Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-04-14
JUDGE JACKSON

aiter commenting on the high opinion. enter.
tanned by Lord Stowell one of the most learn
ed and profound Of the English Judges, of the
success with which the Americans have cul-
tIvated Maritime law, and of the marked At
tentions which he has paid to our distinguish
ed fellow citizen Judge Jackson during his
residence In England proceeds as follows
Let me avail myself of the present
occasion to declare my regret, and the
regret which all who love the welfare
OF the state must feel, at the premature,
and therefore hope not final, retire
ment OF Judge Jackson from public life.
Whilst ne is traversing a foreign land.
seeking in the vicissitudes, adventure,
variety, and intellectual pleasures of
travel, the renovation of health, which
ne had sacrificed to the discharge of his
judicial functions, by devotedness to
the acquisitions Of duty wherewith no
regard OF self was ever allowed to min
gle, his countrymeu may pronounce his
praise in terms of just respect, such as
the dellcacy and simplicity of his char
acter would cause him to shrink from
hearing. shall but place on record
the voice OF his assOciates,-of his sue
cessor,-of the bar,-of the whole state
Itself,-w write that in all the vir-
tues OF private life he was without a
stain, as in all the qualities Of public
Magistrate he had no. superior. Bred
to the law under the eye of Chief JUS
tee Parsons, who could designate him
even then as the jurist over whom his
own mantle should most fifty fall, he
soon rose TO be emuIous of his great
masters rank at the bar,-thus accom-
pllshlng the early predictions of his fn-
lure forensic emlnenCe,--and was even
tually associated with him on the bench.
a short time before the death of Par
sons. should ascribe TO him no more
Inan belongs to every upright magis-
trate, did merely name his indefati-
gable attention to the labors of his place
his even-handed and conscientious i'm.
Partially 10 holding the scales of JUS
tce, his patience, acuteness and skill in
the dISentanglement of all the compli-
Gated merits of the most abstruse and in
trlcate cause, and the vast fund of cru
dltion which he brought to the iIIustra-
lion OF the law, from the stores of a
memory wherein all the riches of legal
learning lay,-not boarded, but, treas
ured up for the good of mankind. All
this might most justly assert; but to
praise these qualities in him were 4" a
wrong to his virtue;" for his were ex-
cellencies of a much higher order.
lie displayed, in all the investigations
called for ny his situation, depth and
keenness of penetration such, may
safely affirm, as was seldom surpassed.
'N'e't acute anUe''ir, potmt in els cAusrs
quas scrlps't, nihI subdole, mihil uersute.
qrod Tile non Uiderit. And although he
never refused to depress his faculties to
the level the minutest point. the most
trivial question, which seemed any wise
material to the issue,-the greatness of
his intellect was yet more originally
conspicuous, when, as occasion required
1t expandf d to the compass and scope of
the broadcast and highest and deepest
SUBJECTS of contemplation in that science,
whereof 1t was tinely written by Hook
er, that, call things in heaven and earth
40 her homage, the very least as fee
ling her care, and the greatest as not
exempt from her power" 1t was on
such-subJects that you must have wit
messed the workings of his mind, to Judge
arIght OF its uncommon sptness and fe-
licIty IN mastering the intricacies of ju-
rlsPrudence. You would not see him
gathering up doubts and difficulties to
lose himself in their shadow, but all that
was clear he maintained unobscured,
whatever was dark he illuminated; for
unwearled perseverance of investiga
ton, guided by the most keen, search.
ing, lucid, unerring perception oftruth,
distinguished all his intellectual efforts,
Nor did he come to Investigations of
this kind with the reluctance of an I'm.
willing heart. He consecrated all his
powers to the performance of his iudic-
lal offices from the first, with that unre-
servedness ofself-dedication, which moth
ing but strong sense of duty could have
inspired, nor any thing sustained but
warm attachment to his profession, u
nlted with the most unaffected SIMPLE
lty, and an unambtious delicacy of taste
and feeling approaching to fastidious.
ness.
ALI this must have been TOO plain to
escape the penetration of any person of
common discernment, who ever saw
him in public life, even although, like
myself they viewed him at humble
distance. But they who have acted
with him should be heard to describe
him, If we would fully appreciate his
qualities. And sure am, his colleagues
on the bench are too high.minded