New-York daily tribune., 1856-05-03
PUBLIC MEETINGS.
PROCEEDINGS ON THE DEATH OF THE HON.
OGDEN HOFFMAN.

ben Of the Supreme Court, A. l.. JORDAN TOOK tue
Chair, and A. II WALLi, WAS chosen Secretary.
JosErH Blunt then moved the appointment
committee to call general meeting of the Bar in the
United States Court rooms Saturday, the 50 inst,
at 10 m in order TO express their esteem for the cnar
acter and ebities of the lac Ogden Hoffman, and
their regret at bis sudden decease. Mr. BLUNT accom-
panied this motion with few remarks alludng TO tse
leading points in Mr. HOffn'an's career, aud TO tue
nal ways in which both the profession and the CON-
murity would feel bis loss.
TIE Committee was then selected II consists Of
Mr.. A. L. Jordan, appointed by the meeting OF whci
be was Chairman and Of Messrs. Joseph Blunt ). W;
Ednonds, +. b. Cutting, C. Conor, aud Daniel
Lord, appointed by the Chair.
The meeting then adjourned.
THE COURTS.
II being vacation week, many Of the courts are not
in session but in those which are the usual forms OF
respect to the memory of the deceased were observed
In the Supreme Court Circuit, before Judges Rooee-
welt and Clerke, Mr. CUTrISG moved an adjourn,
ment, a testimony to the memory OF deceased, aud
Mr.. OCoEoR seconded the motion. The remarks OF
both gentlemen very brief and little more than
formal.
Judge ROOSEVELT in acceding to the motion, said
but few words, suggesting that there would be
fuither opportunity for full expression OF the eeing'
cf both bench and bar. He alluded to the deceased -
the eequent member of the bar, as eminent for hi
social as for his Intellectual qualities ana equany re-
spected and beloved by all who knew him.
LEVI S. CHATfIELD, ex Attorney-General, then
moved that committee Of three be appointed to make
the proper entry in the minutes, but withdrew I'M
proposition suggestion ard left the matter 10 the
hands Of tie Court which then adjourned SINE due, !
being the last day of the term.
In the Supreme Court, Special Term, Mr.. ID. LORD
moved, and Mr.. X. 5. VAN WISKLE seconded, tAe
motion for an adjournment.
Jndge Dawes, in reply made the following remarks;
The Court has received with profound sensa-
ton the announcement just made. Ogden HON,
man has been distinguished in the legislative and
iuoicial history of his native State for the last
thirty wears, As member OF the Legishturei
which enacted the revision OF our statute a~ pli9' "
$780, lie rendered much efficient and valuable aa IN
rrocucing that great work Of reference. The legsa,
tive proceeding show that TO him we are indebted
for MANY valuable suggestions in perfecting that ad-
mirabe system ard that he gave to his earnest al
tention and prof ssCnal learning Asa rpresenatve
in the Congress of the United States from tiis com
necial emporium he held high position, ana ms
meodious voice aud unrvaled eoquence never idied
TO calm the turbulence Of the House and command It's
profound and earnest attention. But his great tn
nmpis were at the bar ald there it is no disparage-
ment TO Others to say, that be was unequalled VINO
among us has not listened with admiration 10
Lis uDrivaed efforts bis surpassing command OF Ian
guoge, and the outbursts Of eloqnence which 50
often have carried away all hearts captive
WHO has not witnessed the delight ana fascination
with which crowds have hung upon his every word,
ard surrendered themselves to his CONTROL TO the
Courts--who have been 20 often instructed by hi.
learning; gratfed and entertained by the beauty OF
bic diciOn and the extent OF bis penetraOn enranced
by his elOqueDce; and whose abors have been hght-
eIed by the amenity and courtesy of his manners-his
loss irepnable 1t may be hoped that the influence
of Lis example will be felt by those who may occupy
the place made vacaLt by this sudden and most unex
pected bereavt tment. This is not the fitting occasion
10 pronounce his eulogy An opportunity will be pre-
senttd to the Bar and the Courts to testify their deep
of the loes they have sustained ard, as mark
Of respect to the deceased this Court will all
ourn, and direct the proper entry to be made on its
minutes
In the United States District Court, the motion to
adjourn was made by Assistant District Attorney Joa
chImseen and second ed by Mr. Burdctt, who was FOL-
| low ed by Mr.. McKeon who said:
rise to solicit from this Court suspension OF 1t;
proceedings The Angel of Death is in our midst and
one Of the most gifted of those who minister before the
alars of the law is stricken down: Ogden Hoffman is
| no more. Yesterday he died at bis residence in this
city. 1t is moi my purpose at the present tIe 70
speak in length ened euogy of the deceased His as
| sociates at the bar WILL more fitting occasion,
give expression to those feelings Of deep regret which
peryade az well the bench that bar OF which he was
| the most copsp,cuous ornament. BY birth he was
New. Yorker and one of whom New-York had reason
| to be proud. Even while yet boy he entered the
naval service of the United States as mdshipman,
under the chivalic Decatur, during the war between
Great Britain and the United States III was on board
Of the President when she was captured by superior
British force off Long Island. he also served with the
came officer in the Mediterranean. His narrative #
his connection with the navy, intoncd in his own pecu
| hary mellifuous voice. in language which none but
bself could command was In fact the truth OF hiso-
Nv iobed in the habiliments Of poetry. Ills regrets
over the cspture of the fgaie President within sight
ofbis own baive land would at once recall to the
classic mind the lament of Cicero over Ae capture by
| COrsairs of the little Roman feet commanded by
| Consul at Ossia almost within sight OF imperial
Rome The war having closed, be returned TO his ma
tive State to study law Under the guidance OF his
faheI who held distinguished position ct the bar he
pusued his studies and with such success that shortly
after his admission to the bar he became the prose
cutting officer of the County Of Orange in this State
| He ieturred to this city, as theater more worthy
Of bis commanding talents AZ once bis fellow CHI
zeps elected him to the Legislature Of this State
| where as a member Of the Judiciary Committee
| Of the Assembly, he assisted in the adoption Of
| the Revised Statutes. 10 hun may be sseribed,
that TO bim chiefly indebted for the adoption of
that part Of our statutes which refers to the criminal
code, and which, may say, Is monument of the
phihsophy of criminal law On bis return to bis con-
stituenis he was was appointed by the Common Coun
Gil of this city District Attorney of this city, which
Office be held from 1929 10 1895. In 1886 be was
elected to the Congress OF the United states where
Ger Harison's assuming the administration OF the
Government Mr.. Hoffman was appointed District
Attorney of the United States for this distinct which
nosition be occupied until a change of the Adminisa
ton by The election Of President Polk. The last pub
lie ofce which he held was that of AttorneyGeneral
of this State from which he retired on the lst
of January last. IL seems 70 nie PrpPer and De-
high Office which be held under the General Gov
eIDmept and which he filed with so much grace
and power shoud esk your Honor to stay the ordinary
course II the daily transactions OF this Court Mr. Ho-
man wac no ordinary man. From my boyhood, l had
looked up 10 him ss a bright light He was many
years nv senior, but from the mement l became &C.
au all ted with him-noa more than twenty years-it
VAS ny Good fortune TO enjoy his friendship. Before
my entrance TO the bar the great intellectual giadia
ton, Emmet and Wells, had passed away. OF the
former, have often head the highest encomiums fon
Mr. Hoffman Of the power Of his eioquence. To use
lie own illu-tra,ion Lx.sning to Mr. Emmett, you
'were struck with his power; he seemed like piece of
"immepse machinery, moving with the greatest
regularity and sn,oothness, and yet as restrain
no iss Without IisDarvemerf