The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-05-26

| tUb Wluttf VI loO<-c. IN tDC 'Sa.D
lation he took an active part and the records
show that large part of the business was pre-
pared by him. The claim of Kentucky to the
exclusive jurisdiction Of the Ohio river, to the
shore on the Ohio side, was strongly resisted
subject, and his influence in the Legislature,
the question was satisfactorily settled as 1t
stands now-the navigation Of the river being
free to the people of the States on each side.
During the war Of 1872 he was a member OF
the State Legislature, and could have been
continued in it longer, but for his declining a
reelection, in consequence of its interfering
with his professional duties. During his men,
bership he took an active part in supporting
the various propositions brought before the
Legislature, to sustain the war, and to assist
the Government in bringing it 10 successful
close.
In 1921, he was appointed, by the Governor
Of Ohio one OF the Supreme Judges of the State,
and was subsequently elected by the Legisla-
ture to the same Office, in which he continued,
discharging its responsible duties, till Deem
Der, 1928, when he resigned his seat on the
bench, and was few days after elected to the
Senate of the United States, to gil the vacancy
occasoned by the resignation of Gen. Harr-
SON. He at first declined the appointment,
having made up his mind to retire from public
business but on the solicitation of his friends,
he yielded to their wishes on the condition
that he should not be considered candidate
for reelection.
Soon after his appointment to the bench of
the Supreme Court, he was appointed q pro-
fessor in the Law School of Pennsylvania Uni
versity, at Lexington but he did not accept
the appointment, and that institution conferred
upon him, unsolicited, the honorary degree Of
LII. d., and, at later date, the same degree
was conferred upon him by the trustees and
faculty of his Alma Mater, at Princeton.
While Judge Burnet was 10 the Senate, on
important bill was introduced by him, and
through his exertions passed by Congress, for
the relief of those in the West who had become
indebted to the Government for land, under
the system adopted for the sale of the public
domain by the law Of 1900. This debt amount
ed, at the various land Offices in the Western
States, to twenty-five millions of dollars-a
sum far exceeding the ability OF the county to
pay, and more than the entire amount Of money
then in circulation in the Western s ates
Judge Burnet's bill was equitable and 81 tisfac-
tory to all parties, and was effective in actice
The success of the new law relieved the West
from the most distressing embarrassment and
the nation from apprehension, as a general
bankruptcy throughout the West and an open
resistance to the laws, were feared. The result
justified the wisdom of Judge Burnett in origi-
mating the method of relief and urging its pas
sage through Congress.
IL was owing to his exertions, while in the
Senate that grant was obtained of Congress,
of about two hundred and fifty sections of land,
TO furnish the means for the extension of the
Miami canal, from Dayton to the Lake, by the
Maumee route. But for this, it is not at all
likely that the canal, as we now have il, would
have been completed AT the close of his term
in the Senate, he retired from all active par
ticipation in public affairs, and during the lat
ter part of his life was merely spectator
though an intelligent and interested one-of
the practical workings of the institutions which
he had taken a prominent part in framing and
placing in operation.
Judge Burnett had a strong intellect, and his
mind was eminentiy practical one, and far
removed from encouraging schemes of q mere.
ly theoretical or visionary nature. For many
years he took an active part in forwarding the
various educational, scientific, and benevolent
institutions of the city and State, and Of sew
eral of the most important Of them he has
been the originator or most important patron.
Of our academies and colleges he was always
a warm and steadfast friend He was first
President Of the old Cincinnati College one
of the founders of the Ohio Medical College,
and for many years its President for years
President of the Cincinnati Branch Of the u. S.
Bank, chartered during the Administration of
Mr.. Madison President Of the Sacred Music
Society and the frat President, and one of the
most Jealous supporters, Of the Astronomical
| Society, and its efforts to erect the Obserya.
| tory and purchase its instruments. He was
one of those who established tho Ohio Life In.
surance and Trust Company Bank was elected
one of its first trustees, and continued in Office
until the time CT his death He was also the
| first President OF the Ohio Historical Society
Judge Burnet was warm supporter Of the
American Colonization Society, and c0ntribu
| ted literally TO Its funds Whatever difference
of opinion there may be on the policy of that
Society it will not be denied by any who knew
the Judge, that like the great mass of its
friend, at the North, he was decidedly Anti
Slavery in his sentiments and supported the
Colonization scheme from the best motives, as
having the good of the coiored race, bond and
free, in view, and not the security or perpetual
ton of slavery.
In l847, Judge Burnet published volume OF
five hundred pages, entitled Notes ON The Earlu
Settlement Of the Northwestern Territory con-
tanning much interesting information, chiefly
from his own recollection, as to the carly settle
ment Of that part Of the Territory now en-
braced in the State of Ohio, as well as facts
and incidents relative to the first settlement Of
Cincinnati and its pioneers.
Judge Burnett was Wing in his political
views, supporting the policy in public affairs
of which Mr. Clay was the exponent, but was
not at any time violent partisan. Towards
his political opponents he was always eOurte,
Gus and tolerant in times Of the greatest polit.
| cal excitement. He was warm personal
| friend of General Harrison, and it was owing
mainly to bis exertions in the Harrisburgh
Convention, that he was nominated by the
Wings for the Presidency.
The Burnet House, we'll known abroad as
the leading hotel of Cincinnati, stands on the
site of his old mansion, and was named in
honor Of him from that circumstance, as well
as from his being large holder of the stock
| Of the company and one Of our oldest and
most pubhc-sprited citizens
Judge Burnet was indeed every way great
man; Intellectually, morally, by native talent,
education, and public service, he was man Of
mark. His private character was as pure as
his public lifo was unsullied and ] cannot
better close this brief sketch of his life and
servicee than by quoting from the speech OF
Judge Este, made at the Bar meeting the day
succeeding his decease.
In announcing the death of Judge Burnet,
there is propriety in looking upon him in his
undisputed character, as the first in rank of
the Ohio bar. He came to tnis country in
1895; and, as lawyer and dD4hguished ju.
rist stood for twenty years without an equal,
and without rival in his profession.
In all his professional and judicial rela-
tons Judge Burnet was the most perfect model
of n gentleman, lawyer, and noble minded
man, To the Court he was always respectful
and dignhed and in his department to the
bar, he was always courteous and gentleman
ly. He was ripe in scholarship, not in single
de partment nniv-ba mind com prehap dad a