In memory of the late Edward William Pou : proceedings of the Bar of the county of Johnston

IN MEMORY

OK

EDWflHi) wmiiifl|V[ pou.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE 3HR.

C6

Cop 5

UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL

STEPHEN B. WEEKS

CLASS OF 1886: PH.D. THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

OF THE

TTIE WEEKS COLnJECTION

3L

This book may be kept out one month unless a recaii
notice is sent to you. It must be brought to the North
Carolina Collection (in Wilson Library) for renewal.

IN MEMORY

OF THE LATE

EDWARDWILLIAM POU.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BAR OF THE COUNTY
OF JOHNSTON.

KAI.KICH, X. C:

KKWARTiS & HKoIT.HTON. l*0\Vi;k I'KINTKRS AND niNOKKS.

iSqj.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BAR.

Al the I"\l)ruar\- Term of Johnston Connty Snperior
Court, his Honor Judge H. C. Connor presidino;, the fol-
lowiut; proceedings were had in memory of Kdward Wil-
liam Por, a member of said liar for twenty-five years, and
whose untimely death liad occurred on Monday of the pre
ceding term, being the i6th day of November, 1891.

When Court adjourned on Wednesday the 17th day of
February, at noon, his Honor announced that tli '^'^r■^^rn-
ment would be until the following morning out of respect
for the memory of the deceased. At three o'clock on the
same evening, at a meeting of the Bar, his Honor Judge
Connor presiding as chairman, Mr. P. T. IMassey and
Mr. L. R. Waddell, a committee having been previously
appointed for that purpose, reported the following resolu-
tions, which were ordered to be spread upon the minutes of
the Court, and which were adopted by a rising vote by all
present :

WiiEKKAS, in the dispensation of Divine Providence we
have been sorely stricken in the death of our esteemed and
worthy brother, PIdward W. Pou, of Smithfield, N. C,

AxD WHEREAS, we desire to give expression to our appre-
ciation of his faithful and efficient services as an honored
and trusted member of the legal profession, and of his noble
virtues in the social and private walks of life ; therefore

Rcso/z'cd^ That in the sudden and unexpected death of
brother Pou, w^e feel that the Bar of North Carolina and
the business community generally, have lost one of their
most useful and worthy members, and one whose past ser-
vices will long be remembered only to be revered and emu-
lated.

4 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BAR OF

Resolved^ That the younger nieinbers of the Bar will
recall with pleasure his courteous bearing to them and the
delight it seemed to give him to render them assistance,
and the painstaking aid he so cheerful!}- bestowed when
his legal advice was solicited: and the older members will
long remember his quiet and dignified demeanor, his social
intercourse, his manliness of character, strict integrity,
merit and worth.

Resolved^ That as a man he was of kind heart, tender
sympathies and noble impulses ; a devoted husband and
indulgent father ; a true friend and one whose friendship was
valuable because it was sincere and unaffected. He leaves
a r- '^'^ .iiie, a reputation unspotted and untarnished — a
priceless legacy to posterity — and his example should inspire
those who follow to higher aims and more exalted ends.

Resolved^ That in all the trusts confided to him by the
people he was ever faithful and true to their interests, and
proved himself to be a true friend of liberty and the rights
of the people. He was truly a friend to the poor and the
oppressed, and was always ready to extend his aid in their
behalf when he believed their cause to be just. He was a
man of untiring industry, strong conscientious convictions,
and unfaltering in his determination to do the right and
oppose wrong in all his transactions both public and private.
Respectfully submitted,

P. T. MASSEY,
L. R. WADDELL,

Committee.

•nil". CDlXTV ()!• JOIIXSTOX.

REMARKS OF HON F. H. BUSBEE.

The rcsolulions luuiti^- been read, Hon. 1^\ II. I>usbee,
of Raleigh, aro.^e and .said :

MR. CHAIRMAN:

The reputation of a North Carolina lawyer is at best short-
lived. While actively engaged in practice he fills a com-
paratively large space in the limited field of his labors, but
when the last brief is laid aside, and "dust to dust" falls
in solemn accents, his name and his virtues soon fade from
the recollection of mankind. vSo it will be with Edward
W. Pou, and so, my brethren, it will be with you and me.
To-day, while the dockets bear his name on every page,
and the court-house seems dreary for the lack of his cordial
greeting, in accordance with the well-known custom of our
profes.sion it is well that his brethren should lay aside the
contentions of the legal forum and assemble together to do
honor to the memory of their friend and brother.

It is as far from my intention, as it would be foreign to
his inclination, to indulge in language of unmeasured
panegyric. Concerning a life like his, the simple truth is
the most fitting eulogy. It is m}- purpose to-day to pay a
brief tribute to the character of a man whom in life I hon-
ored, and whose memory I shall forever cherish. ]\Iy hand-
clasp of sympathy is at least warm from the heart,

Edward W. Pou was born in Orangeburg, South Caro-
lina, on October 26th, 1830. His father, Joseph Pou, was
of French ancestry, and during his long life of usefulness
attained considerable distinction as a lawyer. The family
removed to Talbotton, Georgia, in the year 1834, and the
early life of our friend was passed in that State. At eigh-
teen years of age he entered the University of Georgia and
at once gave evidence of his intellectual powers. During

6 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BAR OK

his whole college career he took high rank in that institu-
tion, and graduated in 185 1 with the highest distinction of
his class. In fact, up to that time no student had equaled
his general average in the University classes. He always
retained his fondness for and familiarity with the classics.
Upon leaving college he married very early in life, his wife
who was Miss Carter, of Talbotton, living but a short time.
Some years afterwards, by his happy marriage to Miss
Annie M. Smith, he became parth- identified with North
Carolina and with Johnston County. In later years this
identification was to become complete. Having obtained a
license, and recognizing the great promise of the future
metropolis of Georgia, he removed to Atlanta to enter upon
the practice of his profession. The clouds of war were
already gathering dark upon the horizon. His attachment
to the Union was intense, and was the dominant influence
in his political life. In the great political campaign of
i860 he gave his adhesion and his personal services to the
cause of the Little Giant of Illinois, Stephen A. Douglas,
and Herschel V. Johnston, the Georgia candidate for Vice-
President. He knew the hopelessness of the outlook and
felt the chill waters of the rising tide of sectionalism, but
he was determined to go down with the ship, and be faith-
ful to his convictions as long as fidelity to the Union was
not want of faith to Georgia. But when the inevitable
issue came, and the shot at Sumpter called a nation to arms,
he hesitated not a moment. Among the first to volunteer,
he was commissioned as First Lieutenant and entered the
field with bright prospects of promotion. His army expe-
rience was short. Stricken with disease at Yorktown he
w^as compelled to abandon the life of the camp, and after
that he uncomplainingly gave his services to the Confed-
eracy in aiding to manufacture the munitions of war.

In 1867 he removed to North Carolina, and, settling upon
the lands inherited by his wife, devoted his attention to

THK COrXTV OK JOHNSTON. 7

agriculluro. In 1S6S he was t-lccled to the House of Repre-
sentatives iVoni Joliiiston Connt\- as a Republican. This
is not the time to characterize the profli<;ate corrnption of
the General Assembly of which he was a member. It is a
part of the history of the State upon which no one will
willino;ly dwell. It is enonj^h to say that Edward W. Pou
was found anion<j the ranks of the feuthful few who opposed
the extravagant appropriations by every means in their
power. As to his ow^i per diem, believing that the amount
paid was excessive, upon his return to the county he devo-
ted a considerable part of it to a work of public improve-
ment. The causeway across the low-grounds of Neuse
river, affording the only access to Smithfield from that
direction in high water, was constructed from this money.
Though he had not practiced law in the courts of the State,
when the question of the legality of the issue of special
tax-bonds was before the Supreme Court, he thought it a
matter of public duty to appear before that tribunal and
represent the cause of the endangered taxpa)ers. He was
successful as to a small portion of the bonds, and his argu-
ment, which voices the present settled policy of the State,
is highly complimented in the opinion of the Court. This
was his last important public office.

In 1872 he warmly espoused the cause of the Liberal
Republicans, and in the memorable Greeley campaign he
was nominated by both the Liberal Republican and the
Democratic Conventions as a candidate for Elector-at-Large,
and made a partial canvass of the State.

For some years after his removal to North Carolina his
sole occupation was that of a farmer, and in that great pro-
fession, the foundation stone of the State's existence, he
attained much success. His close identification with the
soil, which is perhaps more frequently the case with North
Carolina lawvers than with those of anv other State, o-ave
him great familiarity with all the phases of agricultural

8 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BAR OF

questions when they came before the courts. It also inten-
sified the love of Nature which seemed to be interwoven in
his very constitution. He loved the solitude of unbroken
woods, the sweet springtime odor of freshly turned earth ;
the low murmur of the river, the red gleam of the cardinal
bird among the reeds, the whistle of the thrush in the
thicket. He loved to walk

"Along gray roads that run between deep woods
Murmurous and cool, through hallowed slopes of pine."

About the year 1875 he began regularly the practice of
law in the courts of Johnston County, and he continued
in the labor of his profession up to the day of his sudden
death. Returning to the bar after so long an interval, he
always had a profound distrust of his own abilities, and
his modesty was frequently carried to such an extreme that
it became a fault. Yet, moderate as was his estimate of
his own powers, he was quick to appreciate and free to
admire the abilities of others.

"And who could blame the generous weakness,
Which, only to thyself unjust.
So overprized the worth of others

And dwarfed thj' own with self-distrust."

He did not profess to be a profound jurist, but he was a
good lawyer, a safe counsellor. As an advocate he had
considerable power, and some of his arguments within
these walls were well worthy to rank with those of the
distinguished lawyers who have adorned the history of the
Bar of Johnston County. Practical, logical, earnest, filled
with apt illustration and classical phrase, his arguments
always gained additional weight by the personality of the
man. The jury always believed that Mr. Pou was saying
what he believed himself. Notably, I remember his con-
cluding speech in the great mill case of Sanders against
Avera, which won from a reluctant jury a verdict upon the
first issue.

THE COINTV OI" JoIIXSToX. 9

All! when we recall the incidents and j^ersons connected
with that trial, we are bronj^ht face to face with the brevity
of hnnian life, the vanit\- of hnman hopes. Plaintiff and
defendant; many of the witnesses; Mr. Dortch, the vener-
able father of the bar, whose nienior}- we will e\er keep
green within our heart of hearts; Mr. Abell, the Clerk of
the Conrt at that time; and Mr. Pon — all have (^one before
into the land of shadows.

Of late years it has been, and is, a cheap and common
fashion in many places to inculcate a prejudice against
lawyers. It is such a convenient way to play the dema-
gogue, so easy to become a stirrer-up of strife, that many
there be who in that manner seek to attain a notoriety
otherwise beyond their hopes. I am glad to say that such
has not been the case in this county. The lawyers of
North Carolina need no defence at my hands. Bad men
among them there doubtless are; men who cast discredit
upon the profession they disgrace, and wdio are enabled, by
the very power of the profession itself, to do much harm.
But as a class, lawyers may safely challenge the verdict of
the history of the State. They have been in times of
danger the foremost defenders of liberty — the faithful
guardians of the law. When the great highways are
broken up, they constitute one of the essential, conserva-
tive forces that give tone and stability to the Common-
wealth. Over the dead body of my friend, I can safely
ask if any man can point to the evil he failed to combat,
to the citizen he ever wronged, to the friendless he ever
failed to champion, to the falsehood he ever supported? It
was in the performance of the daily duties of the office
lawyer that the good qualities of Edward W. Pou were
most apparent. His qualifications were his unswerving
integrity, his devotion to his clients' interests, his caution
in giving advice, his correct knowledge of the statute and
common law, and his thoughtful industry. I think he

lO PROCEEDINGS OF THE BAR OF

regarded, as I do, the cases which he was enabled to keep off
the docket as of more credit to him as a lawyer than those
he brought. He was largely intrusted with the investment
of money for non-residents, and in that way was often
enabled to be of much service to his people. As an attor-
ney and as a man, he had the confidence of citizens and of
his brother lawyers in a preeminent degree. That eminent
and noble lawyer of whom I have already spoken, Mr.
William T. Dortch, often expressed to me his high appre-
ciation of the many virtues of our dead friend.

One distinguishing trait Mr. Pou always exhibited — one I
can recommend to your imitation as well as my own — was
the great deference shown by him to the Presiding Judge.
Never, by an act or word, did he indicate his personal dis-
satisfaction with the ruling of the Court, but invariably
yielded to adverse decisions with dignity and courtesy.

And thus, in the faithful performance of the duties of
his profession, passed the life of an honest, tender-hearted
gentleman, loved most by those who knew him best. Of
the sudden and terrible accident which terminated his life
I cannot trust myself to speak. His last words were of
thoughful provision for the comfort of the animals under
his charge. Throughout his entire life he never proved
unfaithful to a friend or false to a principle. Upon his
soul at death's sudden summons there rested the calm that
of right belonged to one who had never knowingly wronged
a fellow-being. He felt an infinite charity for every suffer-
ing heart. He believed —

"That not oue life shall be destroj^ed,
Or cast as rubbish to the void,
When God has made the pile complete."

From his youth he was an unflinching advocate of liberty.
Fettered not by iron-clad dogma, he accepted the sacred
mystery of the Atonement, and reverenced God as the ten-
der Father, not as the dread Avenger. He was a man

THK COUNTY OF JOIIXSTON. II

whom dninl) animals tnistcd, and in wliosr arms little
children instinctively clnno;. In him the weak always
found a defender, and no friendless snitor sono^ht his aid
in vain.

The eommnnilN- in whose midst his ni)ris4ht life was
passed honored him with their unshaken confidence, and
never once was that confidence misplaced.

This is hardly the occasion to portray his beautiful home-
life. .\ husband who i^ave his helpmeet perfect confidence
and unfailino- love; a father devoted to his children, pre-
ferring their advancement to his own; always just and
always tender. And now he rests forever.

"The doubts we vainly seek to solve,

The truths we know are one:
The known and nameless stars revolve

Around the Central Sun.
And if we reap as we have sown,

And take the dole we deal,
The law of pain is love alone,

The wounding is to heal."

LETTER OF HON. HENRY PERSONS.

Mr. L. R. Waddell, by request, read the following com-
munication from Hon. Henry Persons, of Talbotton,
Georgia:

"I confidently believe that a few lines from a Georgia
village in which the late Edward William Pou passed
thirty years of the morning of his life, and written within
an easy stone-throw of the homestead which claimed him
as an inmate from letterless childhood to scholarly man-
hood, need importune no greeting from those who have
met to honor his memory.

12 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BAR OF

Indeed, it seems to the writer that a view looking for-
ward from his cradle and compassing the forraativ^e period
of his life career, and another looking backward from his
grave and surveying the same in its ample maturity, are
alike needful for a just estimate of him, who in promise
and performance secured the love of man}' and the respect
of all.

Edward William Pou was but true to his lineage in
having been fully honorable, and his eminent ability was
surely an inheritance. His father was thoroughly sensible
and strictly honest. He virtuously v, ithstood countless
temptations through ninety years, and apparently without
effort conserved an unsullied character, which was at all
times above criticism and beyond vicissitude. His mother
was easily first among all her associates in mental and
moral equipment, and infinitely excelled in all those graces
and accomplishments which made her a prime social force
and a benign example. Hers was, in truth, the best type
of exalted womanhood. From such auspicious parentage
the lamented deceased had origin, and the high expecta-
tion incident thereto never abated from disappointment,
but confidently rose with his successive achievements.

His mind proved to be both sagacious and truthful, his
powers of analysis acute and accurate, his diligence unflag-
ging, his temper calm, and the goal of his ambition was
excellence and not triumph.

Whether at school or college, he stood at the head of
his classes, and not even briefly did vexing problems con-
found him with mystery. He trod the arch of the sciences
with an easy and uniform pace, nor once stumbled, nor
was strain evidenced by any fatigue.

I followed him at his Alma Matcr^ and he had left behind
him the reputation of having attained the most thorough
scholarship of any of its long list of graduates.

TiiK corxTV OF jonxsTON. 13

lie was \ct nouuil;- in professional life when he (juiUed
lis for his Carolina home land, alas! forever), but his eon-
leniporaries at the bar even then reckoned him a ^ood
law\cr and well on the way to certain distinction.

His popularity was not limited to ai^e, or sex, or color,
but old and \oun.t;, men and women, wliite and color^fd,
held him in afFectionate regard.

He lacked no trait of character that endeared; he pos-
sessed none that estranged; he was, indeed, a charming
companion and an inestimable friend.

His humanity was world-wide, his charity boundless and
exhanstless, his urbanity perennial — these won the love,
and his bright intellect and his sturdy manhood the admi-
ration of all whose fortune it was to know him intimately.

"Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are hon-
est, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good
report'' — these things he thought on.

It was the privilege of none, not even one of the num-
berless friends of the period of which I write, to shed a
tear at his funeral, or to drop a flower on his grave; but
dying among a people with whom he had lived for nearly
a quarter of a century, perhaps other hearts as loving as
theirs throbbed with pain, and they trustfully assume that
neither tears nor flowers were wanting to attest the worth

of the man.

HENRY PERSONS.
Talhotton, Georgia.

14 PROCEKDIXGS OF THE BAR OF

REMARKS OF MR L. R. WADDELL.

After reading the communication, ]\Ir. Waddell said:

MR. CHAIRMAN:

It was my privilege to know Edward W. Pou for
the last twenty-five years of his life. My acquaintance
with him began immediately after the war. He had
removed from the State of Georgia with his family, and
came to Johnston County and settled on a farm within
sight of the town of Smithfield. He opened a law office
in the town and carried on his farm at the same time.

When I first knew him he was in the prime of his man-
hood, Nature had bestowed on him a vigorous, clear and
logical mind, and his conclusions upon any subject pre-
sented to him were arrived at logically and with great
accuracy of reasoning; and when he had satisfied himself
that he was right, whether on questions of law, politics or
religion, he was tenacious of his opinions; but if, upon
maturer reflections and better reasons, he found himself in
error, no man yielded his opinions more promptly and
gracefully. As a lawyer, he held a high station at our bar,
arguing his cases with great ability, and at no time
indulging in unseemly exultation at his triumphs and vic-
tories. He displayed all the qualities of a refined and cul-
tivated nature; he had read much and remembered well,
and was at all times the most amiable, genial and pleasant
of companions; there was no asperity or bitterness in his
soul. He loved Nature, and saw the beautiful everywhere,
especially did he love his fellow-man. I remember hearing
him repeat, with suppressed emotion and with soft, earnest,
pathetic voice, this beautiful little poem:

TIM' cor.N'rv oi- joiiNsrox. 15

Aliiui Itfii Atlhtiii I may his liil)i' increase I,

Awoke one iiiyht from a deep dream dI" ])eace.

And saw. witliin the nioonlii^hl in his room,

M tkiiii; it rieh, and liki- a litv in hloom,

An anjijel writiii.ii in a Ixiok of K'>1'1-

P^xceedini^ jieace had made U-ii Adhem hold.

And to ilie presence in the room he saiil,
■'What wrilest then"?. Tlie visit)n raised its heail

And with a look made of all sweet accord,

Anskvered, "The names of those who love the Lord."
"And is mine one?" said Abon. " Xay, not so,"

Replieil the anj^el. Abou spoke more low.

But cheerily still, and said, " I pray thee then

Write me as one who loves his fellow-men."

The angel wrote and vanished. The next night

It came again with a great wakening light

And showed the names whom love of God had blessed —

And lo I Hen .Vdliein's name led all the rest.

I thoiitrht then, and have frequently thought .since, liow
well the poet had delineated Edward W. Pou in the sen-
timent of this poem; few men possessed a higher classical
education, and few finer literary tastes — he was the soul
of honesty and truth, and perfectly sincere; his friend-
ship was to be hi^^hly valued, for it was deep and abid-
ino^. His honesty was of that character that would do
himself an injury rather than another should be sufferer
from any act of his. He was a man of the greatest purit\'
of character and morals, and the force of his example will
be long felt in the community in which he lived for twenty-
five years.

There has gone forth from the members of this Bar the
sound, well-equipped, honest lawyer; from the home and
social circle has gone the high-toned, amiable, genial com-
panion, the gentle, tender, devoted husband and father;
and from the public the wisest and truest of advisers and
counsellors. Life is a narrow strip between the vast ocean
of the past and the vast ocean of the future. We crowd
and press each other on this narrow shoal; the dead are
buried bv the living, who in their turn are buried bv the

l6 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BAR OF

living, and what is it all at last with our bodies but ^' earth
to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust;" but the true man,
the spirit, indestructible, immortal, untainted, rises bri_ohtl\-
and gloriously from the body, and passes onward and
onward to the light, meeting only and at last in the smile
of an approving God.

REMARKS OF MR. P. T. MASSEY.

Mr. p. T. Massey said :

MR. CHAIRMAN:

A sense of duty impels me to say a few words in support
of the resolutions — not that I consider them needful to the
passage of the resolutions, for I take it for granted that
nearly everyone present, and especially every member of
the Bar, knew Mr. Pou sufficiently well to know that every
statement contained in the resolutions is emphatically true,
and they might be expressed in much stronger terms than
set forth in the resolutions. I knew Mr. Pou intimately
for twenty-five years, and was associated with him in
the practice of the profession for about fourteen years,
and consequently I feel that I knew the man doubtless
as well as anyone in the community, save his imme-
diate family, and I have no hesitation in saying that he
was by nature one of the best men I ever knew — yes, I
may say the best — for in all our intercourse and associa-
tions together I never heard him speak to the detriment or
injury of a single individual in any spirit of enmity or ill-
will toward that individual. Of course I have heard him
speak of the faults and shortcomings of individuals wherein
they did wrong, failed to perform their promises, etc., but
it was always in a spirit of pity or sympathy for them,
rather than in any spirit of ill-will or unkindness for them.
And in all the tratisactions between Mr. Pou and myself

■pHlv CoCNTV OF loIINS'POX. I7

diiriui^ the whole of our association toj^vthor, tlieiv was
iK'xcr the least difTerence or unkind tVelin<i; between ns,
but, on the contrary, our relations were most agreeable,
pleasant and niutuallv confiding in each other. And as
I have said before, I will say again now, that I would
have trusted him further in every particular than anv man
living at the time of his death. He was one that was
worthy of trust and that you could rely upon to perform
the trust in good faith — as a fact he was worthy of tlie most
responsible trust or position that could have been conferred
upon liim and he would have discharged the duties thereof
with the utmost fidelity, and in a manner that would have
reflected credit and honor upon such position or trust.

As stated in the resolutions, he w'as unfaltering in his
determination to do what he conceived to be right, while,
on the other hand, he was just as unfaltering in his deter-
mination to do nothing he believed to be wrong. In fact.
I do not believe he could have been induced to do a thing
he conscientiously believed to be wrong under anv reason-
able circumstances. And in the practice of the profession
he always wanted to be on the side he believed to be right.
I have often noticed him when clients would come to con-
sult him about their cases. He would first make a strict
inquiry as to all the facts and surrounding circumstances,
endeavoring to have them state the facts against them as
well as tho.se in their favor, and after a thorough investiga-
tion, if he arrived at the conclusion they were in the wrong,
or their cause was not strictly just, although the law might
be to some extent in their favor, if suit had been brought
and then pending he would advi.se them to settle the
matter by compromise or in .some way; and if suit had not
already been brought, he would advise against bringing
suit. Although he was a lawyer, he was not a man to
encourage litigation unless it was imperatively neces.sary to
enforce justice and equity. In fact, it was very unplea.sant

1 8 PROCEKDINGS OF THE BAR OF

to him to see strife and contention between parties, but he
alvvavs rejoiced to see pleasant and friendly relations exist-
ing between all mankind. His convictions were such that
he could not work with true eneroy and vigor when his
conscience intimated to him that the cause for which he
was contending was not strict!)- just; but, on the contrar\\
when he felt that the cause for which he was contending
was right, I never saw an attorney that would exert him-
self more, or that was more zealous for the success of his
client's cause than he was. He put liis whole soul and
strength in the cause, and nothing that he could do, in a
legitimate way, was left undone. I have often known him
to go miles in the country to assist his client in getting up
points of evidence to be used in his case. And at the final
determination of the suit, if his client was defeated, I have
often thought that it really hurt him worse than it did his
client, and actually, if he had been a man of means and
felt able to do so, I am satisfied he would have paid the
costs himself rather than have his client do it; and although
he was so much mortified at the result, you never heard
him say a harsh word against a single individual concerned
in the case — not even a witness — he abided the result like
a true philosopher, or quietly took an appeal if he saw hopes
of success in the higher court.

He was a man that intended to do right toward all, and
to give no one any grounds, not the slightest, to blame or
distrust him as to any of his dealings or transactions. I
have often heard him quote the scriptural injunction,
"Therefore, in all things whatsoever ye would that men
should do to you do ye even so to them" ; and in my
honest opinion no man ever carried out this injunction in
its true spirit nearer than brother Pou did. But I have
often thought that he carried it too far — that is, that he
would do more in the way of favors for others than he
would have permitted them to have done for him under

rin-; corx'i'N oi' johnstox. 19

the same or similar circumslaiices. I could cite instances
where he has paid money to clients and others when lie
was not lei^all\- or moralh' bonnd to pa\' it, and which
could not witli any deijree ol" reason have been demanded
by the parties ; but rather than liave the most remote ques-
tion as to his diligence or want of attention to the matter,
he would pay it. I know of some claims lie held for col-
lection just in this situation, which he paid himself, and
wliicli never have been collected, and, in fact, never could
have been collected. Herein is where I say he went beyond
the injunction I have just quoted. He was so constituted
that he could not allow the least intimation of blame to be
attributed to him about any of his transactions.

.Mr. Chairman, it is with no little degree of diffidence
that I have attempted to sa\- anything whatever on this
occasion — feeling conscious of my weakness and inability
to do justice to the cause — but, under the circumstances, I
felt that I could not refrain from sa\ing a few words b\'
way of tribute to the memory of one I admired so much
and loved so well, and one that had been such a true and
valued friend to me; and he was not only a friend to me
and others individually, but he was also a friend to
humanity generally, in upholding and maintaining those
virtues which elevate and adorn society; in teaching them
lessons of industry, honesty, integrity and fair and upright
dealings in all their transactions and associations. And
Mr. Pou was not only a good man, as all those best
acquainted with him will testif\-, but he was also in reality
a great man — not by wa\' of show and demonstration —
for he was alwa\s plain and modest in all his dealings; but
he was great in the possession of those virtues which con-
stitute true greatness — ever contending for the right, with
kind and tender feelings for all, and imparting valuable and
useful information and words of wisdom to all he came in
contact or association with.

S&uN-. ECT