New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-10-19
DEATH OF SAMUEL STEVENS-SPEECH
BY Mr.. SEWARD.
4 The N. Y. Tribune.

ALBANY, Wednesday, Oct. ls, 1884,
An interesting incident occurred In the United states
Circuit Court, now in session in this city yesterday
occasoned by the recent death Of Samuel Stevens,
Esa The Court had been in session few hours when
the Hon VIM H. Seward rose and addressed the
Court a. follows:
MAYI PLEASE TIE COURT | am conscious, az all
around NE are that we have reissembled here IN
season of public sadness and sorrow. we nave All
known that peace brought tnumphs to nations as well
as war but either have not known, or else we nave
ouiie forgotten heretofore that even the tlumphs Oh
ueace might be attended with some OF the vclssitudes
ard caamiiies which made war the scourge OF human
Iature. Yet it is not of that recent natona
that has reiuveted the with ts ancient terrOrs
that have arisen TO speak Happily for us we nave
no such special AID peculiar share IN that caam9y Us
would call 10 separate our-eives rom among our
fellow citizens in a common mournlig au 20 SPEAK
of more private sorrow, but yet II seems tnat the
voice of such sorrow needs to offer some apology
when il seeks TO be heard among the Tallngs oil
putlic grief 30 pr found and universal
May It please your Honor: We, the members OF
the Bsr OF the State of New-York, on coming from
our homes on the sea coast and on the Jake shores
and on The banks Of the river and under the shadows
of the mountains miss from among ourselves one
who In all our experience was never absent oeDiei
one hose here bad come through the force
of habit to seem to US Dece sary as the presence
Of The Judges without whom this Court Itself c0uid
not even be constituted. Samuel Stevens, Esq a
father to those Of number who yet are young ana
a brpther-a free and accepted brother-to each OF
ms q hose hnirs have begun TO whiten and brother
even to ea.h Of you-is no more. lie uied III .ne
maturity Of fame and of life at Rochester on the lln
oay of September last Ii has seemed 10 my aso-
cistes Nh tribute TO his memory was due from us,
and we have yentured to hope that you would ENJOY
mourpfu satisfaction III lending to such tribute, II
properly offered the sanction Of your own high po-
sltion and characters haveresdily yielded my con-
cent to the request my brethren, that would call
racaeclOu back TO that ead event. In nearly
every contest in this forum in which have ever been
engaged, be who is now no more bore responsible
psri- sometimes as an adyersary-and then his opPo-
sition was such always TO make me wish that ever
ef,e,vard he might be an associae-and then his CO.
opersticn was such as always to make me wish that
il ml bit again be my fortune to encounter hun
as an adversary. Only few years older than myself
he was my contemporary IN social III professional
and in public life. During all that time,
have known him intimately and well. Generally
ag1 eeing in sentiments and opinions we were cordiM
friends-wh lie the divisions between US when occa-
s;onaly occurred such div isioDs must DeeI occur
s.m.hmes between men of nquiring and independ-
ept minds were always marked by that mutual char-
itv 10 which known ana confessed sincerity 81 mo-
tiyes was entitled. | 90 not forget now-indeed
have never forgotten and l never can i0rget-wtn
how much generosity and affection he expressed 10
me in a public ceremonial his own feelings and those
of his feilow-citiZeDs my retirement from pubic
service in this ancient capital, and on my re-
entrance into that field of professional occupation
u
him az the most pro ninent OF rivals. L perform
duty. therefore, when | speak bis eulogy. would,
if 1 could, pronounce that eulOgy with so mu; oil
nIlcity sincerity earpestness and breyity, as 10
remind you OF his own peculiar form OF rIterance
here. He was sssiduouL dgniied, courteous, astute
and learned He bad an exclusive aim-naneiy, TO be
Larger in the highest development of that ebarac-
tar. He succ.t ded; for he lived as he died. recog
pized by the Bar and by the Courts as well a. by the
pnbc voice as fit successor of those whose charac
Ter. are our ACKNOWLEDGED models, John V. Ii snry
and Abraham Van Nechten. Nor was his sphere
narrow or bis fame local one. Ii Is not the weik
pess of national vanity, but just view OF the pro-
eress OF mankind which teaches us that the judicial
ike the political records Of this State and OF tins
Nation. cannot and will not perish. They VIII be
consulted in other countries and in other times where
ever human freedom, protected and guaranteed by
law and religion shall have a home. On many a
page of those the of departed brother
will appear, and his voice wkl yet seem to be
heard In the conflicts by which truth shall be elected
and Justice INDICATED. Who among all OF US can
wisely seek or reasonably hope for more
MAY il please your Honors: This sad event reminds
us that we are elso passing away. While no one OF
us knows 1.-THE number of his days, it is certain that
within q very short period all, Ike our d. parted
brother shall have places here only in the memories
of successors. May God grant grace TO direct our
liyes a. our departed brother directed bis, 40 that
while friends shall deplore that have died society
sbgIl rejoice that we have lived.
Mr. Seward then moved the Court that they ad-
iourn which was done.