APPENDIX
PROCEEDINGS IN MEMORY OF THOMAS RUFFIN
Formerly an Associate Justice
The Attorney-General said :
May it, please your Honors:
For the third time within the last three years it has become
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mournful
duly to formally announce to this Court the decease of those who have been
members of it — Ashe, Settle, lluffin — names which adorn the annals and illus¬
trate the virtues of the people of North Carolina in every epoch of their history,
in legislative halls, in temples of justice, and in (he great forum of the people
— “the broad lield of battle of life” — they have been heard and recognized as
leaders of thought and champions of right.
Of him of whom we now speak, it may be said, without detracting in the
slightest degree from the fame of those with whom he was associated in life,
or with whom he is linked in death, that he easily stood in the front rank.
At the time of his death he was universally regarded as the leader of the bar
in North Carolina — a preeminence accorded to him without question and
without envy. His career at the bar, his distinguished services on the bench,
bis virtue as a citizen, are known of all men.
I move your Honors will direct the clerk of this Court to have the memorial
and accompanying resolutions of the bar, which I now present, entered of
record.
Chief Justice Smith said :
We share very sensibly in the sorrow of our brethren of the bar, occasioned
by the death of the late Justice Ruffin. He was not a member of this Court at
the time of his death, but he had been, and served with great satisfaction to the
Court and with distinguished ability. His associates were greatly attached to
and highly appreciated him as a judge and for his great personal worth. He
was a learned lawyer and very able judge. He possessed a powerful intellect,
well trained by study and application; he was full of energy, had a slrong will
and a keen sense ol' justice. In his appearance, habits, opinions and mental
characteristics, he was strikingly like his distinguished father. He abhorred
fraud and every species of dishonesty. He had strong convictions as to ques¬
tions of morals, polities and law. His style was, perhaps, more ornate and
concise than that of his father. No North Carolinian will live longer in the
traditions of the bar and people of his own section as a powerful advocate and
skillful and successful practitioner in his profession.
He was a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and an humble (940)
and consistent Christian — bearing testimony to the truth and efficacy of
the gospel of Christ to tint last moment of his life.
Let the proceedings of the bar be spread upon the records of the Court and
reported at an appropriate place in the forthcoming volume of the Reports.
PROCEEDINGS
At a meeting of the bench and bar, held in the Supreme Court room on
Monday, 27 May, 1889, to prepare resolutions in respect to the memory of the
late Judge Ruffin, the Chief Justice, W. N. If. Smith, was called to the chair,
and Thomas S. Kenan appointed secretary.
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