Litchfield enquirer., 1854-11-16
Tho Late Chief Justice Church.

Court, 70 this County, Chief Justice
Warts presiding. the following proceed
ings commemorative Of che late ChieI
Justice CnURCH. were had.
General SedgW wick. BY the request Of
the Bar. presented 10 the Court the fol-
lowing resolutions
AT meeting Of the Bar Of Litch6sld
County. holden on the sth day of No
vember, 1854, il was
ResoEced, That we cherish, wiIh pro
found respect the memory Of the HOnOra-
! BILE SAMUEL CHURcH, late Chief Justice al
the Supreme Court Of This State, and dee
plnre tile dispensation Of Divine Providence
which has removed him from his Official
station, and from oil earthly relations. 9
ResOlVed, That in view Of the FACT, that
among US was his birth place. aAd that
here his character was Ermeds that be-
fare US has been exhibited his long caree,
Of spoilces professional integrity and ol
able and useful official duty; we are pen
eiraied with a profound sense of the loss
which this Bar and the people Of this State
have sustained in his death.
Res0lVed, That although we are thus
afflicted we are consoled by the assurance
tina. he was well prepared 10 enter upon
bis cbangeless destiny, and that he died in
the calHness Of Christian confidence and
in the serenity Of Christian hope.
ResolUed, That the Superior Court be
| requested to cause these proceedings IN be
entered npnn lis records, and copy 0i
,hemio be furnished 10 the family Of Judge
Church.
General Sedgwick, on presenting the
resolutions to the Cont, made the fol>
lowing remarks:
May u please yoMr, Honor-T move that
the order prayed Tor in the last Of The res
buttons just read,be adopted BY this Court,
and 10 doing so, your Honor will permit me
to say, that in this County where Judge
Church was born, where he always had
his home, and where his bones repDse, and
ia this Court, where in former years he
won his professional reputation as law
yer. and where in LATER years he presided
with SO much ability as Judge, !, seems
peculiarly proper that the testimony which
shows III what estimation he was held by
those who knew linn best, should be per>
peiuated--this is desirab bic, that in cunning
years, when we shall all be gone, :nose who
are inqnistive in such matters may know
1 what they, who we're well acquainted With
| him through The medium of professional
and personal intercourse, thought OF him
while Ire lived, and how they fell, when lie
died. knew him for more than forty wears
and although caanot boast es any very
intimate relations with him, have the
happiness TO believe, that always had his
friendship. On many subjects our tastes
/ were similar, and we seldom met but that
we immediately Tell into friendly and agree
able conversation, aud the recollection oil
those interviews is now very pleasant.
When first knew him he was Young,
stirring and ambitious lawyer, Just fairly
started in his professional career, We, so far
advanced 10 il as that Important matters
were committed to his care, and importan nj
eases % his management, and never
heard any complaint Of any want Of fideIi
| ~, or ability, on his part 10 the discharge
Of his professional duties. When, after d
faithful service Of twelve years as States
Attorney, il was proposed 10 appoint him
a Judge Of This Court, 10 fiji :he vacancy
occasioned by the promotion of Judge
Dagget TO the Chief Justiceship, | curdi.
ally concurred in the proposal. happe n,
ed to be a member Of the legislature al the
time, and did VIVA, little lay in my powel
To make his appointment as nearly nnani.
nous az could be expected Under the e.
cumstahcrs. His friends believed that he
possessed elements Of character, which, i
| properly cultivated, would make him
good lodge, and tiNse who have lived tt
witness his whole career are happy in The
| belief that their expectations have NOT beer
disappointed. He lived 10 a good old
l age, and died with his armour on. he.
| leve. sir, that this is the FIRST instance II
which Chief Justice Of this Court hal
died in Office. lf the fact is Otherwise, til,
event must have occurred at a very earl,
\ period Of .our history ,r ,4t
! For many years past, the religious ele
ment in his character has been strongl,
marked, and very conspicuous. He lovet
j to converse on serious subjects and 10 ihos,
10 whom he unbOsomed himsei,it was yer,
evident thai he had made himself familiar
with the amazing solemnities which inves
the future deatiny Of every human being
! shall never forget the last interview had
with him, aud the last words which Eel
from his lips in my hearing. He was speak,
ing or the approaching termination of his
judicial labors, and of The lac, that he hsd
now arrived TO the period Of old age, anG
ne was asked whether, nj this period, wher
life was so near It's close he did mol feel less
dread Of death, and less desire 10 rema il
here than he had fell nj an earlier peroc
| Of HE. He replied that lie had no desire
ard no dread in relation to those interest
ing concerns. He had once fell, if his will.
lhaG lived, that he should have been gIae
OF little time fer rest after he had don.
workout now that she was gone, snt
nearly all the friends and associates Of hi.
youth and Of his ripper years were gone, h,
had difieren, feelings; and, said he, /" a,
Ilhe circle OF friends here grows smaller o n
| The circle there" pointing upward sgrow.
larger, have no wish 10 remain here, bu
am ready 10 go whenever am summoned
AWAY" These were the last words hea rt
him utter. The next tbins heard ~ h;v