The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-07-16

WAYS speaking Of him in aficctonatc terms
a4nd MS one of whom he has ever retained al
revercnt and kindly remembrance.
In September 1907, at the age Of fourteen
he entered Yale College, where he was duly
! ggraduaed. and with credit to himself though !
! considerably younger than most of his class
Understanding the number of whom wcrcS
Hon John NJ. Clayton. the present Secre. I
'ary of Srae. and Hon. Roger S. Baldwin. /
i Formerly Governor of Connecticut, and now
I lone Of the United States Senators from that
Estate.
Z The winter ensuing (lSll-l2) was SPENT
q Vt the Litchfcld Law School, where ho at
8 ended the lectures of Hon. Tapping Rccvcl
a md Judge Could In the following Spring.
Hie removed 10 Vermont, and took up h>
b csidcncc at Nid1ebury-a town which hadl
,ren settled, chiefly by eniigrants from Con
hnccticui, and. in great propo; ion. from
Il Li,chfpld Couniv. lie there continued hi.
4 Law smdic< in the Office of Hon. lTorario
4 SEYMOUR since United States Senator from
U Vermont At that time. tlSl2) party srir-
Z il ran HIGH in New England and in the uar
firulnr region where he lived the Federal
\ EAnti-War party WAS slronsl, III the ascend
L ant. Notwithstanding this, however, he was
| decided Democrat and warm supporter
| Of the Administration. Soon after hosiili-
/ ties commenced. he was drafted as one Of the
Y 100000 men who were TO hold themselves
| in readiness. and during the Summer was
: ordered to the Canadian frontier. TIe scrv-
5 cd in the ranks at Burlington and Paiis.
! burgh, until late in the Autumn. when he
/, received from President Madison the ap-
pontment nf Paymaster in tho United States
[ service. In that capacity he remained un-
til the object of his appointment was accom-
| plished.
4 Returning 20 Mdllebnrv. he resumed his
law siul'es. and was admitted at that place,
| at the December term. 1914. to practice in
| the Inferior Courts. and in January. 1918.
in the Supreme Court. Here he continued
A in m extensive and successful practice, du-
ring the next seventeen wears. and until
called upon 10 give up these duties. 10 fiji
/ high and responsible public stations. Prcvi-
ous to this latter pcrol he was elected (in
1920 one Of the Council of Censors-a bo.
: dy row unknown 10 any other Constitution
than that of Vermont. Ohough once existing
in Pennsylvania which meets every seven
wears, 10 examine whether the Constitution
4 has been faithfully observed during the pre-.
ceding Sertennarv. and to propose whatever
Ramcndmcn's thereto they may think proper
e-to be adopted or rejected by the people
The address to the people, put forth by this
[ Council, was written by Mr. Phelps
h One peculiar feature in the Constitution
of Vermont, at that period, was the vcstins
/ of the principal legislative rowcr in one bo-
sdy of men. called the House of Represents.
:, ,tives-suhjec.. however, TO the approval and
consent Of the Governor and Council. The
latter was body of men. consisting of one
member from each county in the state, elect
ed by general ticket. In 1881. Mr. Phelps
was chosen member Of the Legislative
Council, and during the session of the Leg
islaiure of that year, he WAS made a Judgc
of the Supreme Court. This Office lie held
y by successive elections until 1888
4 In the autumn Of 1888, Judge Phelps was
Eelccted to the Senate Of the United States.
& and at the close OF his term oil six years, wa.
81 hre-elected 10 the same office in 1874. Hi,
4 second term expires with the close of the
dpresent Congress.
n The military appointments held By Sena-
tor Phelps-we may here add-have been.
4 Paymasier in the Uned States Service
II Aid 10 Gov Galusha; adjutant of regi.
umcnt captain Of n volunteer company of
4 Riilemcn and colonel of a regiment. The
foffice of brigader- general he declined in ia
vor OF friend who stood next in The line of
promotion.
A The high reputation which Judge Phelps
Eenjoyed. MS member of the Supreme Bench,
swould, undoubtedly y-notwithstanding the
too frequent change of judicial officers in his
Sta'e--ha,e retained him in that capacity
for many years beyond the time Of his re-
9signation. to enter The Senate, but for that
Aevent No decisions Of the Vermont Bench.
we believe, are more highly valued than his.
as contained in the Reports fom 1881 TO
SSS. None, we think it is generally con.
"eded by the profession, are more marked
Nby clcarness and force of language as well
as by deep and thorough scrutiny Of the
3whole rase. in its several bearings. that ex.
hausls the subject, and leaves scarcely room
4 for cavil. The confidence of the pcople
ai large in the integrity and ability of Judge
4 8Phelps in this capacity has been rarely G.
Hqualed, and their admiration of lis judicial
kcharacter and talents cannot well be express
Hcd IN exaggerated terms. As an advocate
B his reputation is not confined to his own
q Statc,or 10 New England. Ills arguments be
fore the United States Supreme Court. at
3 Washington. have made him very generally
hknown as one who has few supcriors as a CO.
kgent and powerful reasoner-one who, al ~
glance can look through the merits and
hearings of case, and leave no strong point
for bis client unoccupied, and no as'ailabc
Hpoint in the positions Of his adversary una'-
tackcd. We deem il no improprety To men-
ton here the remark of one highly disiin
guished, both as an advocate, orator and
a afa suan afiar arotino n comnlipafa1 and