The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-03-02
THE LATE HON. H.P. EDWARDS.
,eeting and Sympathy AZ tn. Judiciary and
III the Bar.

fesfon assembled yesterday in the General Term room
of the Supreme Court 10 express their deep at
the loss of the lamene Henry Perrepon EDWARDS the
aesiding Justice oil che Supreme Court OF the State Of
few York.
Amongst the members Of the judiciary present We no
ed bon. Judges Mitch III, Morris, Roosevelt, Clerke,
-upreme Court lDgraham, DAILY, Common Pleas,)
Akey Campbell, Bosvorth slosson, Superior Court
t-Judges Kent, Edmonds, Ulsheaer, Mason, Emmett
md B.ebe, ana ex-hecorder Tlou Some Of the most
distinguished members OF the bar present. though
but few took active part as speakers.
Mr. BIDwEL called the meeting to order, and moved,
seonded by Mr. Joseph Blunt, that the Hon. William
tche Presiding Judge of the upreme Court, do take
he chair. The motion unanimously accepted.
On motion Of Mr.. KIRKLAND, Judges Roosevelt, Morri.
on ard Cee of the Supreme Court also the judges Of
the Superior and United States Courts and Court OF
20 nson Pleas, nominated Vice Presidents.
Mr. J. BLUNT moved that Messrs. silirnan, Dodge
Titus and Cramer be appointed Secretaries which nom.
nations we're also accepted.
Elk Judge kent the first speaker He saId--I hold
in my hand certain resolutions in reference the late
lsmented Judge Edwards, and sincerely wish that the
duty Of moving their adoption devoved upon another
IL is twenty Ave since my acquaintance with
him commenced He then q student at law in this
city and from that period intercourse has been a
interrupted. Our ireadshD increased with years. nor
was It tarn shed by one passing esrany ement. As
speak my heart is convuised with grief, and must
leave TO other tongues 10 pronounce the praises the
been divided INTO his professional and judicial duties.
both capacities he has evinced the highest qualities
which can adorn human nature Bred at New Haven, he
came to New York ut an early and continued here
op before his talents known. While passing this
ordeal-ona which many Of the profession have go
through promised 10 become Of the most promi
nent .mbers of the profession OF his judicial life IL
ooes not become me 10 listened yesterday to
euogum him pronounced by Of his associates and
heard mention truly made prudence his Judgment
his candor, and his love OF truth there thing
more remarkable about HIM than another his love
OF truth BE kept steadily in view that polar star with
an answering observation As far the bar is
cerned be them standard of judicial ex ,elence
NO one could approach Aim without ceiling the genius OF
his presence have thus touched briefly the principal
points of his character and it has to that
the last interview had with him is not unworthy of
being mentioned here 1t some four or Ave weeks
since ! last saw him 70 speak with spent several
hours in conversation with him, and little thought
Of his death In Of these faacous intervals OF dis.
ease, be gaed that he had escaped all danger and
spoke OF the coming elections and other topics with
nation The conversation ultimately turned upon tera-
ture, and my attention turned to his small very
select library. l found 1t fun Of curious treatises OF
English literature and recollect his taking up work
titled Killing no Murder, by Titus-a work which, 1t is
said, disturbed the last hours Of Oliver Cromwell The
memory Of that interview will never leave When
think that the hand then grasped cold that the
heart which then beat Is now insensble-it to
that the world will be less bright to me in future and
few resarks beg leave to present the following resou
TONS
New York have received with the deepest sorrow inte
Gour. n P a.
meridian Of lie offering prospects Of long OF useful
Resolved, That daily observers of tho life Of
dgnhed manners eloquence the
prompt and patient performance Of official duty the calm
opinions and The high and inaesble honor and integrity,
R.ovea That bow in submission before this aserua
Be id to Gay, DIED ps%sy wn in the brief
duties Of the highest masisracy, has
an honorable place orr Judicial .nn.ls has attracted
Resolved That copies Of these resolution. be eommuni
Mr. Justice Edwards with expression Of sympathy with
Mr. WILLIAM C. MOVES seconded the resolutions He
ts'd-My own mind has been wandering back more than
. century while rejecting the death of the distn.
aud third age there young divine In this city,
Eho became pastor OF village church, where he
many OF his best works; subseq uenty he mission
airy tribe OF Indians the President Of college and
lastly The minister Of a New Haven church hundred
lived among IL. hundred and twenty years after
wards another descendant among and he is the
disting uished Judge whom we are assembled now 10
honor. Mr.. Justice Edwards came to New York CON-
paratve stranger but his industry and talents at last
titled At early age he elected TO the judicial
seat which IL now vacant do not propose to speak
ON our personal relations shall only present a
few facts connected with his Judicial characteristics
There great nobility in his composition He In
capable Of doing ungentlemanly action, and
ever i'm putec TO him deceit indire ton In all his in
tercourse he frank cordial and honest and your
acquaintance with him increased your affection for him
wa sure enlarge and strengthen The impression OF
his perfect probty and real merit increased with each
succeeding day He brought to the judicial office excel
lent scholarship and for his years, much and varied
legal learning To these united considerable expe
riencs at the Bar, all Of which had been improved
far beyond the immediate necessities OF the particular
occasions which demanded the exercise Of his talents
he bad not the vain and wicked hope that these
duties could be discharged by any Kind of spon-
EDGE, and he was therefore solicitor. 70 draw
deeper learning from the proper sources and thus 10
add to HIS prior attachments and to his Official capabi-
ties The adoption of this rule OF judicial life led to
great and marked improvements so that he daily
becoming more learned and competent, Had his lite
been spared he woult with increasing have added
additional lusre TO his judicial de brought also
manly courage 10 his work. His and learning
alone gave token OF this and these indications we're
more than verified BY the fearessness With which hs
discharged the important trusts condded TO him. He
administered impartial Justice against the mghtsst and
the highest well as the meAnest and the most hum
Bile sutton ~ well as the most abjsct criminal was
rs sure Of right at his hands as the richest the
administration Of criminal justice, which it would be
pleasant and profitable TO dwell upon, IL time permitted
his want OF perfect integrity ever passed hum IN lips or
nrose In any human breast He rgidly impartial
To the parties and those who represented them he al
ways gave patient and att. ntive hearing The meanes
suitor the greatest in his estimation and the dis
tngusbed advocate like the most obscure, for the pur
poees of justice, ano he won his caue f he won at
an) upon its merits, and not upon his He acted
upon the principle, so well developed by Sir Thomas
More, who said shat when justice and equity were
called for at my hands, then although 1t were
my father, whom l reverence dearly, that
stood side, and the devil, whom hate exceeding
y the other side his being just the devil
Of me should have his right He regarded justice
sacred thing and Its administration to be conducted
grayely and dscreetiy He added therefore, to great
personal dignity the gravity Of Judicial wisdom and judi
eiAi station. lie had not that anectaton OF dsspstc
which turneth TO delay ct length In the hearing Of
causesn lie feared lest undue haste should omis
zion OF matters too important TO be overlooked II
parsed too rapidly not k y TO make their due impress
sion He heard, therefore, with attention and decided
with and celebration; not defering his judgment
ill the arguments had faded from hts mind, but
shsn they present, and OF
having their proper weight in the Judicial scales
ommitted 20 his keeping. Many Of bis judgments will
h-pDg remain books, the monuments OF his dill
encc ability and learning. Thus constituted and thus
Inducing, he was worthy Of his name and orgio aud
exercised the judicial function In the Supreme Court