New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-14
PUBLIC MEETINGS.
CHIEPJUSrTCE OAKLRYS DEATH.
THy MHE.rING. nP srnIE RAR


TIE MEETING OF THE BAR.
Long before clock The hour appointed for tle
meeting q the Bensh and The Bar, the General Term
room of the Supreme Court was crowded 10 escess.
Al the judges and the prom neni members of the bar
were preser, as vel! as Judges Strong and Emeii Of
Kings County.
Nj. +. d. jrrrISG called the meeting to order and
nominated Judge Duer as President and Judges Mel
son Belts, Mitchell, ingrsham aUd Bradford as Vice
Presidents. Judge Duer having taken the chair.
Messrs Van Wrinkle and Eyarts were chosen 10 a.;
Secretaries OF the meeting.
DasIEL LoRD then moved the ADOPTION al the fol-
wing resolutions which were read by Mr.. Evsrts:
s,S That IN the death Of Chit Justice OAKLEY The Bens
M T the % year. tina, been OF he has
for sne moment ceased 70 s brsh. and esans example tor
Et,,S That distinguished he has bcen throeshou hs
PS...ioS 'A'f-'''' x - - 90 -
As shr chief law ocer the s'ss standing the head Of
"a" Jt, srTiSs The whole yes Of hi, srs tbs
beuch occupying Psce among ee hr'' OF the ndy " We
Tbs, honorrs hi. gn.we,ias INTEGRITY his ss.P SS
and his decisi-n Of character We mourn over h &c
paItue a. that Of one whose place will not soon Dc he&
Rs.srcd This; slight ,es;imoOi. Of our repe, 70, ~.
memory regard for his character the members OF ee
Bar viii a,;end his funeral and YEA the usual badge OIL mourn
PS.rcS fhs, copy Of thee resolutions. signed BY ,he
ocer. Of this mectins be transmitted 10 the tsmy !" Wv
Nh. IoRp then rose and addressed the meeting in
few very eloquent remarks The leading features ana
,pdimenary elements If Judge Oakeys character, no
aid were a roll ust con mon sense, large humanity,
a generous spirit and directness ana simpnVu! q.
nature and address. Because ne dishAeu sophisty "
all kinds he sometin es rough toward 'ha' Whsea
struck him rs merely rht torcal and tawdrs ana une
inst But he was never known to be impancn' %.
that which was simple and true, II WAS h!s mu 70
ascertain Justice and administer the law. Ills GEAR
ness Of apprehension remarkable, ana hence, IN
the complicated trials before him, he classified facts
gave the ir due weight 10 circumstances, ana dspesu
whatever bias or preludces might nave e'Seged VIC
real questions at issue In matters oil law. ne "ugea
upon the highest principles; his Sagaelty was
perfect. His uprightness was not OF that
vulgar sort which refuses bride, but 1t wa.
thorough impartiaty, unmoNed by any influence OF
whatever description. Whence did Judge Oakley de-
rive his great qualities The Bar is the mother oil the
Bench in the same way that though the the sub
iect of the king there No queen there ""uid DC
no king. Mr.. Oakley came from the eoun.r! 70 ','S
civ; he had succeeded Martin Van Buren, in the Al
torney- Ceneralship; he was the cotempoiary ana
compeer of Judge Emott Dir: Van Neeh,sn WI;
Gould and others of no less distinction. MI; bSru
drew glowing picture OF MIR. Oakley before the SUI
preme Court when, with Thomas Adds Emmet oy hs
side he represented the greet State OF New-iork,
against Daniel Webster and William Nirt IN mo
great case If Gibbons agt. Ogden. THIS WAS In
Mir Lord Judgment the eliminating point OF judge
Oakley's life. BY the qualities which he hso SHOWN
at the Bar he demonstrated his fitness Tor the Bench.
Judge DUEk in reply would only say that whatever
the loss of the community, no one not associated win
the deceased in judicial duties could understand now
great it was lie intended to prepare in good time,
full memoir OF Judge Oakley. to which the Bar "oa!i
have access. Judge Duers voice was broken and
remuous and il evident that he could not trust
himself To peak at length at this time.
Mr. TILLoU, in seconding the resolutions. remarked
that he heartily concurred with what bad been said.
lie had never heard complaint against Judge Oak
IT,, judicial course. As Judge he was Prcemlnent-
always calm and equabe, Away sinpressng the Jurie:
whom lie charge d, as well as the Bar who praetesd
before him. with his soundness of Judgment All VINO
knew him could testify b. his kindness OF heart ana
sniabty of disposition, and, what was very greatly
10 his honor, he never turned of young man win
hassh answer.
Dir HIRAM KErcHUs, after abiding to the last
meeting of the Bar n similar occasion, the death ot
Ogden Hoffman, spoke Of the simple and unadsrned
greatness of Thos j. Oakley-the only man that was
ever made Judge by the Bar Of New-fork. Who
could bring charge against Judge Oakley VINO
could saw that he had not done his whole duty during
III, thirty years that he has saupon the Bench! Chs
tieaiiy too Christianity claimed his great lnteeetand
sound judgment for herself
The resolutions were again read by Mr. EyArTS aud
unanimously passed. Alter adopting a motion ~ Mr..
GEEARp that the resolutions be printed in all the dauy
papers Of the city, the meeting adjourned.