Litchfield enquirer., 1852-03-18

number of LivingstOn's Sketches of Eminent Living American Lawyers; we transfer it l to our columns by request Of several nsem- 1 bers of our bar, of both political parties.]
 HON. SAMUEL CHURCH,
 CHIEF JUSTICE OF CONNECTICUT.
 THE Hon. Samuel Church. the second son of Nathaniel Church, Esq, was born at Salisbury, Connecticut, on the 4th day of February, l7S5. He is a lineal descendant of Richard Church, who was relative of Colonel Church. so well known in the history of the French and Indiangwars.
 ,Js.aS Church. gqSadnated atrX rXale Col- lege, inafSo3, at si,Jearly age of eighteen, and soon after commenced the study of law at the Litch6eld Law School, then conducted by Judge Reeve and James Gould, Esq, and was admitted to the Bar in September, 1906. s
 The subject of this sketch had neither fortune nor patronage. and was compell. ed to commence the practice of law in bis native town. and build up reputa- ton for himself under circumstances little flattering to the hopes of a young aspirant for distinction, in profession at all times arduous, and, at the period to which we allude, distinguished by some of the most eminent men who have ever lived in New England a period when the court. room at Litchfield was graced with the presence of such men as Roger Minot Sherman, David ,Daggett. James Gould, John Al en, and a host of others, who have left their impress upon the history of their native State.
 Trials before justices of tke peace were then more frequent, and of more impor. lance to the young lawyer than now, and presented during the earlier part of his practice almost the only field on which he could find an opportunity to prepare himself for the more elevated sphere of n practitioner in the higher courts.
 These inferior courts were not at this period always conducted with the deco. rum observed in courts of higher juris. diction. and often led the young lawyer into uncourteons habits of discussion and professional deportnient, which, in too many instances, followed him through life. a.#
 This species of practice also tended. of course, to loose habits ofthinking. and consequently to a careless use of lam guage.
 It has left. however, no such traces upon the mind ofthe accomplished jurist whose name stands at the head of this article. t.. .r.s,
 At this early period of his life he pre- pared and tried every cause. however triaing the amount of pecuniary interest involved. Investigating the facts and the principles of law applicable to thcm. with the same assiduitY which he subsequent ly bestowed upon the most important cases in the higher courts.
 Though residing many miles frem Litch6eld, where the courts of higher jul isdiction were held, he was constant attendant upon the sessions and. whether engaged as counsel or not, observed the progress of every case. and took careful notes of all the points discussed by coun- sel, with all the rulings of the court, whether inter'ocutory or 6aal--a prac. l;ce to which he was much indebted dur. ing the later period of his prole ssiona career.
 His first introduction into political life was as a member of the Convention, in 1918, by which the present Constitution 1 of Connecticut was framed, and for which he was an eloquent advocate, both in the Convention and before the people to whom it was submitted prior to it's adop> ton.
 He was seven or eight times member either of the Senate or House of Repre- sentatives of Connecticut, at a period when the power disappointment of almost all the public offices of the Stae was by the Constitution lodged with the General Assembly.
 While in minority as member of the republican party in the State, he always claimed for the members of that party fair apportionment of the public offices although it cannot be denied that the majority, in those times ot high po- litical excitement. did not exercise large measure of liberality towards their oppo- nents. @-
 In asserting this principle, Judge Church has always observed uniform course. insisting upon fair distribution of public patronage. as well when his own party was dominant as when it was in minority.
 While in the legislature he never gave his vote 10 dismiss or exclude well qualified political opponent from aay of. fee within the gift of the General As. sembly. bu. often voted to retain or ap. point those whose political views we're adverse to his own.
 The subject of this notice seems to have had from carly life an nnconquera> ble dislaste for political prefermenl, diyi ding his time between tie arduous pur-