The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-01-12
SUPREME COURT UNITED STATES.
WEDNESDAY, January 10, 1914.

w EDNEsDAij ~ iOff'
On the opening of the Court this morning, Mr.
NELSON, the Attorney General of the United States,
made the following remarks
H1he proceedings of the members of the Bar and
the Officers of this Court held the 9Th instant have
been placed in my hands this morning, with a request
that would communicate them to your honors.
"They are designed to express the sentiments of
profound regret and with which the recent
death of Mr.. Justice Thompson has impressed those
who have adopted them to testify their admiration
Of his ability, integrity and fidelity Judge, and
Of his urbanty, dignity, and virtues as a man.
A large portion of the life of the deceased as
your honors aware, dedicated to the dis.
charge of the high duties of the Bench, of which, for
thirty years, he was an honorable incumbent.
AS early April, 1909, he ook his seat in the SUI
preme Court OF his native State, by the side of Lewis
and Kent, and Radcliffe, and Livingstone and when,
in 1914, Chief Justice Kent was transferred to the
Court of Chancery, Justice THOMPSON was called TO
preside over the deliberations OF tribunal whose
putation is familiar to every American lawyer, and
whose decisions, reported by Mr.. Johnson, have
largely contributed TO lay deep and broad, the oun
dations of American jurisprudence.
Z From this sphere of eminent usefulness he was
Withdrawn in 1919, when, by the invitation of Mr..
Monroe then President of the United States, he as
sumed the direction Of the Department OF the Navy;
whence, in 1893, he was translated TO this Court.
From that time TO the period of his DEATH full
twenty years, he aboriously fulfilled all the obga-
tons of bis elevated station which it is no exaggera
ton to say he illustrated and acknowledgements
as he was for every thing that can give title TO
reverence
"Of the assiduity, the patience, the energy, and
sinpleuess Of purpose with which he discharged his
arduous duties here il does not become TO speak in
this presence. OF all these your honors the wit
nesscs whilst Of his genius his attanments, and HIS
intellectual vgor, the recorded judgments of this ir-
buno during the whole period of his distinguished
service furnish the imperishable attestation.
"a Just appreciation Of his qualifications and high
claims by those who have enjoyed the hest opportun-
y of estimating their extent and magnitude has die
tated the tribute of his worth, imboded in the
laions which have now the honor to present to the
Court, and respectfully move that they be entered up
on the minutes Of its proceedings:
"At meeting of the Members Of the Bar of tic Su
preme Court of the United States and Of the officers
of the Court at the Court room, in the Capitol, on
the 8th day of January A. ID. 1874, the Hon. DAN
EEL WEBSTER appointed Chairman, and the Hon.
SrLAs WRGnT Secretary.
Gen. WALTER JONES DAVID B. OGDlN, and
JoHN SARGEANT, Esqrs. were appointed committee
TO prepare resolutions expressive Of the sentiments
and feelings of the meeting on the melancholy event
of the recent death Of the Hon. SNrTH THOMPSON,
one of the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court
the United States.
Whercupon Gen. WALTER JONES, on behalf of
the committee appointed presented the following
preamble and resolutions, which were unanimously
adopted by the meeting