Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-12-08
From m. Boston DQily advertiser.

THE LATE MR. JUSTICE WASHINGTON.
The death Of Mr.. Justice Washington is an
event, Which cdnno, but cast gloom upon al
the real friends OF our country. lie was born
on the sth Of June, l752. and was ofcourse now
in the 6S h year OF his age ii, well known
that be was the nephew, and we have right 10
say the favv,i nephew of President Washing
ton. The latter oeQuea,hed TO him BY HI, will
his celebra,ed estate Oh the Potomac, Mouni
Vernon, which was the residence at this grea,
Pariot during the most brilliant periods Of MS
lite, The d-!ign,ful retreat of his old age, the
scene of ms DYING hours, aud he spot, vine e
by his own Order his ashes now POSE IN The
same tomb with his ancestors. To him also
Pr, sidem Washington gave ell his valuable
public and private papers, as proof of his en-
tire COZ 6Ie'oe and a; achm,n', and made HIN
The active executor OF his will. Such MAJ ks
of resprc, FIR IN such n,-thr wonder al
his own age, aud the mGdel Tor all future ages
void alone s'amp a character If high merit,
and solid dis INC ION, upon any person. They
would cons i,u,e passport TO public fav"' ,and
confer an rn,iahle rank Car beyond ,hr records
of the herald's Office, OF thc fugitive honors VI
title
II is high praise % say, that Mr.. Justice
Was ling, on WILL deserved such confidence aud
dis inc,ioa. y y NOR His merits went FER
beyond them. lie was as wor y an heir as ev-
err clllmpd ktndred with a worthy ancestor
H. was bred the Law in his native State Of
Virginia, and arrived \, suca early emineHcr
in his proie >sion, that as long ago as 1898 he
WAS selected IVY Pr s1rni Adams as jus ice Of
the supreme CuurI upon The decease Of the late
Judge Wilson, of Penn. For thirty one years
he has held tina, important s;a'irn win con-
s,an'iy incre asihg repu ion and usefune S.
.o,la a1 h., nd hnyr i
ifcAuipn> for the off > either ma u; al or aoqu,r
ed. Few men have tel, deeper traces in theiI
judicial csreer ofevery hing, which consci-
en- ious Judge ough TO pyoPos- for his ambition
or his virtue or his glory. His mind was sol
is, rather than brilliant; sagscious aud search
ing thef than quick or cage; slow, but not
rorpii; steady, but lot unyieldine; c mprehsn>
si,v aud a, the same me cautious; pa lent IN
inquiry, 70 cible il concep ion, clear IN reason
ing. He was by original temperament, mild,
conciiatiag, and candid; and yet was remark.
aple for an uncompromi,iog hrmness. Of him
IL may be truly said, har the ts,r OF man never
fell upon him;it never ed into his ,hough's
iooch lie s was II seen In his actions. In him
the love OF justice was the tuiing passion,-it
was the IN ster SPRING OF Ill his conduct. He
made it o matter of cons fence to disc charge
every duty with sorupuious fidelity, and scru,
ty were small or g'ear, witnessed by The world
or performed IN private, every where the same
diligence, wa,chsuness, and pervadng sense Of
Justice were stem here was about him I, IL
deraess Of giving offence, and YET fearlrssness
Of consequences in hts ofhci } character which
! scarcely know SOW L" pnr ray, twas a ra,e
combination, which added much to the dignity
of the BENCH and made justice itself, even VIII. /
most severe, sofe into he modera ion nf met
cy /, gained confidence, when il see med least
to seek il i: oppressed arrogance by overaw
ing or confounding it.
To say, ira as Judge be was wise, i'm
partial, and honest, is but 10 at ribute TO HIM
those quaii6cs ions, Wit out Which the hon
ours Of the bench are 5u' he means Of public (
Disgrace. or cor,-mpt. His h"r'sty was
dep vital prinCiplr, not m-asured out By 1
worldly rules. HIS impar'Iaiiiy vir;ur 7
OF lis nature, o,scipli, ed ami INSTRUCTED by
cou,,an: reflection upon the ir6' my, ,nd &C
countabili,y Of r,an. Eis wi ::on was the
wisdom &c The Law, cha, eaed a'd hned and !
by study, guided by experience,