SC1896_FF1_155

45
I will here further state, that the first knowledge
I have, that Judge G. had delivered an opinion, was
derived from my friend James Rucks Esqr who enclosed
me a copy of it, in pamphlet form from
Nashville, & informed me by Letter that a copy of it
had been placed upon the table of each member
of the Legislature, which was then in session.

This had been doubtless done, for the purpose
of having some influence on the passage of a Bill
then pending, to authorise the Judges of the
Supreme Court, to grant bills of Review, to review
their own decisions - Such a bill having been introduced,
with a view to this particular case, as I
verily believe.

The case was argued in the Supreme Court by
W. E. Anderson & Turney for Complainants, and
by Genl. Gibbs, & Pleasant M. Miller of The Western
District for the Defendants.

Colo. Miller, had been a man of the first order
of talents, perhaps not very extensively now
as a Lawyer, but he was a good Speaker possessing
a large fund of common sense, & being
well acquainted with the human heart, he always
made a Strong impresssion. His Speech
upon the facts in this case, was an excellent
One. He was then 62 years of age, & possessed
a Strong vigorous constitution, but having indulged
for many years, freely in the plesasures of
the table he had no doubt impaired his powers
of making a great intellectual effort, in a difficult
& complicated case; tho' it is but justice
to him to say, that he had made himself master
of the facts in this case.

One little circumstance which
occured during his speech, is worth recording
The day was warm: His clothes, particularly his