Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-09-23
From the CcntineI.
Mr.. JUSTICE rRIMBLE.

Mr.. JUSTICE rRlMBLE.
The melancholy rumor of the death OF Mr.
Justice TRiMBLE of The Supreme Court oil the "
states has at ength been confirmed. ! nat excel
lent man is no more. The nation ha. sustained
loss Of no ordinary magnitude, and hehtuchy
NAV now mourn over the departure OF aho.ne'
Of hes brightest ornaments i'll the 'igor .. me
ard usefulness. II is but lew years sin'e
that Hardin, whu deservedly held the foremost
rank a, her Bar, fell an early victim 10 oisease'
The death Of tia, worthy and DISCRIMINATING
Judge, Mr.. Justice Todd, soou followed; a"e
now Trimble, is added TO complete the sao II
umvirate. 1t is but two years since the la''er
took his seat on the Bench oil the supreme
Court, having betn elevated 10 that station from
tie District Court solely by his uncommon
merits. Ii is not saying too much u a''.'''
that he brought with him 10 his new once inc
reputation OF being at the head OF the P' o'cS'
sion in his native Slate. Men might differ WIN
respect to The rank Of other lawyers, oot all al
mitted, that no one was superior 10 iAi"ehh
in talents, in learning, in acueness, IN sagaei'y'
All admired him for his Integrity, hrmness,
public spirit, and unconquerablr industry Az
saw in h.m patience of iu' estigation when
never failed, holiness of principle wHich knew
no compromise, glorious love OF justice ana
men,s were remarkable for clearness, strength,
vipor of reasoning, and exac,ness Of conclusion.
Without being eloquent in manner, they hao
the full affect OF the best eloquence. hey
were persuasive and often overwhelming IN
their influence.
Such was the reputation, which accompanied
him 10 the Supreme Court Before such bar
| as adorns thar Court, where some OF the abiest
men in the Union are constantly found engaged
i'm arguments, il is difficult Tor any man long
to sustain proft ssional Character OF dis' INC
ton, unless he has solid requirements and Ia
lents 10 sustain it. There is li'tle chance there
for perhclal learning, Or false pretensions 10
esca ape undetected. Neither office, nor inHu-
ence, nor manners, can there sustain the judi
cial functions, unless there is real power 10
comprehend and illustrate judicial arguments,
a deep sense Of the value OF authority, an un-
,iring zeal, and an ability to expound with Nv
ing reasons the Judgments, which the court Is
called upon TO sxpouud. new Judge, com>
ing there for the first time, may, under such
circums lanoes, well feel some painful anxiety,
and some dis rustful doubts, est the Oar
should search gu, and weigh his attalnm" nus
with too nice an inquiSltion. Mr. Justice
lRIMBLE.not only sustained his former repuia'
ton, but rose rapidly in public favor. P'rhaps
no man ever on the beuoh gained so much IN so
short period Of his judicial career. He was
already looked up 10 as among the first Judges
in the nation in all the quali6c ations Of Office.
Unless We are greatly misintormed, he possess
ed IN an eminent degree the confidence OF his
brelh., o, aud was listened to with constantly
! 1t; Tor no man could besiow more Thought,
more caution, more candour, or more research
upon any legal investigation than he did. The
| judgments pronounced by him in the Supre me
Court cannot be read without impressing every
professional reader With the Strength Of his
mind, and has Various resources to illustrate
and unravel intricate subjects. YET we are per-
suaeed, chat if he had we'd ten years longer in
The discharge OF the same high duties, from the
e1pansi5,lty OF hi. talents, and his steady de,
votion 10 Jurisprudence, he would have gained
s.ill higher rank, perhaps as high as any Of
his most ardenl friends could have d. sred.-
One might Say Of him S CICERO said Of LYsIAs
--Nthn 0cuta tnoeriri pOtut In els caus,S,
quas scripsit, Mill (at tia dican,) su6dole,
Mill rersute, quoa lille non videru; nihI
s"btihter dici, nihH presse, nih1 enucleafe,
quo yferi possH ahguid HnaatiuS.
In private lie he was amishle courteous,
trark and hospitablr; warm in his friendships,
and a model in his domestic relations
In politics ne was firm and unde yiating re-
pub'Ican; but respectful and conciliatory TO
those who differed iro ., him In constitutions
al law he belonged TO that sc nool of which Mr.
Chlei Justice MARSHALL himself hos is the
ackrowt dyed head and cX9osiior He loved
the Union with an unraul,efIng love, and was
ready TO make any sacrifice TO ensure It's per-
pe'ui'y. ne was patriot in the purest sense
lie was But f9w vain is i 10 say wha' H..
was-He has gone Fl ON US forever We have
nothing lief bat 10 lament his loss, and 10 che
rish his fame
Safe giernam mihi, m1rime Pale,
.Eternumque pale.