The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-01-14
SUPREME COURT UNITED STATES.
FRIDAY, January Is, l543

On the opening Of the Court this morning Al,
Legare the Attorney General Of the United States
made the following remarks
May il please your HonOrs-
meeting of the members OF the Bar and the ofE
GERS OF the Court, held since the adjournment w.
terday, have been pleased TO impose upon me The
melancholy task OF communicating their proceedinp.
70 'he beneh, and conveying TO II their of the
loss which society and the profession ha We sustained
IN lhe death OF the late Francis Scott Key | can
ho' Dat De deeply conscious of the disadvantage nm
aer which labor, in acquitting myself in this pre
sehce' oil the duty that has been thus confded 10 me
MY acquaintance with the excellent man whose s,d
den death IN the midst of a career of eminent A.,
iuiness, pubic and private, and OF the INST active
devotion 10 the great interests of humanity We orr,
now called to deplore, was until very recen, ne.
Rod, extremely limited. But short as was nv mr.
nal Intercourse with him, it was quite long enougb
TO endear him To me, In a peculiar manner
as one oil the most gentle, guileless amiable
and attractive beings, with whom, ia am exner;'
ehce sufficiently diversified, it has ever been
my good fortune To act. Ardent earnest indefst
gable IN the pu suit Of his objects and the nerfr-
ahce oil ms dutes,-eloquent as the advocate of
whatever he embraced because H. ~.
was true and his sympathy cordial and s,,scent
oio'-decded IN ms own conduct, without one part.
! Gle OF consciousness or acerbity towards Others
with the bandest Manners the most affectonate Ton
the most co sderate federation of dissent The not
patient accqescehcs in the decisions of authority
where he had most strenuousy exerted HIMSELF pre
vent them,-his life seemed TO me beautiful oatt r
Of all that is lovely, winning and effective IN ne
charity OF Christian gentleman. / say .Hective
for his was no Fugitive and clustered" virtue
which gave offence because il stunned ALI con
test, and maintain its purity only by .yoidnr r.
contamination of the world
He lived, on the contrary in the very midst Of
the passions, the struggles and the warfare of ac
tive and even public ife,--be has ALWAYS. 10 the
heat and dust of the arena, armed and equipped for
nnn lot La tad -
which either chance design afforded him and Li
patriotism and his philanthropy Wed with each
other IN turning to account every moment
OF his time which was not engrossed in the
cares # his freside the business of hi,
profession. remember with melancholy pleasure
that the very last conversation wi ch held with him
turned upon proj ct of what he believed TO be the
most extensive usefulness, which had warmed his
heart vi enthusiastic hopes for his country and for
mankind.
OF the manner in which he discharged his nrore.-
sional duties, your HoDors are on every account the
most competent witnesses.
You know his fidelity to his engagemepts-bis
Puncuaiity IN attendance at his po't-how laborious
he was IN the preparation Of his Gases How full f
resources in The management of a c,use-how ready
how fertile, how ingenious in the investigation and
discussion of his topics.
Your Honors are therefore fulIyprepa ed to re-
ceve and to confirm the testimony which his hr.,h
rem OF the Bar have been eager to bear to the VIZ
tues and abilities that adorned him. and which, in
compliance with their request have now the honor
of submitting to you.
At meeting Of the members of the Bar. and off,
GERS of the Court, convened in the room of The S,,
Preme Court, in the Capitol, on THURSDAY the l2th
day al January, 1913
Hon. John Mcpherson Berrien of the Senate of
the United States was appoin,ed cha;rn,a 80
Richard S. Coke, ESQ Secretary.
Gen Walter Jones submitted the following pre-
amoie and resolutions, which were unanimously
adopted.
This meeting has received, with deem aeB;c,on
news OF the death Of Francis s. Key the ornament IL
hls profession and Of human nature His loss /, felt
by each ndivi ual of this meeting as that of near
admired and beloved friend
They feel That it is the general loss the diffusive
grieI oil the community, not any peculiar grief of at
lached and devoted friends. Himself the active and
enlightened and sell sacrificing friend Of man. by
man was he beloved, by man is his death deplored
The fresh emotions caused by his sudden death leave
no roo Tor euogy his eulogy IS deeply spoken in
those emotions, and ives in every heart This meet
ing, therefore, confines itself TO such demonstrations
OF respect to his memory are more mme diately
demanded oy The character Of the deceased and the
general regrets which his death have occasioned
Therefore, resoired That we wear the usual badge
OF mourning for the space of thirty DAYS.
The Honorable R. J. WAIVER,
Gas. J. lseERsoLL,
AARON WARD,
JAS. !. ROOSEVELT
p. II. FEspALL ESQ
Jos. III. BRADLEY, Esq
Nm 1Hos. CARROLL, ESQ, and
Gen. ALEXANDER HuNrrR
Be appointed a committee to 70 to Baltimore md >,
tend, on behalf OF this meeting the funeral of the
deceased " '''
htsoired That Mr.. Legare the Attorney Gener,I
oil .he United States, communicate these proceedings
70 The Supreme Court, and respectfully request IN
the name oil TN, meeting, that hey may be inserted
among lis records.
Resoired, That the Chairman and Secretary ,l.o
transmit copy to he family of the deceased and
assure Them OF our sincere coincidence ON accoun, 81
the great loss they have sustained.
10 which Mr. Justice Thompson made the follow
ing reply ''''O"-
The information communicated by the BAR of The
sudden and unexpected death Of Mr.. Key. was rc-
coNcu oy ,he Court with feelings OF the most sincere
regret. The suddenDcss Of this affective event IL
gscuisted To make deep impression upon lis ali.
His Intimate intercourse witl the Bar and hi. 49,
connehion with one of the Court brings his disn.,
va ION nearer home TO us all, accompsniea with tbo
solemn admonit'on be ye also readyp We feel We
sehsioiy the loss which the Bench, as well as the
Bar, has sustained in this event w, have hea, ~
long accustomed to seeing him the Bar. that bis nj,
sehce WIZ leave painful void and the loss az Tho
pressure and instruction with which We bayc ls,ened
10 MS arguments, will be most sensibly felt Mr.
hey talents were of very high order. His mind
was wen stored with legal learning, and his literary
az anu s'tdihhehts, were highly distinguished and
'"ueo 20 uese sa ivate character which holds
OUT TO The Bar bright example for inimitaion The
plored " '"''''g oe-
In compliance wish the request Of the Bar ,be;r
proceedings VIII be entered upon the minutes of the
From the Pennsviranian