Litchfield enquirer., 1855-04-05
pesth cf m. ssnauel :. TIT.

Wefnd the following obituary of Judge Phelps. whose death ws recorded last week, in the Middle5ury Reg;ster and believe it will be read with interest by his many friends in this section:
 Judge PHELrs IS no more. Words are inadequate ta express the emotions excited by this most sudden and painful announce ment, when it first rapidly spread through our community. It was a day of profound sadness and sorrow, nor has the veil of gloom yet been raised from cur hearts. A great man has fallen-a noble man, of whom his feilow-citizens were proud, whom they admired and honored. a' Iris meet that we should mourn. '
 The health Of Judge Phelps had been less firm than usual for sersral weeks past.- Since week ago last Saturday. when he returned from attending court at Rutland, he had been confined to his room and mostly to his bed. Sef16ns alarm, however. was not excited, his illness being attributed mainly to the effects of cold. He had faithful medical care and attendance, and hopes were entertained of his soon recover ing his ordinary degree of health.. On Friday and Saturday, his symptoms ap- peared less favorable, though without any very marked change. A little after noon on Sunday he had falnting turn, after which he was relieved by restoratives. Soon af- ter, however, few minutes before two o'clock, he fainted once more, and was quickly beyond the reach of aid. He had conversed readily. up 10 nearly the last moment of his life, with those who were in constant attendance upon him. He di- ed at last without struggle. There re- mained on his conntenance an expression of perfect sereneness and composure. His |sdisease was introcession of rheumatism. Hon. SAMUEL s. PHELps was born at Iitchield, Conn, May .l3, l193. He died March 25, 1855 -and was, consequently, nearly sixty-two years of age. He gradu- ated at Yale College, in 1911, and in the ensuing winter commenced the study of Law at the Litchfeld Law School, under the tuition of Hon. Tapping Reeve and Judge Gould. In the following spring he removed to this place, continuing his pro. fessional studi-s in the office of Hon. Ho- ratio Seymour. He served in the war of 1872, in the ranks, at Burlington and Plattsburgh, and was subsequently appoint ed Paymaster in the Service, by President Madison.
 At the close of his term of service, he returned to Middlebury, and was admitted to the barin 1914. He continued in the en- ioyment of an extensive and successful practice until his election as Judge of the Supreme Court of this State. in 1881. He had previously served Gin ls27) as men- Der of the Council of Censors-the address put forth by this council having been writ ten by him. He was also chosen and served as member of the Legislative Council in 1881.
 As jurist and advocate, it is we'll known he had few equals in New England.
 He was continued on the Supreme Bench by successive re-elections, annually. until 1888, when he was elected United States Senator for six years from the fth of March following. At the close of this term, he was reelected for the term ending March 4, 1851. In January 1853, he was appoint. ed by Gov. Fairbanks to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Senator Upham, and served through the remainder of that session.
 We need hardly speak of the reputation of MT. PHTLps both as Senator and Judge. His decisions are among the richest legal treasures of the State. None to be foMnd in our Reports, are, we believe, esteemed more highly, both for their elearness and force of language, and for their thorough analysis and scrutiny of the case in all it's bearings. As Senator, his influence was always great and, with single exception, we doubt whether New England has ever sent his equal in ability aad power, to the tnhn hran 1f ~ and ambitious debater, he yet delivered many able and influential speeches during the time of his service, which have been widely known and admired.
 Since the close of his public career, he has sought enjoyment in the quiet of home, and in the peaceful and heaIthful occupa- tions of the farm. Yet his services as an advocate have been so constantly and ur- gently in demand that he did not carry out this wish so fully as he had intended It is now useless to regret that he had not done so, though perhaps his life might have been prolonged, by an avoidance of such exertion.
 But he has gone to his final rest. His deeply afflicted family have the sincere sympathy of a community that is itself be- reaved of distinguished ornament, whose position in their hearts and affairs can no more he filled than his place in tho bosom of domestic life.
 The State will greatly mourn his loss.- He will be lamented throughout the nation, as one of its chief men. Nor will they suffer his memory to perish, during the years to come.
 -e-
 V The Washington correspondent of the Toledo Blade writes as follows of our late noble representative in the United States Senate:
 ;s The Senatorial career of Francis Gill lette, of Connecticut, has heen a short one but has been long enough 10 show that he Is imbaed with true New England princi- pies, and has the courage to avow them, without compromise or reservation, in the face oft the boldest opposition. One of the first good fruits of the Nebraska bill, hard ly had he taken his seat in the Senate be- fore he astonished t.,at body and electrified the country by the boldest and most with- ering speeches for freedom which that Sem ate chamber had ever heard. The scathing which he gave his recent colleague, the Trurnx ,.,rt .,xrhf