An early attention to all his duties, and a desire to excel in everything useful, was another distinctive trait in the character of Judge Gaston. We discover this in the rapid progress made in his studies and the distinction which he acquired at college. I am aware that college honors are often decried, at least by those who never obtained them, and that it has been frequently said that they afford no presage of excellence in after-life. I beg leave to dissent from that opinion. Judge Gaston himself thought far otherwise. Long after he had left the walls of his _alma mater_, when his mind was enlarged by observation and corrected by experience, he expressed himself in an address to the young men who then occupied the seats now filled by you in the following glowing words: "True it is that it sometimes, though very rarely, happens that those who have been idle during their academical course have by extraordinary exertions retrieved their early neglect and in the end outstripped others who started in the race far ahead. These are exceptions--they furnish cause to humble arrogance, check presumption, banish despair and encourage reformation. But as surely as a virtuous life usually precedes a happy death so surely will it be found that within the college precincts is laid the groundwork of that pre-eminence afterwards acquired in the strife of men; and that college distinctions are not only good testimony of the fidelity with which college duties have been performed, but the best presages and pledges of excellence on a more extended and elevated field of action."
A faithful and fearless discharge of whatever he found to do in the path of duty was another prominent trait in the character of the Judge. He never asked what interest or policy might dictate, but what truth and justice required; and the latter he resolutely performed, "uncaring consequences." I might mention many instances of his braving popular prejudices, and incurring for a time popular odium, in doing what an enlightened conscience told him he ought to do. A memorable instance is presented in his appearing as counsel for Lord Granville in the famous suits which he instituted in this State after the Revolutionary war. A course, which all would now acknowledge to be right, then very sensibly affected his popularity for many years. He was at that time a young man, and it required no little of the force of conscious rectitude to enable him to stem the torrent of prejudice which ran so strong against him.