Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 04.pdf/45

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The Green Bag.

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Civil War. " Stonewall " Jackson had pre empted that designation, but General Benning won another that had the same mean ing. His military title was "Old Rock." He was more sure to be at the post of duty than the post was to be there itself; and he held his brigade in battle with impregnable firmness. Brave and determined as he was, he was also one of those who " got over

the war " as soon as it was decided. In his old age he enjoyed those well-merited re wards, — " love, obe dience, honor, troops of friends."

Charles J. Jenkins.

This Judge's service on the bench was only an episode of his life. He was a mem ber of the Supreme Court during the war, and few cases of importance or general in terest came before him. Litigation of the ordinary sort was practically suspended in Georgia from 1861 to 1865. There were not a few habeas corpus cases in those days. In one of these Mr. Toombs represented the relator, and in the argument said that "no court would dare do " what he claimed Linton Stephens would result from the consequences of the was a brother of the decision he was dep more distinguished recating. Judge Jen Alexander H. Ste kins fairly cowed the phens; and it is not fiery orator by stop improbable that he ping him and saying would have been more from the bench, " Mr. prominent, if not thus Toombs, this court overshadowed. By dares do anything many men of discrimi that is right." Judge nation who knew and Jenkins was Governor appreciated both the of the State when brothers, he was re reconstruction " de garded the abler man posed " him. He of the two. Alexan is justly regarded as der H. Stephens had CHARLES J. JENKINS. one of the greatest the advantage of a and purest men unique and vote-rally ing invalidism; while Linton's robust phy Georgia has produced. sique left him without any such claim on the popular sympathy. The period covered by the incumbency of As a Judge, his opinions are the shortest the Judges already mentioned brings the his in the Georgia Reports. He saw what he tory of the court to the close of the war. saw clearly. Doubt, "with its thousand Fortunately, Georgia was preserved from the fold pinion," did not hover over his intellec judicial eclipse which befell some of her sis tual processes. He went straight to the ter States during the troublous times that controlling point in the case, and ended the followed the year 1865. Judge Dawson A. Walker went on the matter. It was said of him : " He disdained to cite much authority. He preferred to bench as a Republican; but even partisan become authority." criticism accords to him purity and ability as a Judge.