in the battle of life. While ht
had some enemies, yet he had many
friends, whose friendship was vel
attested by the sorrow they manifested
| at death.


James w. Shefiey was a brother
of Judge Hugh Sheffey, of Staun
| ton, and a nephew of the HonOra


BILE Daniel Shefiey, an eminent lawyer
| of his day, and long distinguished
member Of the House of Represents
tives of the National Congress, when
! the patriot vas not supplanted by the
partisan, and when constitutions were
| oheyed and respected, and when the
| brightest 9haplet Of civic virtue was
entwined, by the hands Of the nation,
around the brow of worth and merit.
And now, Mr. President and fellow.
senators, as we pay this our last sad
tribute of respect to the memory oI
our dtparted friend and associate, we
are but too well reminded of the Ian
guage Of the poet:


1.-THE boast Of heraldry the pomp OF power,
And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave,
Await alike the inevitable hour


The paths Of glory lead butte the grave"


Mr.. President, i beg leave 10 Offer
the following resolutions in respect tC
the memory of the late James w
Shefley


Resolved, That the Senate concur;