The New York herald., 1851-09-12
United States Circuit and District Courts.
Before Hon Judges Nelson and Belts

srrr H-mr Prescott Hall, United States District
Attorney, and said
May please your H'nors-It has been the practice
Of this court when distinguished man. connected With
the administration Of justice under the supreme suh
fty Of the nation has been called forever from
Of his usefulness to pay some tribute to his memory 1t
honored BY the members Of profession in It's breach
rather than In ts Observance. An occasion OF this
sUw 1 our attention In the dnss which have
den the unsntcipated death Of Judge Levi Woodbury.,
Of the Supreme Court Of the United States: He has
gone from US In the midst Of his usefuuess-in the f
ness OF his and In the time of his utmost Judicial
employment Such en- event may well be desmsd, in
to those who belong to the class In the great indus
trial fsmily of mankind After life full of years
the his for the bench
OF which he was distinguished ornament, and too
1t for me to sketch his character pronounce
his euogy These will be done by ADLER hands and more
lips than mine But may PERHAPS os Hss
upon me as an individual with more than ordinary IN
pressiveness 1t is probable that my personal inter
with the illustrious deceased more recent
than that Of any member of the bar now in the presence
Of Court But few days have pased-a mere thread
Of time has INTERVIEWED since had the privilege OF wei
coming Judge Woodbury. to the retired shades Of my
own house-to sit by him at own board and to enjoy
in company with Others rich of his
sation and varied knowledge iiere the learned gentle
man deeply aif-ctd) I little thought then that
ing could be lifted from the of busy life
that it would become my melancholy duty to speak
away forever, and who could leave nothing to us
but the fruits of his requirement and the bright
ample Of his industry, his integrity and fame
common to ALTO the Judges upon the bench the
bar who appear in their presence and the connuuty co
which we belong distinguished jurist has fallen in
forensic halls-an able h as been down in
the maturity IF his strength Judge learned and up
right has passed beyond those earthly tribunals whers
his judgments were displayed and we who ara now as
snbled here stand in this presence to bear cur will
lug but inadequate testimony, to the memory of the
man, the lawyer and the judge Under these mlan;ho
ly circumstances am directed by the bar now assem-
bied here to present to the courts in session here
both Circuit and District series of resouo ons express
i've of their opinions to the mers of the distinguished
dead with wish that the same may be entered upon
Their records in perpetual remembrance OF this soem;
event.
Mr. Hall then read the following resolutions which
had been adopted meeting of the bar for pressnta
Resolved That the bar this cour. have hear with the
Levi Woodbury. Associate Justices Of the Supreme
she Eiid Gs pubic Services and the
dsGharse Of the duties OF the high eces he has ed en
bis patient resssreh his extensive learning and impartial
bSr and to an honorable place among the ursts of our
Resolved That the Attorney Of the United States for the
Southern District Of New York BE- requested to prescott
and to move the court that the same be entered on
Re.0ys Thst cory Of these stsssad By the
family late Judge woodbury. with The sincere
lenee Of the members Of this meeting,
ask leave, may it please your Honors, to add few
words to what has been so appropriately said by my
national judiciary the legal profession aud the whole
country, indeed sustained severe loss Though
Of the last appointed II the Judges Of the Supreme
Court his judicial abors fad acquired for him the high
respect of the bar of his Circuit and the confidence
and esteem of the nation This fact especially when we
con,ider that for the twenty years Immediately preceding
his accession to the Bepch lie had been withdrawn from
professional duties ID ha he took the place OF Judge
pre-eminent in judicial i,arningis one of mark, and
deserves than passing notice It's sufficient ex-
planation will be given by brief reference to the per-
sona character aud public career Of Judge woodbury.
TO great professional ambition he united, IN large mea
sure, many valuable practical quaies-excelent COM
sense-peIfect integrty-sdmirable method In bu-
siDess-great temperance, simplicity and frugality in
his personal habits-and untrng perseverance,. With
these qualities, success at the bar certain public
confidence aud professional precrment as naturally
followed Accordingly, at early age he was appointed
a Judee and shorty afterward Chief Justice OF the
Supreme Court of his native state. his Published OPT
MONS while ember Of that court made him faVorsby
known to the profession in other states as well as To MS
brethren at hone a sound lswyer-a learaed AID
discrimi natDg Judge Ana though he was soon with
drawn from Judicial life, first by ns election as 60
Verptr, and py two eiections senator in
Congress, with ten years Intermediate service Ia
the Navy and rreasury Departments, lac never for
gave up his professional studies Toe Is obyl-
Gus. Our government.--state and national-Ar. GO
vsrpments of laws This Is enphlticay true of the
federal govern which hnds, Ia written orgsnic
law, the and the measure OF all IT'S powers
The discussions OF the Senate frequently iuyJve
grave questions Of public AID constitutional law. On
all such occations JUICE woodbury. shovel the legal
extent and value OF bis judiciai attain asnts Bat
noehere is extensive and accura legal Instruction.
necessary or usefa than Ia the great executive
dspartnents-ior H. Is their very business To ai tns
presiden. 10 taking tn a. the laws De faithfully
executed In his administrative career, JGise Wood
bury always exhibited an anxous oesirs 20 NEE.
to fItl this obligation To this end he studisd
the acts Of Congress, win which hs had % deal in
the spirit q sound lawyer and he applied to the
questions cOn.tHntiy arising thesn the principles
snd habits OF the Judicial Junction. In this way, he
kept up familiar acquaintsnce with the elem tary
rules Of l.gsl science ana acquired very compresn-
tive aud knowledge a the legislation Of Congress,
and especially d commercial and revenue systems
titles Of great extent. aud eOninandhls impoFtth;e
al nd f.Fff fT1 IN he IL
Judge Woodbury. slso displayed In the Ordinary
routine Of his communicative duties, in each OF ths
departments over which hc presided, many qualities
very useful IN Julge-cquaninity OF temper CON
mehdeble caution tsbariiy # nannsIs-aad ,tries
impartality In OF difficulty IA. cid not decide
upon his uni sf ar Thorough equy aud msturs
c0psidt ration A. rbt be sctd tue conclusions ID
.hoh his riird dc5 Iasly brought, we're hell by
him with fImness srd tenac y no w5oGer thea. tnrs
with maVy foI TIE ju cia. Office from which
be has just been taken nc should have fcd II VITA ssa1
ability ihe po' OF the supreme Cout well as
Sf bis own Circuit, contain many erduring memorials
II his diligence, bis learning hs coaicieniious sen'c
OF justice In any yiew Cf judge NOcdbuys PIbic
career however limited special We catuOt overlook
bis service q statesman This, indeed ~ not Che
fit time Place sptaF the be prOpos a
the policy he supported In that chara ,ier flll
therefore, not aliae tO tc1i But a. vas, Tor
yersI Years sti,nsf.y associated with him While ia
th- Executive Departments. may be- peTGiitt-d,
here, 20 testify to ue uusffia scd fsiibiunrs snis
ztaI with which ho devoted himself % bis e al dh,-
Ia tie Treasury Department, csptcisly. his hbsri
were inniensa. lie cane into that Depart eat la tue
midst Of great cal diicuities The dfcute cr Vshcrl
still more aggravated ooutinued 10 exst dlslGs tha
,,yeu yosrs 40 WAS st ts head. T. ErapPe Win tism
& letp thom IN cLccf, g mlin'an ia rgis o. tncn
tic credit " The DCpss uit Tsquiroa uureutcd ana
self denying ,rs Tn.se tiutts he made an BE- mats
them chssruly ne seldom or rrsrr left ths ~ ,fgs
meat. lie suVVrrtersgc 90 tar Any ons man could
90 H. every bureau Ia Lis Department bs was usuuy
the frat Cfcer h post. euj he ls . leave A.. o
teturu ed more physical labor tLsu almost shy o;i'r
man In the public employ. aud yet by h9 mstnlJ;N
distribution g HI tius, ana y dong tvcrg h'E i.g
g.escu. he ftemcf 90 70 hurried, rni wg.l al
lis ergfrsmf Mt he fgad leisure sc the eui y
Iaeuts d domestic e aud % sucscy. into whic1 he
tsitd With Rintiy T.s0 thfn met 81 Ls atoct4tes
Reside tHe numerous and tltrlrtts reports dem sod
a by the regular dItias a is Once, no mtiI
lluFi,us rCstareh into matters eeicd wib the
tcusl iniustIy coIeic ard resources Soa3r Of taea
cocumspts are Cf permanent value nd viii well repay
the stu6y a tie statfsmau. IN this c1nusvi1u, hts
.flay on cotton. PUBLISHED in 1884 mss te partic 8y
rprutiaUCd. ths te aat vulIgsls c'isl
a..ran--l -..-L - d m- l-l