Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-12-06
SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES.
TUESDAY, DKoEmnna 2. 1851.

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
TUESDAY, DEcEMBER 2, 1851
AT the opening of the Court, the Hon j. j.
CRITTENDEN, Attorney General of the United
States and remarked substantially as follows
As Officer Of this Court and at the request of its
Bar it becomes my duty submit brief and imperfect
expression of regret for the loss Of the dis
tngushed member Of this Court whose death this nation
has recently been called upon to deplore
Judge WOODBURY. who for a. long series of
years occupied most conspicuous position The con-
nued confidence reposed in him by his country and the
numerous honors which e shared all testify his great
ness, and will be his noblest monument
1t has rarely happened that any citizen has enjoyed
such succession of exalted public honors were shared
by Judge WOODBURY.. Governor Secretary Of the Urea
sury Senator and his last and greatest distinction Judge
of the Supreme Court of tire United States whose us
dcton IS more extended than any other upon the CONT
nent and whose mandate obeyed from Boston to San
francisco all these honors after the other
worn by him but neither they any other human dis
tnction could save him to any longer He has fallen
in the midst of his earthly honors he has fallen as all
OF US must fall and left with only his fame which
immortal
Judge WOODBURY. was man who wore his honors,
great they were meeky and it was his Distinguishing
merit that he thought much less of them than of the
duties they entaied
The Bar of this Court deeply depore the loss which
they have sustained; and doubling the feryent sym
patty Of this Court with Them feel that my duty will
be discharged by offering the resolutions which embody
the sentiments of this Bar and by requesting at their
instance that they may be placed the of this
Court, where they will remain imperisSable as his
fame
/ These resolutions are embodied in the ronowlnp
proceedings of the Bar:
At meeting of the Members of the Barr and Officers
of the Court held in the Supreme Court room ON Mon
day, the 1st of December; 1851, JONATHAN MEREDITH
ESQ, of Maryland called the chair and ALExAN
DER H. LAWRENCE, ESQ, of Washington, appointed
secretary.
On motion of RIcHARDS CoxE Esq twas resolved that
committee Of three gentlemen be appointed by the Chair
prepare and report this meeting appropriate resou-
tons the occasion CD the amented death of the late
Hon. LEVI WOODBURY., of the Associate Justices of
the Supreme Court
Whereupon the Chair appointed the Hon. REvERDY
JOHNSON of Maryland RICHARD s. COKE, Esq, of WASH
ington and R. IL. GfLLEr Esq., of New York. to consti-
tute said committee.
Mr.. JOHNSON on behalf of the committee reported the
following resolutions which unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED, That the Supreme Court the Bar, and the
Nation have sustained in the death of the Hon. LEVI
WOODBURY. loss of extensive learning, ndeatigabe in
dustry unsupported integrity, and high abilities After
filling with great reputation of the important
Offices under the National and State Governments his
elevation to the Bench received with general safac
ton, and his premature and unexpected death with uni
versal regret.
Resolped That this meeting lament the death of Judge
WOODBURY. in the prime of life and usefulness and that
will the usual badge of mourning during the
sdue of the term
Resolced That the Chairman and Secretary transmit
copy of these resolution to the family of the deceased
and them of sncre coincidence account of
the bereavement which they have experienced
Resoped That the Attorney General be requested to
the Court that these resolutions be entered NE
minutes of their proceedings.
JONATHAN MEREDITH Chairman.
A. H. LAWRENCE, Secreary.
Whereupon Mr.. Chief Justice TANEY replied
The Court very sensible of the loss it has sustained
in the death of Judge WOODBURY. He had been men,
Der of the Court but few years. yehe long enough
the Bench leave behind him. in the reports of the
and industry, and of his eminent qualifications for the
high Office he filed.
His life had been passed mainly in the public service
before he became member of this Court; and in the
various ana important ornces, judicial and poiitcn
which he had been appointed he always found equal
the duties imposed upon him, and failed to dis
tngush himself by the extent and accuracy of his nfor
nation upon every subject connected with his official
duties upon which he at any time called upon to
act The same learning and the untring industry
marked his brief course this Bench We all feel that
have lost in him able, upright and learned assoc
ciae, and most truly and sincerely depore his death
and cordially unite with the Bar in the resolutions
they have presented and shah order them be
the records of the Court