Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-02-04

Judge R umn.


At a meeting of the Bench and Bar of the Supreme
Court of North Caro- lima, the following Resolutions
adopted
THE Hon. Thomas Ruffin late the Chief Justice
Of the Supreme Court of the State, having, in the
month of November last, resigned his seat on the
Bench, and thus severed the connection which has for
50 many years. subsisted between himself and his as
sociates and the bar:
Resolved, That they deem the converting of the
Court fit occasion to offer to him, in his retirement
their testimonial of the learning, fidelity. ability, and
integrity. with which he has, al all times, during his
long continuance in Office discharged his duties as
Judge That they share, deeply and personally, the
loss which the public susains in his withdrawal! from
the most useful honorable and highly responsible DO
sition which he has illustrated for nearly the third of
century, with the qualifications of great Judge
Resolved, That they receive, with grateful sense
of satisfaction, the tender made by him. through a
member of the bar of the Court of his heartfelt &C.
gmentS for the acts of Invaluable
spect ofectionate friendship which he desires to
make known, he " has received throughout has SERVICE
from the Bench and the Bar" And that, in respond
ing TO a sentiment agreeable TO them, they avail
| themselves with much pleasure. of the opportunity
to reciprocate the acknowledgment; and 10 assure
him that the memory of their professional associa-
tons will always be cherished by them, with pride
and warm regard and that, in his retirement he has
with HIM always their most cordial wish. that he may
enjoy, what he has we'll entitled himself to, the
pleasing reflection. that he has served his country
WELL and left the Bench and the Bar his admirers and
friends.
| Resolved, Tha, permission be asked that these Re-
solutions be copied into the minutes of the Court
and that copy OF them be transmitted by the Chair
man OF this meeting to Judge Rufin.
The following reply received from Judge Ruff
| fin:
ALAMANcE, Jan. II, 1853
My DEAR SIR have 10 acknowledge your yer,
kind and polite note communicating the Resolutions
of the Bench and Bar of the Supreme Court, on the
occasion Of my recent resignation of place in the
Court and do so, with the utmost tbankfuness fo
their good opinion of my personal and official depor
ment, and the honor they have done me in such un
usual expression of that opinion and also with full
of my obligations, to yourself for the very friend
y manner in which you have made the communca
ton. AS nothing could have rendered my situation
in the Court more painful than the dissatisfaction O
my associates and our brethren of the Bar, on tn,
score OF either the purity of my purposes or the lie
gal correctness OF our MISUNDERSTANDING only tn.
| reproaches of my own conscience for wilfu defaults
so, saving the approval of the witness and moni
Tor within, 1t is most grateful to my feelings to have
gained their confidence while in Office and to retir
with that confidence unimpaired. 1t is recompens
for all the tolls of my fe-of which, without ben:
vain. am proud and justly proud though l canno
but be conscious that the commentator is far beyont
my deservings. In return, renew TO my brethren thu
best wishes of grateful heart, and beg you nv dea
sir, 10 believe me 10 be,
! Truly aid sincerely,
i Your friend and obt servant,
;, THOMAS RUFFIN. r
The Hon. +. NASH, Raleigh, N. c.,