Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1859-04-22
Proceedings OF the Supreme Court
at Galveston, in relation 10 the
Death Qf . G. Hartley,

long usage, aud which is in itself right and
proper, when a member of the legal profession
| emlneut for his attainments ard moral worth,
has been cut off by the hand of death, for bis
surviving brethren TO place upon tho records of
the Courts in which be praetised, some endu-
ring memorial Of the esteem ia which he was
held, while living. In conformity with this
usage, | appear this morning to present this
Court the resolutions adopted By meeting Of
the Bar, held at this place on tbe 18Th nlt., 10
relation TO the death Of Oliver c. Harfley--a
distinguished member of tho Galveston Bar,
and the Reporter of the decisions ef this
Court. These resolutions, however, are not
The result slope of desire to CONFORM TO a
mere CUSTOM their adoption was not intended
TO be sn empty and unmeaning ceremony; but,
unless the sources of my information have been
greatly at fault, they speak the irrepressible
emotious of stricken hearts, that felt aud hp-
preeiated he loss which had been sustained by
the immediate family of the deceased, hY the
legal profession, and By society az large.
1t might be deemed superogetory On my part
to enter into an extended review of the history
of the deceased. That has been done, eli 9th
er occasions, and by others far more competent
/ to tha underta king than myself. Sufficeit for
! me TO say that, in all the relations of life in
which be was called upon TO act-whether as
| citizen, or a soldier whether as . member Of
! the State Legislature, or the Reporter Of the
! decisions of this Court whether as a husbaud
or father whether in tie public or private
/ walks of life, he has left record unmarried By
/ a single spot, and character above suspicion
and wthou; reproach.
! His mind was thoroughly disciplined, and
| deeply imbued With solid learning; which adj
ded to rare powers of analysis, and patient
industry, Which no amount of labor could deter
or resist, enabled him to master every subject
which be had occasion to investigate Al the
bar, he was forcibIc and impressive. and sou ght
rather to convince the judgement than to please
the fancy. His perceptions we're unusually
clear, and at the sane time he possessed phi
losophioal Turn Of mind, which would not rest
satisfied with first impressions, but which
sought 10 learn the remote as well as tha prox-
innate relation of things, and having oace sat
is6ed himself of the correctncss Of bis pfeu.i-
Ses, he dedueed bis conclusions with the power I
and skill of an accomplished logiolan He.had |
10 higher ambition than the full and complete |
discharge of every duty, aud how we'll lie sio- |
ceeded in this, the results of his professional |
and official l4hors will abuniantly testify. In |
lied by faitness and candor, temper rarely /
disturbed by passion, and judgement never |
betrayed by impnise.
But il is his highest cnconup 10 say ,iiiss his |!
cardinal virtue was al iaeorruptible Integrity /
which caused hial to recognize no other stand
ard of professional greatness, thar tha, which !
has its Foundation in moral excellence.
The anenitY of his manners aud the rtFsb- |
trusIVepess OF his character, added TO nltiye 1
gooduess OF heart, endeared him to all, aud to /
Oone more than bis professional brethren.
Such i the character accorded by those who /
knew him best, TO Oliver c. Hartley. name /
which will live when the ''scnlplursd marble (
shall have Uouid6red into dust" and 70 oue
40 Texas jarisprudecce shall have placs 10
the ounsIs Of time.
May It please the Court; I, i. becoming IN
as, finite aud sb2rt-sigbted creatures 10
meet with iofti ude, aud TO bow with resigua-
ton 70 tie DEGREES OF an inscrutab.e prori-
dence, which We can neither avert nor control.
Sut VIXEN We consider the long years of toll
and anxiety Bhieh he endured--the midnight
oil Which he consumed, and the physical sner-
gie5 which lie Tasted 10 The acquisition of that
Wedge, which Tas to make hiu useful sin
his day aud ganeratioui" when We reflect that
the results Of all this labor, the wealth Of
knowledge winch he had garrcrcd up il The
chsnhe:s Of The mind, are lost to as forever
hat he can be OF use TO the future only BIZ
the rec0r Of the pastI, is "a weakness of
our nature, which almost. causes us to fret 81 a
destiny that has swept from Us, uot only the
elskei, bur the priceless jewels il contained.
But his dispeusatiou, sad and affective as il may
be, = not unattended with an Impressive lesson.
Ii admonishishes US Of the trail tenure of hu-
man existence, and that shat the 'spreacher'
says, Is true, that ''al! is vanity"
Death is at ali times on unwelcone mcsson-
ger. But when he overtakes decrepit ace,
bending under the accumulated weight Of wears
aud oares-''wrnked and curved and white
with hoary hairs, VIC are eonsoled by the
thought, thaG ife's mission has been fulfilled.
and thar the ''Teaper" only ''plncas the ears
that are hoary." When be takes ayay vouth
IN the morning Of life, there is al,o consoIa-
ton; bccause the attachments are yet UNIFORM
Ell, the usefulness of its heipg not vet a an
preei4ied, lite itself is but a drean-,nd II
passes away as the "eary dew.'' But when
be strikes down man clothed in the pano6ly
OF maiured strength, and ia the full meridian
OF his usefulness, when ne has just entered
upon the realization of his youthful dreams,
aud the fruits OF long years Of toll and labor
when tie has become he eeutIe of whole
circle Of clustering affections the at
tachments which bind him to earth have become
as chars of brass and triple steel'-it is then.
oh it is then, that there is no source OF con-
ISOLATION this side the grave, and the hearts of
surviving friends are left desOlate indeed.
IL is perhaps not the least unpleasant re- !
Election connected with bis death, that he was )
the victim of his own devotion to the DISCHARGE :
of duty,-ere he was aware of it, the unbend
ing asslduity with which be applied himself to 6