Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-07-21
Rufus Choate.
BY THE HON. GEO. 5. #rLLAKD, OF BOSTON
From the New Amsrican Cycloi eIia

sets, OCTOBER 1, lI99. l0e ardent love OF
knowledge which distinguished him from
the first, enable hlm to draw the utmost ad-
vantages from the moderate opportunities
for instruction and training which we're
within his reach during boy-ho d. He en-
tered Dartmouth College in 1851, and was
graduated with the highest honors of his
class in 1919, having gained during his col
legiare course reputation which gave con-
fdent assurance of his future career. He
continued attached to the College in the
capacity OF tutor for year after his graaua-
tion. He then entered the .aw-school at
Cambridge, and after remaining there few
months he went 20 Washington, where he
was for about year in the off .e of Mr..
Writ. Returning to the North, his profess
siunal studies were completed in the Office
OF Mr.. Andrews of Ipswich, and in that OF
Judge Cummins of Salem. He was ad-
mitted to the bar in 1924, and commenced
the practice of the law in the town of DAN
vers; but, in the course of two or three
years, removed to Salem, the shire town o.
the county. From the moment OF his ad
mission to the bar, his success was marked
and his rise rapid. The Oldest and most
experienced jurists at once found formid-
able rival in the youthful advocate, who, to
thor ough knowledge of the law, ths most
care ul preparation Of each particular case,
and the mos. earnest devotion OF himself to
the cause of his client, added the charm Of
brilliant and persuasive rhetori:, such as
had never before graced the conflicts and
scussion, of New England court of
Justice. Though he occupied q seat in the
Massachusetts, House of Representatives
for one year, and subsequently in the Sen
ate for the same period, he did not allow
himself to be diverted from the path of pro
fessional toll and professional success by
the ultra ctions of politics. When. in the
wear 1892, at the earnest solicitation of his
personal and political friends, he allowed
himself to be put in nomination as can
didate for Congress, he felt that he had
gained a position which made such step
not imprudent. He was elected to the
House OF Representatives, and served there
for single term, with homer to himself and
satisfaction 90 his constitute Dts. but declin-
ed a reelection, having determined to re-
move to Boston, the Capital of the State,
as the sphere best suited to his powers and
his aspirations He went to Boston in 1884
ertered at once into possession of large
and important business, and measured his
powers W iih the leaders of the bar. For
the next eight years his life was one of the
mos assiduous toll ard the most brilliant
,riumphs. In February, 1871, he was chosen
by the Legislature of Massachusetts a mem
Der of the Sen1,e of the United Ststes. in
place of Mr.. Webster, whn had entered the
Cabinet of President Harrison. He re-
mained in the Senate till March, ls45. the
close of his term, when he gladly returned
to the more congenial sphere of the bar
He took frequent part in The discussions Of
the Senate and made brilliant and elaborate
speeches upon the Oregon question, the
tariff, The Courts of the Uuitrd States.
which were published in pamphlel form.
From the close of his Senatorial term to
the present time he has resided in Boston
engaged in the most extensive practice, and
only diverted from his labors BY the occa
sion1l preparation and delivery of public
address. He was for three or four years one
Of the Regents of the Smithsouian Insttu-
,ion. April 81, lS4l, he delivered eulogy
on Presiden: Harrison before the C: iizens of
Boston, in Faneul Hall. In Dtc., 1913.
he gave the address on the anniversary of
the Landing of the Pilgrims before the New
England Society Of New York. In Aug,
1858. he pronounced eulogy upon Daniel
Webster before the faculty and students of
Dartmouth College. In Sept, 1854, he
gave an address at Danvers at the dedica-
ton of the Peabody Institute. On July 4,
1858. he delivered an Grafton before. the
Young Mems Democratic Club of Boston
All the ABOVE dscourses have been printed.
To this lis. of occasional performances are
to be added two addresses before the students
of the Dane Law School at Cambridge, ard
two before the Mercantile Library Associa-
ton of Boston. Some OF his political
speeches, and one or two, at least, of his
forensic arguments. have appeared in print.
Mr.. Choate's style is peculiar and charact
eristic, very effective in his hands, but
hardly to be commended as mode for imi'
tation; it is rich. vivid and glowing, instinct
with passion, aud colored with all the hues
Of fancy. but sometimes, it must be admit
ted, little extravagant and exaggerated.-l
The most remarkable quality, however, in
his written compositions, is the structure oi
his periods. These are not the short end
compact statements, involving but single |
proposition, in which most writers OF our
times express their thoughts; but they re
ca Il and renew tine continuous sweep and
long-resounding march OF the prose writer's
of .he sixteenth century. They are often
of llbreathless length, containing clause
after clause, modifying, enlarging, or limit
ing the leading idea; full Of compact lie,
aud flowing from mind Of the most teem-
inc luxuriance. Some of these crowded
and afIiuent paragraphs remind one OF the
performance Of skillful musician who
plays an air with one hard and extempor-
ICES variations with the other. But Mr.
Choate's politica, and literary laSoTs are
bu, "trifies light as air." when compared
with the immense amount of his profession
al tolls. The Jealousy FOR which the law
is proverbal never could have been awaken
ed in his case, for he has been from the first
most faithful to his austere mistress. BY the
common consent of his legal brethren, he
now Glands, and for many years has stood,
at The head OF the bar in New England; and
rs an advocate especially, perhaps no man
in ib. whole country enjoys so high aud