The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1855-03-28
Gbt Rrgistrr.
'MIDDLEBURY, MARCH 2s, 1885
Death OF Hon. Samuel 8 pbo,r,


announcement, when it first rapidly
spread through our community. 1t was
day of profound sadness and sorrow.
nor has the veil of gloom yet been raised
from our hearts. A great man has fall.
en--a noble man, Of hon his fellow cit.
liens werc proud, whom they admired
and honored "'ris meet that we should
mourn"
Tho health OF Judge PHnLrs had been
less firm than usual, for several weeks
past, Since week ago last Saturday.
whom he returned from attending court
at Rutland, he had been cobGned to his
room, and mostly 10 his bed. Serious
alarm, however, was not excited. his ill.,
ness being attributed mainly to the ef.
fects Of cold. He had faithful medical
care and attendance, and hopes wore en-
tertnned Of his soon recovering his or.
binary degree of health. On Friday and
Saturday, his symptoms appeared less.
favorable, though without any very mark.
ed change A littls after noon on Sun.
day, he had faiuting turn, after which
he rested until nearly two o'clock, when
he again complained of fain,ncss from
which he was relieved by rcstoratiycs
Soon after, however, few minutes be.
fore two o'clock, he tainted once more.
and was quickly beyond tho reach ofaid
lie had conversed readily up to nearly
tho last nj oment of his life, with those
who were in constant attendance upon
him He died at last without strup.
glc. There remained on his countc.
nance nm expression of perfect screneness
and composuro His disease was intro.
cesslon Of Rheumatism.
Hon. SAMUEL s PHptps was born q
Litchiield, Conn, May 10. 1893. Ia
died March 25, lS55-and was consc.
qucntly. nearly sizty.two years Of age.
lie graduated at Yale College, in
1871 and in the ensuing winter com.
menccd the study Of Law at the Litcb.
field Law School, under the tuition Of
Hon. Tapping Reeve and Judge Gould
In the following spring he removed to
this place, continuing bis professional
studios in the Office Of Hon Horatio
Seymour lie served in the war Of 1919.
in tho ranks, nj Burlington and Platts.
burgh, and was subsequently appointed
Paynastar in tho Service, by President
Madison.
At the close Of his term of service. no
returned to Middebury, and was admit.
ted to tho lar 10 1914. He continued
in the enjoyment ofan extensive and sue,
cessful practice until bis election a. a
Judge Of the Supreme Court of this
State in 1881. lie had previously sorv-
ed On 1927 as a member Of tho Coun.
CT! Of Censor5-ihe address put forth by
this council having Ccen written BIZ him.
lie was also chosen and served as a
member Of the Legislative Council in
1881.
As a jurist aud advocate, it is vol
known, he had few equals in New Eng,
land.
He was continued on the Supreme
Bench, by successive re elections, annu.
ally, until 1898, when he was elected a
United States Senator for six years from
the 4th OF March following. At the
close of this term, he was reelected for
the term ending March 4. 1851. In
January, 1853, he was appointed by
Gov. Fairbanks to fill tho vacancy occa.
stoned by the death of Senator Upham,
aud served through the remainder Of
that session.
We need hardly speak Of the reputa-
ton Of Mr.. PHELPS both as Senator and
Judge. His decisions are among tho
richest legal treasures Of the State.
None to be found in our Reports, are,
We believe, esteemed more highly, both
for their clsarness and force Of language,
and for their thorough analysis aud soru.
tiny Of the case in all its bearings. As
Senator his influence was always
great, and, with single exception, we
doubt whether New England has ever
sent bis equal in ability and power, to
the higher branch Of Congress, Never
a noisy and ambitious debater, be yet
delivered many able aud influential
speeches during the time of bis service,
which have been widely known and ad.
mired.
Since the close Of his public career he
has sought enjoyment in the quiet of
home, and in the peaceful and healthful
occupations OF the farm. Yet bis SER
vices as an advocate have been so con-
s,artly and urgently in demand that he
did not carry ont this wish SO fully as he
had intended. 1t ia now useless to re-
greet that he had not dono So though per.
haps his life might have been prolonged,
by an avoidance ofsuch exartion
But he has gone to his final rest
His deeply afflicted family have the sin.
cere sympathy of community that is
itself bereaved Of distinguished orna.
inent, whose position in their hearts and