Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA. AND GEORGIANS 2879i-fethis being in compliance with the general requirement throughout the state,in order that every vote should be cast for Federal supervision and underFederal bayonets. At many places the soldiers sought to put as much humiliation on'the whites as possible, in order to deter him. At Covington twolines of soldiers marked the path .to the polls, forming an arch with theirlocked bayonets, beneath Vhich voters were required to walk in order toreach tne polling booth. This was very pleasing to the negroes, who wereeasting their first ballots, and that with the idea that the Federal Government was supervising the elections in their honor and forcing respect fortheir'equality with "de white folks."Approaching the line of bayonets, which he had seen were none too highfor a white man, and especially one who bore the marks of a soldier, to pass' tinder without stooping, the blood of Judge Florence, the cavalier, began toboil and, towering in his magnificent manhood, the spirit of centuries of freemen filling him to the utmost, he lifted the empty on his right, after a military salute to the commanding officer, and in a calm voice, but a voice evidencing the pent-up emotion within and showing the feelings of a brave andhonorable descendant of a proud and haughty race, he asked: "Are yougoing to force a man, a freeborn American who lost his arm in honorablebattle, to humble himself in this manner, to degrade himself after the fightin a manner you would not have done on the battlefield? Shame on thevictor who would thus seek to humiliate a fallen foe!" The commanderof this squad must have been a soldier, and, acting under orders tacitlyif not actually given, his men instantly lowered the bayonets, and JudgeFlorence and his companions, with heads erect and with the proud step offreemen, walked to the polls, but not under Federal bayonets.On a general review of the stewardship of Judge Florence through life,we can say that he had his religion with him every day and believed that itwas better to give than to receive. He would give his last dollar to relieveanother, would deprive himself of necessaries that the sick or poor might havedelicacies and luxuries. Old comrades and their widows paid no cost of securing their annual stipend from the state. The small estates left to widowsand orphans paid no administration fees. He left no hoardings of this world'sgoods to his family, but left a legacy far richer a name among1 men of alife well spent, a life filled with deeds of charity the keys that open the palaceof eternity. His home was always apen to friend and stranger and his hospitality was truly Southern. His entire life was marked with well-wishing forhis fellow men and utter forgetfulness of self. His religion like his politeness was natural and true. Until time enfeebled his step, every Sunday forhalf a century he attended the Sabbath school as either superintendent orteacher of the Bible class. He studied and briefed his Bible lessons as he didhis law cases. He was a Bible scholar, and as an expounder of holy writ hisequal, either among laymen or clergy, was hard to find.Summing up, I gladly say that Judge Florence as a man was brave andhonorable; as a member of the Methodist Church he was true to its creed andteachings, putting into his daily life the precepts of his abiding Christianfaith. As a lawyer he was careful in advice, to his client true as the needleto the pole and zealous in the cause in which he was enlisted. As a judgehe was ever eager to'hold even the scales of justice, to protect the weak, andto administer to all equal and exact justice. In his death the state lost aworthy son; his family a kind, loving and indulgent husband and father;the country a friend and faithful public officer. The bar of the GeorgiaSupreme Court lost a member as worthy* as the worthiest upon its roster ofmembers.As a gallant soldier of the Confederacy Judge Florence served in the command known as Greene Rifles, Cook's Brigade, and also in Wharton's Brigade,Phillips' Legion. He was one of the heroes at the Battle of Manassas, in which