Litchfield enquirer., 1829-12-24
yuDcE WASHINGTON.


 the late veNrFAleth JWdgC ls etOm the BWetOn Dally Advertiser, and from master hanu'
 "T The death Of Mr. Justice Washington is an event which cannot but cNst a gloom upon Nll the real friends Of our country, He was born on the olh Of June, lSeH, aud was oI C0WFeo now lM the 0Sth year Of hts age. It is we'll known that he was the nephew, and we have N right M say tho tAvOrtte nephew Ol Or President Washington. Y'hs latter Oe: Queathed lu him by hts Will hts ceIebrateu estate ON the POtomAc, Mount NerNon' whlC'l was shD wsldeNce Of this great Patriot during the most hllllant DeFlods Of hts lfe, the de. llghtNll retreat of hls old age, lhe scene hIs dying hours, and the spot, wherU hy hts own order hls ashes now repOse iN the sA'nH tomb with hts ancestors. TO hiNG also Prcs' idene Washington gave Nll his valuable public aud private papers As proof OC hts entire confidence aud attachment, and made hlIM the active exeCutOr Wf hiS will. Such marks Ot respect from such MNn,--the wonder Ot hts own aEp, and tho model Mr all Future Nges,--wOWl,l alone stamp N character Ot hlgh merit and sOld distinction, upon any person They would constitute n passport to pNhIc favor, and confer aN envlahle rank tar hcyOnd the records of heralds WiIicC, or tho fugitive hUnOrs Of title.
 1t is high praise to cay, that Mr. Justice Washington welt deserved such confidence aud distinction. Nay morW. His merits went ar beyond them. lie was As worthy an heir as ever clNlnied kindred with worthy anccs- tor. Hs was bred tO the Law in hts native Sato of Virginia, and arrived at such early eminencn ln hia profession, that Ns long ago os lTOe he was selected by President Adams as a Justice 0f the Supreme Court, upon the JCcease of the late JuFge Wilson, of Penn. For thirty .ona years he has held that impor. tnnt station with constantly Increasing repI. tation and usefulness. Few Men, indeed, have possessed higher qualifications for the office, either natural or acquired. Few men have leit deeper traces in their judicial car~er of every thing, which conscientious Judge ought to propose for hts ambition, or hts vir- tue, or hts glory. His mlNd was solid, rather than brilliant sagacioWs and searching, rather than quick or eNger slow, but not torpid; steady, but not Unyielding; comprehensive, and at the same time cautious; patient iU in. uuiry, eorciblU in conception, clear in reason. ing. He was by original temperament, mild, conciliating, and candid; and yet was rec mNrkablG for m Mnc0mpromising RrMness. Of him 1t may be truly said, that the fear of man never fell upon him it never entered in. to his thoughts, much less was t seen in hts actions. In him the love Of justice was the ruling passion, tt was tho master spring Of all his conduct. He made it matter Of con. science to discharge every duty with scr9pH' lOus zeal. 1t mattNred not, whether the duty were small 0r great, witnessed by the world, or performed tn private, every where the same diligence. watchtGlness, and pervading sense of Justice were seen. There was about him tenderness of giving offence. and yet fear. lessness of consequences in his official char. ! aCter, which scarcely know how to portray,
 lt was rare combination, which added much to the dignity of the bench. and made justice itselE even when most sOvere, soften into the moderation Of mercy. It gained confidence when it seemed least to seek 1t. It repress. cd arrogance by overawing or cOnlOUnding tt.
 10 say, that as Judge he was wise, im- partial, and honest, is but to attribute Co him those qualifications, without which the hOnOrs of the bench are but the means of public dis. grace, or contempt. His honesty was deep vital principle. not measured out by worldly rules. His impartiality was a virtue of his nature, disciplined and instructed by constant reelection upon the in0rmity, and accounta- bility Of man. His wisdom was the wisdom of the Law, chastened and refined and invig. orated by study, guided by experience. dwell ling little on theory, but constantly cnlarging teoeh " ~ SsVSC ~UsvCy VI ps"~spsSS'
 He was learned Judge. do not mean by this, that every day learning which May bs gathered by . nasty reading of books and cases. But that, which is the result of long continued, laborious services. and comprehen- sive studies. He read to learn and not to quote; to digest aud master, and not merely to display. He was not easily satisfied. lf he was not as profound as some, he was more exact than most men. But the value Of his learning was, that it was the keystone of all his judgments. He indulged not the rash desire to fashion the law to his own views {; but tO follow out its pTecepts with sincere good faith and simplicity. Hence he possess. cd the happy faculty of yielding just the proper weight to authority, neither on the one hand surrendering himself blindfold to the dictates of other Judges, nor on the other hand Overrulng settled doctrines upon his own private notion of policy or justice.
 In short, as Magistrate, he was excmpla- ", and able, one whom all may reverence, and but few may hope to equal.
 But after all, 1t Is as a man, that those who knew him best will most love to contemplate him. There was daily beauty in his life, which won every heart. He was benevolent. charitable, alkectionate and liberal tn the beat sense of the terms. He was Christian, full of religious scnsibility, and religious humility. Attached to the EpiscOpal Church by educa- tiOu and choice, he was one of it's most sin. cere. but un0stcniatious friends. He was as frNO from hlROlrv as nnv man. and ms sh.