The daily times. (Columbus, Ga.) 1875-1876, November 21, 1875, Image 1

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VOL. I. TEttMM Columbus Daily and Weekly Times. PUBLISHED By THE DAILY TIMES CO. No. 4.1 Kniiflnlplt strfft. DALiiWt iINVIKUBLY IN ADVANCE.) One Year Six Mouth*..*. 3 30 | Throe Months I 65 j One Month 65 f OnoWeels I® | WWRKIjYs One Year ♦ * *** j Sit mouth* 1 W j (We paying postage.) H in> Ot* ADVEKTISINii. On* Square, one week f 3 00 Odd Square, one month 8 00 One Square, §ii month* 22 00 One Square, one year US (0 Transient advertUeraouta SI.OO for tirut Inser tion, and 50 cent* for each aubeaqnent insertion. Fifty per cent, additional in I/val column. Liberal rate* to larger advertisement*. MEMORIAL TO GENERAL BENNING EI.ECJ.VST SPEECHES— COVKT nUtTSE CROWDED. The Brnuty will Chl.irt.T ot <h* C ity Present. BIBOLmONS, ftc. At 12 o'clock yesterday, the Superior Court met to do honor to one of the bravest, most chivalrous, and illustrious of our dead. The ladles of Columbus were pres ent in largo numbers, and the citizens generally were there to attest their appre ciation of the noble Henry L. Henning. The family of Gen. Henning were provi ded with seats Inside of the bar. The chair and desk once occupied by our hero General was draped in mourning. Inside of the bar was seated the old army ser vant, "Hilly,” who came as a devoted ser vant to do honor to the man he loved. Everybody knows how deeply tbo Times lamented the death of our distinguished patron, and in the speeches that follow, will be found an Inadequate expression of our veneration and love for Henry L. Hen ning. We enjoyed the privilege of his friendship, and are proud to do honor to his memory. Upon the announcement of tho Court that it was ready to proceed with the memorial rites, Col. A. 11. Chappell, in be half of the committee, of which ho was chairman, read the following report: The Committee, coUHintiug of A. 11. Chappell. Martin J, Crawford. liapbael J. .Hone*, Murk U. Btandford aud John Peabody, Faquir* h. wuorn lit* Honor, Judge Johnson, and tne mem ber* of the Bar. at a meeting held tbe day ac cording tbe death of our distinguished, deejn) lam.jutod brother, Urnkhai. Henry L. Dknnino, appointed to tho mourniul office of preparing and presenting at this Term oi tne Court a worthy tribute ti> bit memory, have Buffered under a HruHe of painlul inadequacy to the sacred, iratt r nal tank to which they have been assigned. They have been ail the while conscious of their incoiu petancy to give due expression to tho lot lings wnich stir tneir own bosoms and pervade the en tire community in reference to tuo beloved and honored dead. On this scene, still instinct and alive, as it were, with bis genius ami presence, they are sensible that all the strains of grief and eulogy that can be poured forth, must needs ia.ll on the hearts of the stricken listeners, and only excite their yearnings lor deeper solace to their own pangs and richer offerings to bis worth. Knowing, therefore, as wo well do, how little it <an be hoped to come up to the full wants of the occasion, would, nevertheless, lain make some approach to the touching duty it imposes by briefly dwelling with proud sorrow on the ebar a ter and career, the virtues and merits of him whom we mourn, and which have rendered the name at HjbUhy L. Benning dear and memorable alike to his professional brethren and to the whole mass of his fellow-citizens. His career was no ordinary one. It was long, laborious, successful, aiatmguished, divc.rsilied, divided, from the time of the opening of his ac tive life, between hard labor and signal success at the Bar and the dignified toiie and compensa ting honors of the Bench; divided. a*aiu, between the amihng pursuits of peace such as once blessed this laud, and the stern avocations of a war, which has left nothing but sorrow and ruin behind it It was full forty years ag" that Gun krai. Bit win no first took that seat at this Bar, whose very deso lation will now long vividly recall him to our sad thoughts. He came arrayed in the modest, winniug glory that hs often been seen luminous on talented, premising, ambitious youug man hood, struggling bravely in the early stages of a profession so Ooblaand difficult, so intellectual and inspiring as the l*w. Both in person and in mind, nature had endowed him well, —and supe rior advantages of education, which ho had not failed in boyhood and youth, to turn to the best account, had also fallen to his lot. What abundant assurance he gave, at a very early period, that he was worthy ol all bis high advantages and was likely to profit highly by them, is well attested by the undying story, which however, his own lips never told, of his indefatigable application whilst in the University of Georgia, whf re he graduated in 1X34, with the highest honors, bear ing off the palm from such competitors and class mates as Mo well Cobh and Hershcl V. Johnson. A little more than twenty years before that time, Columbia county'had given him a birth place, but by the removal of liis parents when he was yet a mere lad. Harris county ami then the new couutry between the Flint and Chattahoochee be came his home, and thither, upon his college ca reer ending, he came back again, and loosing no time entered upon the study of law in Talbottou under tbe Holt. George W. Towns, subsequently a member of Cougress and Governor of the Stat*-. The same strenuous habits of diligence which had distinguished him in college, characterized him as a law student and expedited him in the acquirement of legal lore, so that soon alter st taming his majority in April 1b35, he was admit ted to the Bar—a remarkably well-read neophyte. But neophyte it was soon forgotten that ho was. In his judicial studies he never relaxed, but con tinued to devote himself to them with untiring, delighted assiduity. And who can ever hope to prosper and rise in the Law who does not take de light in it? With General Bennino it became tue passion ofni* life, and proficiency and emi nence in his profession grew to be his engross ing ambition. Of course, he was obliged to sue coed, obliged to advance surely and rapidly, and to take rank, by degrees, withSthe veterans with whom bo had to contend. And then, too, it whs *>t long before the Solicitor Generalship of the Circuit v.a bestowed upon him by the Legisla ture. Stimulated by this mark of public recog nition and favor, so flattering at Ins time of life, both as coming from a numerous Legislative As sembly and as won over the heads of a crowd of aspirants in open day and full before the public eye, he applied himself more intensely than ever to his books and business, to study and to the practice.—-making thereby such progress as a lawyer, and building up such a reputation, per sonal and professional, as opened the way to him in 1853 to a seat on the Bench of the Supreme Court by tue voice of the Legislature. He ware the ermine for six years with weal to the State and honor to himself, ever exhibiting capacity, industry and resources of learning and knowledge, fully equal to tho requirements of that exhaulted sphere of pure law in which he now revolved. Here it so happened that what those whs knew him intimately had ever regar ded as one of his marked and most ennobling traits, namely, a sterling manhood and conscien tiousness, was often brought out to light by his somewhat frequent dissenting opinions,—more numerous and more elaborately supported by ar gument than had perhaps ever occurred in the case of any other Judge on e.ither side of the At lantic. The nearest parallel castiT, which our book present, is probably that of Mr. Justice Buber, who certainly rather enhanced than damaged hi* fame for legal knowledge and acumen, as well as for judicial nerve and independence, by his frequent dissentions from Mansfield and Kenyon, and his other colleagues on King s Bench. One thing is certain, our departed brother stood well that trying ordeal of service on the Bench under which not a few in the his tory of our profession have failed and come to loss of reputation. Asa Judge ho added to the laurels which he had gathered at the Bar. At the end of bis judicial term he returned at once to the Bar, bringing with him all tbe accu mulated a-1 vantages of prestige and increased riches as a jurist, that had accrued from so many laborious years spent by a man so laborious and faithful to duty as himself on the Supreme Bench. The consequence was, that an overwhelming practice lay inviting before him. But it was a harvest not destined even to ripen and come un der the reaper’s hands. It was all scattered be fore the storm of war and secession that was al ready muttering and was not long in bursting THE DAILY TIMES. over our devoted Southern land. And now another great transition, such an one "as tries men's souls” to their topmost bent, signalled t> Judge Bennino. For as yet be had never borne aught other than the judicial title. He hesitated not. He instantly obeyed the sign, and rushed to exchange the forum f<*r the tented field, the law for war and its perils, miseries and merciless ness. A regiment of men almost immediately showed itself, bristling up. as it were, like the ta bled soldiers ot Cadmus, from tho very ground on which ho stamped, and demanded him ss their commander. He led them quickly far away to faco the blazing front of war in old Virginia-’* grand historic clime, there on her heroic soil to shed their blood and lay down tbeir lives iu our precious Southern cause;—himself all tbe while at their head and in their midst, serene, firm as a rock, encountering unflinchingly and sharing fully with them all dangers and hardships, and endearing himself also to them by his ceaseless sympathy and care iu thoir behalf. His merits as an officer were not unobserved by his superiors in command iu the Confeder ate Government, ami tho result was his promo tion to the rank of Brigadier General whilst the war was yet iu "mid volley." Iu this new and more proniin c nt position, it fell to him to take part in many of the roughest and most perilous scenes of the long, vaccillatiug conflict, and ho invariably performed his part well, ever at his post, ever unsparing of himself, never shrinking from duty. His sword gleamed on many a field; in the fightings aud skirmishes around llich mond, in the huge, disastrous collision at Get tysburg, in the battle of the Wilderness aud on other theatres of arms which will not be nameless when the muse of History shall ht reuiti r rs'seher recording pen to do justice to Southern heroism and redeem Southern glory from the trauscieut eclipse that has obaeuml it by reason oi the final ill aurora* of our great Recessionary attempt. At the battle of the Wilderness his blood flowed and the wound ho there received, never ceased, to the cud of his life, to give hint at times pain, which he was in the habit of enduring with but mere mention of the suffering or its cause. When the war ended by the sheer exhaustion of the South, and the stars and bars ha t to be furled and laid away in everlasting mourning, lie whose fresh grave we bedew anew to-day with fraternal tears, came back again, war-worn and depressed at heart, to his home and to the bosom of his long-lone and long waiting family. But when he came, be found no time for rest or ro p.ise there. For not only had Southern liberty been crushed by the result, but Southern wealth and property had been annihilated, the very frame-work southern society torn to pieces aud universal impoverishment and disorganization decreed as the general fate. It was under these dire circumstances, that as well from necessity as from predilictiou, he donned, upon the spot, once more his professional harness aud came again to the Bar, hoping imply to extort from the now was ted and sterile fields of the law some provision for his dear ones. He worked hard. He stood facile princeps in our ranks. Nothing that lie undertook was slighted. How assidu ously be labored by day and by night, as well in his office and bis study*at home, as in the Court room, has been no secret to his brethren. Secret it could not possibly be, f>r it stood continually revealed by the infallible testimony of hip thorough preparation in all his cases, at all times, both as to law h. facts, w*d in all their details and complication. But the strong man (for ho pos sessed an iron constitution! not uufrcquently presumed too far on his strength and his capacity for labor and immunity from harm by (unreason able and excessive work and too protracted straining of his powers, physical and mental. And it is thought probable that it was by one of these strong-charactered, persistent impru dences continued through almost the entire night in perfecting the preparation ■ tone of his cases, that he was at last broken down without warning and the vital cord suddenly snapped. In General Bennino'h veins coursed sumo f the best blood of Georgia. From his own lips the Chairman of your Committee had it that ho was the great grand son of the celebrated Thomas Cobb, of Columbia/ounty, who lived to be large ly more than a cwftury old. and who was even less remarkable fojf his longevity than for Ui wonder ful manner iv which he boro up under his weight of yarn, both in mind and body. This great old man was the ancestor of the first Howell C'ohb—- him who figured very prominently on our politi cal stage sixty and seventy years ago— also of Thomas W. (-’obb. tho greatest of the name and next to William H. Crawford, generally deemed the mightiest intellect the Stat.- boasted iu his dav.— and. finally, those two other eminent men of a more modern date, tho gifted brothers, Gon. HoweUCobbaudGen.Thomasß.il Cobb, were bis lineal descendants in the same degree with General Bknkino. Strong principles and firm, decided character combined with an amiable, generous temper and a robust, manly texture of mind distinguished by solidity than brilliancy, by capacity than ge nius. a pure and correct moral sense, along with •the most perfect rectitude and honor in all things, and a soul incapable of any of the im auer patsious or impulses—these were the qualities that adorned (<kn. fli nni.vo, and seemed rather to be innate and inseparable hereditimeuts of his nature than cograttments in any sort upon it. He was wholly free, from artifice or preten sion, yet lie certainly lacked not the amount of self-estimation and Mf-nssertion necessary to make a man be felt as a force and high value in the world. He seems to have thoroughly under stood himself and lus peculiar structure, and to have recognized (lie great principle that labor is the universal price that must be paid for all things, aud in hia case at least, for things and wealth that pertain to mind riot bus than for those that are merely material, and he acted through life on the principle that ho would find his reward in being laborious, and that there whs no other rqed to succes iu the profession he had chosen. But adieu to these imperfect, unavailing re callings of characteristics which made our de ceased brother so much the object of our pride, honor, respect and affection ; unavailing they are indeed, either to assuage our grief or to pene trate " the dull cold ear of death." and reach and rejoice him who now si< *-p deep and calm by the side of those whom beloved, and who preceded him to the grave. Allow your Committee, breth ren, to bring its sad duty to a dose by asking your acceptance of this, their Report, and pray ing the order of the Court that it be entered on the minutes, and that an exemplified copy tbereol be transmitted by the Clerk to the daughters of , Gen. Bennino, now doubly orphaned. How our hearts weep fur them under this their last and great bereavement ! We pray our Heavenly Father to be their comforter aud supporter, and to over-watch, guard and bless them whilst He < hastens them ! May He cheer and sustain them, ever-dropping manna from on high iu their desolate pilgrimage through this vale of tears. Col. Ingriin, ono of tho ablest mwubers ; of the Bar followed Col. Chappell in a speech full of kind words, and replete with sympathetic lire: "General Bennino is dead!" On the morn ing of the xth of July last, the sad news, like an electric current, was conveyed from mouth to mouth, throughout the city and surrounding country, that "General Bennino wav dea l." All were astounded, shocked and grieved at the sud den announcement. For on the morning before they had seen him on his way to the Court House, walking the streets, with fiis accustomed stately trend, with his books and brief in hand. But, alas, it was his last brief! He had labored on it nearly all the night before, ft was a ease iu which he felt a great interest, aud all bis great energies were concentrated upon it. But his physical strength was not equal to the pressure, anil he fell by the way. weak, exhausted, lyzedl Tbe giant in strength hau become, in a moment, like an infant, helpless and unconscious of his own situation, lie sent word to the Court that he "would be there after a littl*-." With the last flickering light of his great Intellect still lingering upon his brief aud the case in hand, he fell—fell literally "in harness;" fell after the la bor of more than lorty years in tbe profession which he loved so well, aud around which he had shed an undying lustre. But he fell not among strangers. He was in the midst of friends, who conveyed him. with tender care, to bis home All that friends and family and medical skill could do, was done for his relief. But his appointed time had come. The silver cord was breaking; and like an unconscious infant in its cradle, the strong man was laid upon his bed for hi* last sleep! He scarcely spoke afterward. in the evening of that day I saw him for tho last time; then unconscious, speechless and sleepi -! profoundly. And thus, iu the midst of f'am.jy and friends; and in shadows au*l stillness of tin* midnight hour; ami without pain aud without a struggle he quietly and peacefully passed away. To the call of his name upon these earthly Court dockets he will respond no mere. In these halls we hay** long leen accustomed to see him ami to hear his voice. We miss him iu his accustomed place. There is an empty chair, aud a vacant desk. Others must hereafter occupy them! The tokens arc so nu merous and the signs around us ar*; so real, that we are forced to the solemn realization ot an nouncement, that "General Bennino ih dead!" And he was buried out of our sight. It sometimes happens that the last funeral rites bestowed upon the dead, give some indication of the estimation in which they are held iu the community where they have lived. It was a beau tiful Sabbath morning when our friend was buried. And Columbus, in all its history, has never witnessed such a numerous multitude of sorrowing citizens, in the funeral train of any of its dead. The grief was universal. All classes participated in it. The high and the low; the rich add the poor; black and white; all denomi nations and associations, religious, social, civil aud military—all, with heartfelt sorrow, joined the solemn train, as it moved toward tho final resting place of their friend. And I feel that I shall neither wound the feelings of the living, nor do any injustice to the memory of the dead, when I say that no citizen of Columbus has ever gone down to his grave, s > sincerely, heartily ana universally honored, respected and beloved, as was General Bennino. What manner of man was he, thus to have won the esteem, and to have entwined himself around the affections of all classes oi men? His reputa tion among men was all of his own making. He belonged to no one of the numerous associations of COLUMBUS, GA., SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1875. the present day. He relied not upon any ances tral fame to elevate himself above ordinary mor tals. He never resorted to any triek. or artifices or disguises, to win his way to the love and ad miration of his fellow-men. In ull his ways he was ever simple, earnest, truthful and straight forward; aud at the same time manly, courteous and dignified. Tho strength of a giant, and the simplicity of a child, were never more harmoni ously blended together in the same person. At the time of his death lie w hs over sixty years of age. lie whs educated at our own State Uni versity. and graduated with tho highest honors ot his class; showing thus early in life something of that laborious research and indomitable ener gy that characterized his maturer years. For more than forty years In* was a member of this Bar; aud at mi early age he was elected Solicitor General ol this Circuit, and discharged th duties of that office with distinguished ability. Ami at the early age ot about forty-live lie obtained tbe highest honors of liis profession, in this State, by being elected Judge of the Supreme Court* and in that high tribunal he served with great distinc tion lor tho full term of six years. Iu the Geor gia Reports may be found the result of his la bors as a Judge. That part of hia life’s record has been made up, and there it will stand, lorever! To that record his friends point the present and coming generations, as ••foot-prints on the sands of time," for information as to his ability and character as a Judge. 11* resided in this city ami was a member of this Bar for more thau forty years; and some ot us have known him all the way along through these years, from the beginning to the ending ot his professional career. Asa lawyer, ho hail but few equals. To his profession, he consecrated all the labors and energies of his life. His great success was the result of careful, patient and in cessant, labor. For success iu his prolessiou lie sacrificed everything else, except honor. Neither social pleasures, nor family ties, nor personal in terests. were sufficient. t*> seduce him lrom the supreme bustness of his life—to gain renown as a lawyer. Iu this he was successiul, for he was a great, lawyer aud had but few superiors. liis great superiority over others consisted in thorough preparation. The order of his mind was neither quick nor brilliant. He was not what the world usually calls a brilliant, or captivating popular orator. But before a Court und jury, his clear statements oi facts, his solid logic, and earnest ness of style, combined with his own convictions ot right, roiidi red him almost irresistible. His style us au orator was all his own. lie imitated nobody. Ho borrowed lrom nobody; to all the borrowed aits and graces or oratory lie was totally indifferent. In his addresses lie seemed to have no thought of himself, or of his style. His whole energies wore concsntrated upon the subject in hand. He was cool, deliberate, clear in statement, holiest in biH own convictions ol right, sternly logical, always in earnest, aud at times, vehement, and truly eloquent. But there was un interregnum in his profes sional lit**, l'oi tour years liis brieis wore all laid aidde, aud the sword was substituted in thoir place. When the war commenced he had scarcely over drawn a sword or shouldered a musket, lie was among the first to volunteer; aud among the last to surrender at the ’‘peach tree.” First a private; then a Colonel; and b fore the final sur render he was a Brigadier General. Whilst a sol lit r his whole energies w ove consecrated to the work before him. Ho went to the front to Jiyht! His convictions, that he waa fighting for a just cause, were strong ami irreversible, and hi staked his life amt liis fortune on tho result liis life was spared, but liis fortune was lost. His blood was freely shod; but his wounds were all in front. Soldiers' loved him, because he was brave; 'officer* respected him. because ho was vigilant, and just, and true to duty; the world admired and applauded him, because he was ready to sac rifice life and fortune in what he deemed a just cause! And finally, with liis honor all bright and untarnished, bh a soldier, he laid aside the sword and again took up his briefs! Forty years a lawyer and member of this Bar! And who’ during all'these years have been liis co temporaries aud competitors? Who arc these with whom he has associated and wrestled aud contended; and where are they to-day? i speak only of the dead ! Thirty of them went bcion him. He had mingled with them iu these halls; j and, one by one, they liav*- passed away, and lie, in his turn, has followed them. And these arc their names, an 1 remember them: ; Win. Dougherty, Seaborn Jones, Walter T. Col | quitt, Alfred Iverson, G. K. Thomas, Joseph j Sturgis, K. B. Ahxrmler, M. J. Wellborn, Hines Holt. Wiley Williams. S. A. Bailey, I\ T. Schley. William L.‘Jeter. John Schley, A. H. Cooper. A. i MeDougnld, John A. Jones. C. J. Williams. Thus. Watson, J. M.Guerry, J. N Ramsey, W. P. Ram sey. P. H. Colquitt. Seaborn Henning, W. N. Hutchins. D. Golightly, It. L. Panthers, It. W. Denton. Josephus Kefi.de, W. B. Pryor, J. A. Campbell. Many of these were eminent nu n in their day and able lawyers. I have known them ail, and among them all, in my judgment, General Ben nino had no peer as a lawyer. Home of us have seen ail these thirty, now (hud, *" they passed over the stage wlii st living. All these we have seen, in life, contending, in ii.tellei tual strifes, with our friend. Henry L. IGnmno We have Hi-eu them, ill the midst of social enjoyment, ill high debate, in sparkling lmni*r and moving eloquence; as well us ill tin bitter repartes. en gendered by lb*-antagonistic int’-rests represent ed by them. This procession of the dead wo have witnessed. But “dust unto dust.” was the decree; and the thirty died; and at la t our friend died ulh*.. The attorneys with their clients. Judges ead jurors, witnesses and officers ol' Court, all have gone down to the dust t"geth< r, and tin poor worldly goods, about which they contended, have perished with the litigants;all, all together, are but dust! But there are thirty others of us still living; and as wo have seen tho procession of the dead, so aro we just as surely organized, and are mov ing on. and on, to the same destination; but the order of this procession—who first and who lust in it—thank God, is hiddi n from our eyes; That curtain we would not raise, if we could! A monument, would you erect to the memory of General Bennino? Brass is not durabh enough, marble not white enough! Let tbesterl ing tra'ts of liis character, as stamp'd upon the memory of his countrymen, stand as liis monu ment. Truth, integrity, courage, moral and physical; unimpeachable veracity, honor and honesty untarnished! All these were eminently his;anil these will endure forever! and let them I stand as an imperishable monument to the mem | ory of an honest man / Judge Jos. F. Poll delivered the follow ing eloquent address: May it please your Honor: I am not willing, could not be willing longer to retain my seat, thus voluntarily to be shut off from the privilege of adding the sanction of my poor approval to the resolutions which have been read In our hearing, sud which so fitly ami worthily epitomize the life, character, and services of General Bennino. The circumstances of our meeting, and the ded ication of this hour affords us a most melancholy pleasure. The service for the performance of which we sit to-day, is of a nature at once, so sad, so solemn, and yet in its rendering so grateful to our hearts, that we highly esteem it us a privi lege, for we in no wise tie. ept it as a burden. We are not here to enact a meaningless ami a studied form. We are not here to make a vain display of counterfeited passion. We are here, sud we ded icate this solemn hour, to recognize in its great est extent our professional affliction, to endeavor to realize iu its fullest force, our sense of having been recently touched in our inmost hearts, and to permit an ‘unobstructed vibration of tbecordu which awake in us the liveliest appreciation of all that is true ami manly, aud generous, and noble. There are those here to-day who have known the deceased much longer than I. There are I those here to-day, your Honor among the num i her, who, nearer*hi* own age, thrown with him more arid oftener in the events of life, bound more closely by the ties of life-long association, connection and matured friendship, received from him. doubtless to a fuller and more particular e.x --! tent, the sacred trusts of the secrets of his soul, I But, sir, there is no one here, nor elsewhere, no man within the entire range and circle of Gene ral Henning's acquaintance, or his lame, who en tertained for him a deeper respect, or who (par dun me for the saying) took a more careful and unobstructed view of that whole arena of excel lencies which exhibited him as a man formed in Nature’s finest mould, and with all of Nature’s most lavish prodigality. It was a saying among the Ancients—a maxim transmitted to us through the now unspoken Ro man tongue—that we should speak nothing of the dead except what was good. Asa benefit to the living the maxim is wrong in its theory, unwise us a custom, subversive of one of the main ends, and many of tbe highest objects of human life. Nay. sir. let that be spoken of a man after liis death which truly describes him , which truly notes the effect und consequence of his life. • Speak of him as he was—nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice,” but speak not with bated breath, because forsooth he rests beneath the sod. Apply, in all the elements of life and character, that tost to General Bennino. and what had his good name to fear? In moral excel lence, in the best, the highest attributes of a no ble manhood, he towered above the surrounding multitude, like Haul above the surrounding hosts of Israel, like Mount Chimborazo above the high est sister peaks of the Andes. We could say that Henry L Bennino was an honest man, could as sert that he was an incorruptible man, could truthfully state that hi* truthfulness drew paral lel lines with truth itself, could affirm, borne out in the statement by the whole record and by all the facts of bis life, tout the spotless purity of his character was even as the snow-cloud, still in the upper heavens, before its contaminating touch of an earthly atmosphere. And yet, when we shall have said all this, we find oar bos .ru still laboring with some struggling and unspoken sen timent. We span with a single arch the stream we’ve been striving to cross, and we say Henry L Bennino died as he had lived, a grand old man! Yes, grand in the very simplicity of his grandeur. When in his place at the bar. or from the hust ings, it was Bennino'* to uphold and advance the cause of right. The foe might descry, in the glance of his eye, The light that once blazed upon Diowed’s crest. When under like circumstances, and with char acteristic force and power, he denounced tho wrong. The eloquent blood Spoke in his cheeks, and so divinely wrought, That one could almost say liis body thought. But now he is gone—paused a*ay; Lis varan seat is before u, but he’s gone. A spirit that went out, but left Upon the momitein tops of derth A light that made them lovely. How well do I remember, how well must others remember, a slight circumstance which, but a court or two ago, transpired within these very walls, aud which illustrates the man. It made a deep impression on mo, aud doubtless impressed others likewise; for as an exhibition of true manliness, it was a model and a copy that all may ‘’grapple to their souls with hooks of steel," aud wear it on their hearts forever. On an occa sion of dispute on a matter of business, or on some accidental disturbance, General Bennino applied to anothor old, und eminent, and honored member of this bar, who now sits within thfi sound of my voice ami can attest the facts, lan guage harsh, angry, and insulting. It sprung from the moment; it went with the moment; it was not noticed by the multitude, but only by those of us whose position was adjacent, and who saw, oven before the adjournment of the court, that upon mutual explanation all was sntisthi to ry between the gentlemen. But this did not sat isty General Bennino; it did not fill the measure ot his sense of duty. Ho when the court adjourn ed. and the multitude was moving toward those doors (for it was a court clay of unusual interest, attracting a greater than the usual number of spectators), with a wave of his hand, and in those tones accustomed to command attention and re spect, lie said; "To-day, in the heat of passion, aud under u misapprehension ol the real facts, I used to,” "language ugly, angry, in sulting-under the circumstances highly unjust. I desire here, as publicly, more publicly than the words were spoken, to retract and withdraw them all." 'Tin sail that the King can do no wrong: and as a maxim of law and history, ’tia looked to as a Bow er of truth, transplanted hero from the land of kings. Elegant idea; beautiful theory; grandilo quent fiction; fairy dream ol fanciful perfection; and yet how false, how sadly false in fact. The King can and does do grievous wrong. Tbe King subverts tho power the people gave him for their own good, into purposes tbe basest, the most un worthy, the most corrupt. The king uses that kingly power which sprang from the people ns its source, for the base pur pose of the people's oppression—lor the baser purpose of hiß own personal and moral degrada tion. The king offtimes, to gratify a wounded pride, if not to advance the schemes of a vaulting ambition, brings war and violence, and famine, bloodshed, aud blazing ruin, where he found hap piness, contentment, prosperity, plenty, and the ruling arts of peace. But here was a Kiug in deed—one who. while determined to do another the justice to inflict n-> wrong upon him, was so much determined to do himself the justice to re main no longer under the imputation of having done a wrong; Nature's prince—a King, around whose manly brow, Nature's gentle ami apprecia tive hand fiad twined u wreath and crown of purest gold, hail placed him out in society saying to him, REIGN THOU AMONG THY FELLOWS. As an attorney and advocate, open, candid, fair. Asa jurist, spotless, impartial. Asa war rior and patriot, brave, true, disinterested, sin cere. Asa citizen and man—God's noblest work. But he is gone, and at least wo may say—" we shall not often look upon his like again." Well do 1 remember the last time I looked up on the pallid, careworn, but noble lace of the old hero. 'Twas on the Friday morning of the night •fills death, wb n at the moetiug of the Court it whs announced to the sorrow of all that Gen. Penning had been taken suddenly quite ill. 1 had the honor, with other gentlemen, to be as sociated with him in an important case, on which he had spent the small hours of that very morn ing. preparing a brief, and which it was expected he would argue. At the suggestion of associates, I repaired to the store where the General was receiving tire kind-attentions of the proprietor and other friends. It was stated to him that we did not deem it prudent for him to attempt an argument that day—that the Court could doubt it kh be adjourned until Monday morning, when he could be heard. In atone of pain ami weak ness, he replied, "No, Pmi. for two or three hours at hast 1 cannot come.” Two or three hours at least! How many hours, and days, and weeks, and months, have passed, and why does ho yet delay ? Alas, how little did the old hero think perhaps how little certainly did 1 think, that before tbe rising of the morrsw's sun, lie was to appear, not at this, but ut that eternal bar, to which must be rendered au account ot all things earthly. The Court adjourned until Mon day, and doubting not that the GENERAL would then be iu his accustomed place, 1 took advantage ol'tlie occasion to visit friends iu the country. 1 here, entoff from direct communication with tiie city—hearing nothing—and seeing no one lrom tho city ---1 did not hoar of the General’s death until the morning of liis burial. A note written on other business stated that "General Bennino died on Saturday morning at 3 o'clock and would lie buried Sunday morning utD." 1 was shocked and astonish' ii. ihe plans of the day, which were to return that afternoon were quickly reconsidered, and we made ail practicable speed to get hero in time for the fuueral Me came into the city by an unaccustomed route going by the cemetery—hoi'ing that the delay in . id< ut to tue great gathering ot the people on such an occasion, would enable us at least to intercept and Join the caravan marching with quiet, mournful tread to the sound of muffied drum, bearing the old chieftain to the "pale realms of shade." to place him in Ins "silent chamber," in death’s halls -but we were too lute. When within a few hundred yards of the enclos ure we heurd the volleys of musketry that were fired over the grave, and which ns they echoed and re-echoed in tbe woods around us. told that all was over On we urged, and arriving at the gate of the enclosure, wo saw the multitude dis persing—the procession broken—that the >nan indeed, had "gone to liis long home,” and that "moiirneiH were going about the streets." An association of ideas caused mu to think of the couplet, They carved not a line, they raised not a stone, But they left him alone in his glory; and by a natural transition oi thought, 1 was re minded that li sleeps his lust sleep, he has fought hi* last bat tle. No sound ran awake him to glory again. And then from out of the darkues* and the des olation gleam' and a ray, and I said within my soul, yes there is a Bound which can wuko him to glory again—a sound which must awake him to glory again -a Hound which will awake him to glory again. ‘Tin tho voice of the Great Creator, the voice of his Master, that speaks not in the earthquake, the whirlwind, nor the storm; but in a voice "still and small." And to his sublimated spirit, standing disencumbered of ita earthly burden, does not that voice whisper—because you have been so true, because you have been so magnanimous, because you have been so humane, so char table in word and action, because you have exhibited so many of the best, the highest, the noblest traits of human character, the ex ample you leave behind is at least u "cup of cold water," givsu in My name and in the name of that Christianity, wnich without professing you have not failed to practice in many of Its highest types. May we not be solaced too, by the reasonable, comfortable hope, that when tho accusing spiri has been wont to fly up to Heaven’s chancery with the daily record of Denning’s faults, imper fections, infirmities, and frailties, he would hluth, as according to the mandates of stern duty, he must render in un account of evil against such a man; and that the recording Angel, as lie wrote tin m down, was accustomed to drop upon the page whole floods of tears aud blot it out from the eternal remembrance forever. CoI.J.M. Ruhkoll followed Judge Poll, and spoke in nubstance as follows: That ho had hoped until this morning when lx* saw his name in the papers, that he would he allowed to spend this memo rial occasion in silence banqueting on the rich memories of his lost and beloved brother prepared by others, and without furnishing: anything for the repast him self. That a student applied to an anciont and celebrated select school of philosophy for admission. The professor answered his application by presenting a plans full to overflowing with water so that it would hold not one drop more. Tho student promptly plucked a rose leaf from a flow er convenient and placed it on top of the water, showing that it would hold a rose leaf more. If he could add but a rose leaf to the cup full to overflowing with heart-felt elo quence-hut a single (lower to the garland of sympathy so tastefully woven to the memory of’his distinguished friend and lost brother by the committee, it would be all he could attempt and more than he could satisfactorily perform. Gen. Henning was a profound student and thoroughly conversant with constitu tional law arid liberty. He understood the history of tire early Republics of wtrich we have an accur ate knowledge and knew tire history of thoir riser and downfall. JJernago’gisrrr was the leading cause and demagogues Gmi. Henning despised, lfe had none of their wiles and tr icks and countenanced none in others. But two classes of animals in the world could at tain the hights of the Egyptian pyramids —the eagle and the serpent. So In the po litical world but two classes of individuals could attain the heights of fame—the dem agogue and the statesman. The dema gogue appropriately coni pared to the ser pent contorting Its flexible body into an hundred shapes in winding its slimy way through the crevices and cavities of the monument until its summit is atttained, when, hanging from its lofty height, it hisses at nobler men below. Illustrated by the Roman, Catiline, and a rich harvest of smaller creatures evolv ed by tho late war, like scum thrown to tho surface of agitated waters, while, in the language of Junius, "heavier bodies sank to the bottom.” The statesman com pared to the eagle rising on expanded wings and with a swoop of its broad pin ions In open sunlight, proudly perching there. Fitly illustrated in the character, life and services of our deceased brother, who fell with years and civil aud military honors, and tottering on the verge of tho tomb, threw back upon tho memories of his life a flood of light and legal learning, like the sun sinking in the West at even ing gilds with beams ol golden beauty the Eastern mountains. Gon. Bennino beliovorl in the right of secession, and was n State Rights man of tho old school. Ho believed as llrmly as he believed in his own existence, that the cause of States Rights was the cause of constitutional liberty; that if tho checks which tho Stub's hold on the Fed eral Government were torn loose tills Republic would run into a despotism,lor, what is worse, anarchy. The thought that our Northern sisters were seeking to cut looso tho cheeks held by the South, and when remonstrances were vain, tie appeal ed to arms. He did not say “go,” but “fol low,” though unacquainted with military “red,” through tho whole war. When the war ended he applied himself uncomplain ingly to hie business—accepted the situa tion. He advised his countrymen to go to work and build up tho waste places, and endeavor to restore our old Constitution and constitutional liberty when tire mad ness of tho hour had passed. Mr. Russell said that in ail countries and in all ages it had been customary to com memorate the deeds of illustrious men aud illustrious events. This sentiment, uni versal In human nature, was beautifully illustrated in the classics. In the last week his little daughter was reading her lesson in Virgil, and she had advanced where .Eneas, from rank showers of blood arid the red glare of blazing roofs, escaped from Troy, and being tossed about by land and sea for many years, found himself,af ter shipwreck, enveloped in a cloud by his goddess mother and in the streets of an cient Carthage. Ho then saw the Trojan battles, “nmgna pars fui,” arranged in or der and painted on the walls. Hector, Achilles, and Priam holding up his feeble hands, showing that even strangers, in a strango land, did homage to valorous deeds; that but. few year's would elapse before marble could not be found white enough on which to inscribe tier deeds of the Confederate dead, among whom Gen. Banning was a chief. 'The most exquisite touches of the painter could not exaggerate on glowing canvas the battle scenes through which they had passed, and a greater than l’he ndstoeles would tie required to recount the glories that cluster around tho mem ories of those who surpassed, because they so often repeated, the valor of the Greeks of Marathon. But “life’s titful fever is o’er” with our brother and wo are left to mourn. “Honor, duty, youth, beauty- what are ye? Harks that float lightly on life's rapid stream, Wash’d ever and anon by sorrow’s wave, Then wreck’d on that most certain shoal, The gravel" A number of our fair ladies have graced this occasion. 'Tire Jewish women wore once ill captivity for seventy years—you not so long. They sat down by the waters of Babylon and wept, and hung their harps upon the willows and sang the songs of Zion. God raised up old Nernehiah and he got permission to rebuild tho walls of Jerusalem. He was a good political econ omist and instituted a diversion of labor. He told every nran and woman to go to work; the sword in one hand and the trow el in the other; to go to work in earnest aud opposite thoir own house. They did go to work and rebuilt tho walls and then another temple which was more magnifi cent. than tho first. The passions of ten years ago are dying away and becoming matters of history. Ret ns be encouraged by the example of Henry L. Henning, and keep steadily at work. The cause of constitutional liberty, for which ho fought, will fie studied by our Northern brethren, and it is to be hoped that we may yet rebuild, with Northern aid, a second Constitution, with safeguards to liberty, and more magnificent ttian the ilrst. Then it will be seen that Iris illustrious life and labors will not have been in vain. G. E. Thomas, Esq., ably represented the vounger members of the Bar, and paid the following just tribute to General Henning: May It please your honor: while others are paying their tributes to the memory of our noble Brother, it is but lit that the younger members of tho Bar should lay their offering upon the ministers of this meeting. To mo, unexpectedly, has been assigned that duty. “Oh when the heart is full 1 Widen burn ing thoughts come crowding thickly up for utterance. Then the poor common words of courtesy aro such a very mock ery." 1 say, “when the heart is full,” because when I look around and see over there the faces of those who were with him where the shot fell the tickest. When I hark there and see his faithful servant who has conre to do his memory reverence and cast ing my eye further around, I see so many of our citizens who as a community are present, especially so many of our noble women—a sight! have never beheld on any similar occasion—it brings soiforoibly to mind the open, frank countenance, tho mild and pleasant gray eyes, the noble, manly brow and form of him who once sat there, my heart is so full that X feel inadequate to express a lifting tribute to one so dear to us all. Therefore I shall endeavor only to give an outline of his character as presented to us younger members of tiro Bar. Asa lawyer and jurist he had the ap pearance of one in search of hidden treas ure tic: truth, and he sought it night and day, and when he appeared before a jury he was armed at every point with the law and found his side with an impregnable wall of facts. In argument he was not an experienced and crafty swordsman to parry blows and thrust Iris antagonist at some unrecorded monument—but when his antagonist presented an issue of law or facts, he brought his mighty intellect to bear upon rather like a blow from a ponderous hammer, and if it was not gold it crumbled, if it was-not truth it was broken. The brother just, proceeding me has re marked that the whole Confederacy moaned his loss. I will go further, and say that his loss is not alone felt in the Confederacy. For when the issues of war had decided the fate of the Confederacy, ho put forth his every effort for the bone lit of the whole country and his heart was trig enough to embrace it, and his loss is felt to-day from one end of our nation to the other, and thoy would all rise to do honor to his memory. Such is tho character of the man, my young bretheren that we are now paying our last tribute of respect. What are wo doing to tit ourselves to tako the places of those who have gone before us? You have hoard our brother Ingram read the Roll of tire Head. It seems to me that the place on which we stand is hallowed and that the spirits of the illustrious dead were present to do honor to the occasion. Let us hero on this occasion rededicate ourselves to our profession and put forth every exertion to fit ourselves for the Bench, the Bar, tho Halls of Legisla tion ; yea even to tako our arms if need be in defence of our noble land in emulation of the illustrious example of ITenby L. Henning. "F’orlie is freedom’s now, and fames orro of the few 1 the immortal names that were not born to die.” Capt. C. It. Russell spoke in endorse ment of the resolutions, and made use of tire following remarks: *|May it please your Honor; The able and eloquent gentlemen who have preceded me have left but little for me to say, but my love for Geneiiax, Henning is too strong to permit the Court to adjourn with out my rising to express my hearty as sents to tho resolutions. Their liberal views are worthy of the great and good man whose virtues and fame we seek to commemorate. It is truo he has passed away from earth and our blame or cen sure is nothing to him now. The most eloquent eulogies that human lips can utter, and the loftiest monuments that human hands can build, cannot affect him now. Hut it Is consoling to us to Know that a general expression of love for him which lives in every Georgian’s and Southerner’s heart wore heard long before liis death, and that honor shod noble lustre around the last years of his lifo. lie was a representative man,and one of the representative men of our lost cause. But he sheathed his sword before his death. The resolutions need no support which human lips can by human languago give. Their subject Is tneir support. The name of Henry L. Henning appeals at once, and strongly to every true heart in this Southern land. Lot political partisans Influenced by fanaticism ami the hope of political plunder. And fault with and condemn us. They will be forgotten whou the name of Henry L Henning will bo resplendent with immortal glory. May it please your Honor, in the course of nature my career upon earth must terminate. God grunt that when the hour of my death comes, I may look up to Heaven with that confidence which the life ami character of Genkhap Henning gave him. He died a good man, with a good life a pure conscience. May It please your Honor, I have no other remark to make upon lire occasion. Col. J. M. Russell road a beautiful letter from Hon. 11. \V. Hilliard in relation to tiro death of General Benning. It was a beautiful production and well worthy of publication, but wo have been unable to get hold of it. Maj. It. J Moses concluded the occasion with a beautiful speech, and an affecting tribute to tho memory of Ills lllustrous friend. Ho in the course of his remarks said: May it please your Honor, my Brethren of the Bar, and you, my fellow citizens: The incident so gracefully referred to by my brother I'ou, to which I was a party, has so touched my feelings, that I almost wish I had taken tho precaution Ur write out my response to the resolutions, for I fear that my heart is too full to trust to its emotions lest my manhood should fail me. Tho report of the venerable Chairman, informing us that the deceased had a long line of noble ancestry. Tho record of his life teaches us that had ho had no distin guished progenitors,his descendants would never have to trace their lineage farther back than the deceased to show that they had sprung from honorable loins, and proud may ho bo whose closing hours can unfold such a record as that which is left by Henry L. Benning. The lessons of Iris life aro a rich inheri tance, not only to his immediate family, but to all who survive him. Lot us not mourn —“For him who having newly won The bound of man’s appointed years, at last; Life’s pleasures ail enjoyed, life’s labors done— Serenely to his Anal rest has has passed, While" the soft memory of virtues, yet, Lingers like twilight huso, who tho bright suu is set." We are here to-day to offer our earnest and heartfelt tribute of respect and affec tion to the memory of our departed brother. Wo aro here to show to you, tho younger Members of the Bar, the value of a noble life, und to teach you, that when life’s iltful fever is over iu estimating character, wealth is as tlr* drop of metals, and that virtue and integrity represent the true value of life. This is all the grave, cannot cover. Character, good or evil, survives the dead and leaves its im press on the living. We are here to teach this lesson, and how could it be more in delibly Impressed than by thi! surround ings under which it Is given? Look at this intelligent auditory. When before has this hall been so tilled with a commingling of intellect, virtue and ro ll nement ? Look upon the cheek of beauty, and behold the emotional tears trickling in quick succession, silent messengers of love to the hero dust which lies iu yonder tomb. You, my aged associates, whose course is nearly run, iind consolation In this scone. And you, my younger brotheru, who are just entering on the threshold of your profession, what sharper spar does your vaulting ambition need than the prospect of an ovation like to this when your cancer is closed. In this respect, may it please your Honor, in this alone there is wisdom in the custom of inform ing the Court of the death of an eminent member of tiro profession. It is well to give this public expression to the feelings of those who survive. It places on record tho prominent traits of character by which eminence Is achieved, and offers an ex ample to those whoso walks are the same. Save fur this purpose, why should wo in form the Court that Henry L. Henning. the best beloved, and most distinguished Member of tho Bar in our Circuit, has. since tiro last session of the Court, passed from earth as full of honors as years? Alas 1 you know tne fact full well How oiten during this term of the Court have you looked in vain at yonder vacant seat, and failed to meet the recognition you have sought, tho knoly eyo, tiro broad ex pansive and intellectual brow, the Ann set mouth, indicating indomitable will, the Humosthenian head that crowned tho manly form of our departed brother. All, all is gone. We know that the casket is buried in yonder grave-yard, but where is the immortal spirit that controlled its be ing? Who knows? Not I nor you, nor any one on earth. We hope, believe and trust thatoven now it is in the full enjoy ment of its eternal reward. We know the life of tins deceased, we know that his place is vacant, and 1 know that if 1 had tho power and determine, it should re main vacant and never be desecrated by mortal man, until sornejyoung jmember of the Bar, profiting by the lesson taught by tire lifo of the deceased, shall reach the al titude which ho attained. To fill that va cant place is worthy uny man’s ambition. After the remarks by which I have been preceded, it is unneccessary lor one to re hearse tire incidents of the life of the de ceased, I will merely say, that as a citizen soldier and jurist, Henry L. Henning had reached the pinnacle of fame. Asa citizen, he was distinguished for his manly virtues, courageous, charitable, guiliess and sympathetic. In the language of 001. jlngraam. “he combined the force of a giant with tlio gentleness of a child.” Asa soldier, his courage and his patriot ism were co-equal, and—each —all that his country could ask or hope for. Asa jurist, he was pure as the emblematical ermine, and just as the goddess whose minister ho was. In all ttn walks of lifo Henry L. Benning illustrated man’s full and perfect measure, and we who have chosen the profession of the law, may congratulate ourselves that the deceased lived to reflect upon it tho honor of his life. Eulogy can add nothing to his mem ory. The record of his life is a part of the proud history of our Commonwealth. His end was sudden and peaceful. He is mourned by countless friends, not only here, but wherever he was known—and that knowledge was limited by a nation’s bounds. He diod as I think he would have chosen to die, had ho had tho power to choose. In tho discharge of his profes sional duties, he was on his way to tiro Court House, prepared to argue an important question, when stricken by the shaft of death. He never rallied from the blow, but into his eternal slumber at peace with God and man. Let us estimate his example, and so live that when our sun has set, its reflected rays will leave nuch a line of light along tho paths we tread. Would that it had pleased Almighty God to spare the deceased longer to our com panionship, but It has been decreed other wise, and who is there here who dares to doubt tiro wisdom and justice of omnipo tence because the hidden purposes of the Divine hand are beyond Iris comprehen sion? Not I! l bowin humble submission to the Decree. Then— “ Let us rejoice that he has livod thus long; Mourn not that ho has gone to his re ward, Nor deem that nature did him wrong, Softly to disengage tho vital chord. For when his hand grew weak, and his eye Dark with tho mists of age, it was his time to die.” I move the adoption of the resolutions. Judge M. J. Crawford in behalf of NO. 27 r tho Court read the following beautiful tribute to General Benning; In response to what, has been said of the life and character of Gen. 11. L. Henning, I will say that I have known birr, for about forty years, ami for nearly thirty years of that time I was In the closest personal, political ami social relations with him. In all those years 1 nover know him do an act or give utterance to one thought which was unbecoming a gentleman. It always seemed to me that nature made him in" a mould (lint rendered him incompetent and incapable of an unworthy act. His very presence Inspired one with confidence in his Integrity; and If that were so, how much more wonderfully did ho win upon you when you listened to the expressions of his mind, which were always truthful, noble and sincere! He was freer from guile anil insincerity than any man I ever knew. Perhaps In some respects it had been bettor fur him that he should have been loss frank than he was; but in his own great heart ho wo*ld havo dospised himself had he felt that he could be guilty of insincerity or deceit. In every thing which ho undertook he devoted himself with hereto earnestness and energy. From the day he entered college to the day he fell, worn by exhaustive and profes sional toil, on his way to this Court-room, he had most arduously pursued the busi ness of tho hour. At college ho sought the honors of his class; he gave up every thing save this, and with all tho energy of his character ho struggled with tho bright minds of his fellows until tho triumph came. Then he commenced tho study of thi! law, and with the exception of four years the remainder of his life was given up to that. But few of those whom I now see around me know anything of tho long, earnest, laborious year s ho gavo to his profession. Ho sought Its honors, ami with all the earnestness of his nature he bent himself to the accomplishment of his great object. Ho gavo too much for them —ho gave up many hours of domestic happiness which ho should have enjoyed. Life is too short and honors too empty to weigh them in such a scale. Hut ho had his object, and with a purpose unchange able he gave himself to its accomplish ment. The highest honors in his profes sion which his State could give him, ho attained, and tho ermine fell upon him. With that same earnest, self-saoriilcing spirit he gave up all olse, that ho might with fidelity discharge lus trust. How well ho did it, let Ids decisions speak. When the groat struggle betweon the States came, ho, more than anything which he had ever desired, wished for tlie inde pendence of the South. This desire was so earnest and so thorough, that with all his soul and mind ho threw himself imme diately in front of tho foe, and, with a de termination to do and dare all that one man could to accomplish his object, he stood until tho overwhelming tide of war rolled over our armies and left scarcely men enough to provide food arid shelter for the widows and the orphans which it Imd made. And then, when he saw the flag go down, he turned himself toward his stricken home, and from that day ho was no more himself. Soon anothor blow fell upon him with more crushing weight than Iris last summons—and that was tho calling of his lovely wife from earth to Heaven. From these sad scenes he nover rallied except to duty; this he observed and kept until worn down by tho heavy tasks of life, und fell when none expected it, after weeks of toil. It is a comfort to me to know that his death was such as ho wished, and that without tho usual agony which precedes it, ho gently fell Into tho quiet grave. The earth has no such man now known to me. Tho State should honor Itself by rendering proper honors to Henry L. Benning. NEW YORK ITEMN. New York, Nov. 20.—A special ca ble to the Herald from London, says the United States steamers Franklin, Alaska and Juniatta, have arrived at Villa, France, from Naples. A Herald Special from Thoinaston, Connecticut, saj's Bunnell, the de tective, has returned from liis search in Connecticut for Charley Boss. Ho believes ho lias seen Charley Ross. He says the woman who had him al ways dresses tho child in girl’s clothes when passing through a town. Says the ehilds’ eyes are dark brown; he could not be mistaken. Ho followed the pair all day, but having a poor horse, was compelled to return. He will catch her to-day, aud bring her to the telegraph sta tion. A special from Trenton, New Jer sey, says a prize light for S2OO a side, between Win. Walker and James Wheodon, took place about three hundred miles from Philadelphia, in tho State of Delaware, yesterday morning. Tho party were from Phil adelphia and were conveyed to tho lighting ground in a steam tug. The contest lasted one hour and seven teen minutes. Forty-one rounds were fought. Walker hud the best of the lighting to the tenth round, when he began to waver, and in the forty-lirst round he was knocked out of time. Walker was badly punished. The fight was a very scientific one. After the contest tho party returned to Philadelphia. Charles B. Orvis and Dexter D. A. Reid, two deulers in hardwares, oc cupying a room at 52 Centre street, have absconded, leaving debts be hind them aggregating from $75,000 to SIOO,OOO. Orvis is said to be an old swindler. He formerly operated in Toronto, Canada, having au office in King steet, and ostensibly dealt in Kansas lands, but his real business was advertising for clerks, whom he invariably swindled. He played a similar game in Chicago, and being forced to leave, came to New York. His first venture was in the hotel line at Eighth street und Broadway, whore he failed, with $20,000 in judg ment against him. Reid was former ly of Boston, where bo enjoyed first class credit. Reid and Orvis swin dled their creditors by selling goods and pocketing the proceeds. Orvis had received a number of consign ments of Harwoods, from the West, but was so slow in making returns, that un investigation was made, the result of which has been his abscond ing. It is believed that both have gone to San Francisco. MONTGOMERY NEWS. CASES CONTINUED. Montgomery, Nov. 20.—1n the city court yesterday, the Meads were dis charged. The Westley jury is still out. Ru mor savs it is about equally divided. Mr. Ed. Bowman, yard master of tho Western Railroad, had his foot badly mashed this morning in switching off some cars. The wound will lay him up some time. Owing to the absence of Judge Woods and illness of Judge Bruce, no United States Court was held this morning, and tho cases against Robt. Woods and others of Columbus, Ga., for violating Enforcement Acts, was continued. In the Probate Court, James Do zier, administrator of tho estate of Perry Dozier, deceased, has been or dered to muke a final settlement, or show cause why lie should not. Pearsall vs. Pearsall, still continues in the Chancery Court. Tbe I-ate Ml. Montgomery, Nov. 20.—From tho latest advices it now appears that the new Constitution will be ratified by from 50,000 to 55,000 majority 1