Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-12-31
THE LATE JUDGE WASHINGTON


"lhe death Of Mr.. Justice WAsnrNcrox is an
event which cannot but cast gloom upon all the
real friends of our country. He was born on the 5h
OF June, l70s, and of course now i'm the 6at n
year OF his age Ii is we'll known that he was tho
nsphew and we have right to say the favorite ne
Pnew OF PRESIDENT Washington. The latter be
1neathed To him BY his will his celebrated estate on
the POTOMAC, Mount Vernon, which was The residence
or mus great Patriot during the most brilliant pcrods
oil as htc the delightful retreat Of his old age the
sec VI ms dying hours, AMI the spot, where, by his
own order his ashes now rcposc in the same tomb
with his ancestors. To hun also President Wash
neton gave all his valuable public and private papers
as proof OF his entire confidence and attachment
uo maze MN the active executor of his will. Such
marks OF respect from such u man-thc wonder of
MS own nge, and the modal for all future ooes-
Wouu alone stamp character of high merit, and
soIiu dsuhction. upon arg person. They would
constitute u passport to public favor, and confer an
envablc rank far beyond tic records of the hcralds
once or the fugitive honors Of title.
|. II Is hgh praise to say, that Mr. Justice Wa sh-
nStoh Wei deserved such confidence and distinction
Nty more Ills merits wunt far beyond them. He
WAS as worthy an heir ever claimed kindred with
worthy ancestor. lie whs bred TO the Law in his
natiVe state ct Virginia, and arrived at such carlv
emhence nv hs profession, that Us long ago MS i7a
ne was selected by President Albums as Justice of tho
supreme Court, upon the deccase Of tho late Judge
Wilson of Penn. For thirty-ono wears he has held
,lat intportunt station with constantly increasing
reputation and nsefulncst. Few men, indeed have
raturai o! acquired. Fey men have left deeper ira
ceS Ia their Judicial career of every thing which
conscientious Judge ought 20 propose 70. his ambi
'ion or MS virtue, or his glory. HIS mind was solid
rather IMAM hri,au sagscious and searehinr rather
than qaick or eager; slIw, but not torpid; steady.
ont not unfolding; comprehensive, and at tho same
uWc cautious; patient ~ inquiry orcibioin concen.
I'oh' Gear III reasoning He by original tenn
permanent, mid, combating, and candid; and vot
was remarkable for m uacolnpro,nisino Grr,r.ss Oc
nm may be truly said that the fear Of mCn meyer
'C'' upon MN; IL never entered into his Thoughts
much less was seen IN his actions La him the love
OF Justice was the ruling passion it was the master
Spring OF all his conduct. lie made II n matter of
conference To discharge every duty with scrunulous
fidelity, and scrupulous zeal. 1t mattered NOT wbc
ther inc duty were small or great witnessed by the
world, or performed III private, every where the snmc
diligence, wacEfulness, and pcrvadng sense of ms
ice were seen. There was about HIM tenderness
of giving offence, and get q fcarlcssncss of con.c-
qucnceS IN his official character, which scarcely
KNOW now To portray. u rare combination
winch added much to the dignity of the bench and
maze justice itself, even when most severe soften
INTO the moderation OF mercy. 1t gained confidence
when 1t seemed least to seek II. 1t reprcsscd AFRO
gance by ovcrawing or conicund!nr it,
TO say, that n Judge he was wise imnar;;,l
ana honest IS but TO attribute 10 him those uuaica
IONS without which the honors OF the bench are bnt
nc means OF public disgrace, contempt. His
iiiPariahty was virtue Of his nature, disciplined
ina instructed by constant reflection upon the inlrm
~, and accountability of man. His wisdom WINS
he wisdom OF the Law chastencd and refined and in
Migrated by study, guided by experience dwelling
close survey Of principles
ole was Il learned Judge. I do not mean BY
his that every day learning which may be gathered
Up by h1sty reading of books. and cases But Tho,
which IS the result Of long continued laborious snr'
ices, and comprehensive study. TIE read 10 learn
Ind not to quote; to dgcs and master and not mere
to display. He was not easily satisfied. If he
vas not as profound some he was more exact than
most men. But the vOlup of his
vas the keystone of all his judgements IJo in
iugcd not the rash desire to fashion the law TO his
'wn views; but to follow out its precepts with sim
;ere good faith aud simplicity. Hence he pos1cs-ad
he happy faculty of yielding Just the proper weight
70 authority neither on the one hand surrenderinp
himself bindtod to the dictates of other Judaes nor
On the other hand ovcrrulng ectled doctrines upon
his own private notion Of policy or Justice
I'm short, IS 4 Magistrate, he was cxemplarv md
hope to equal. 10y
''But after all, il is q man, that those who knew
nun sest' VIII most love to contemplate him. There
was daily beauty IN Ins life, which won eyery heart
lie was benevolent, charitable, afccionatc and Iibe
raj IN the best scuse Of the terms. 10 wac Chris
tan, inll OF religious sensbity and religious bum,l
n.y. Attaehed TO the Episcopal Church by educa
ION ana cholce nc was one of its most sincere bni
friends. lie was as free from bo
rs any man; and ut tbs same time, that lie claimed
the right to think for hhpself he admitted vrthout
rcferyc' tn same right in others. He was there
> %.
doctnc aud abhorrcd all persecution for conscience
sake But what made Yeiigion most attractive in
nun, and gave 1T occasionally even a sublime exprcs
sion, was its tranquil, cheerful unobtrusIve. rneek
and gentle character. There was n nrnpInp Of
christian grGccs in him, which showed that The habit
OF his thoughts was fashioned for another and better
world Ofhis particular opinions on doctrnal points.
IL is not my intention 20 speak.-Such as they were
though good men may dlflcr TO their correctness
oil must agree that they brcatlcd tho spirit Of an
inquisitive christian.
"Ilc was real lover Of the constitution of the Il.
states cor those who assisted in it's adoption, and
steadily and uniformly supported it throughout cvcrv
change OF It's fortunes lie good old fashioned
kedcrals', 81 the school Of the days of Washington
u never lost his confidence in the political princ
pies, which he FIRST embraced. Iia was nIways dis
tngulshed for moderation in the days of their pkJs-
pcry, and for fidelity TO them in the days Of their
university.
81 have not said too much, then, in saying, that
such man is public lofs. We are not indeed
called TO mourn over him. asonc, who is cut or pre-
Inatutc'y ID the vigor Of manhood he was ripe
IN onors, and in virtues. But the departure of such