Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-09-11
The Retirement of Chief Justice Shaw.
The members of the bar of Berkshire coun.
ty, at meeting on Friday last, adopted the


following resolutions =
Resolved, That as one of the most interesting
in the judicial history of Massachusetts oc-
CURED in this county, at the September term of this
court, in the year $780, when the Honorable Lemuel
Shaw entered upon his duties chief justice of this
court; and the present is the first term of the
court since his voluntary resignation of that high Of
nee there seems peculiar proprety that some suit
able notice OF the latter event should here and now
be taken.
Resolved, That as we have been accustomed for
the best reasons, during the long period of thirty
years, TO acquesce in the decisions of Chief Justice
Shaw the just and legal adjudication othe rights
of partes so we now, though with great regret,
quiesce in the proprety OF his decision, to resign
this Office while in the full vigor OF his intellectual
faculties, with his vast experience in the investiga
ton of questions of law and equity at the bar and
upon the bench
Resolved, That as we now recall the acuteness and
power of his intellect, his sound and varied learn
ing, his patient and faithful investigation, his sens
bty to the natural justice and equity of particular
cases. and yet his ineXbe regard to the uniformity
of established legal principles, desire to place
these recoections upon record, and while actuated
by feelings of personal respect find additional
mducement to this proceeding in sentiment, which
we adopt in the very language of the chief justice
addressed to from the bench. "rhe character
and virtues, the sentiments and useful actions of
distinguished men, preserved in the annals, and
cherished in the TecollectOns of a grateful people,
| constitute their richest Treasures
Resolved, That these resolutions be presented to
the justices of the supreme judicial court, with the
respectful request that they may be placed upon the
records of the court
JAMES D. COLT, Chairman.
HENRY w TAFT, Secretary.
Judges Dewey, Metcalf, Merrick, and
| Hoar. were present. Judge Rockwell present
| ed the resolutions to the court and moved that
they be placed on the records. The motion
was advocated by Hon. Henry L. Dawes and
others. Judge Dewey, in behalf of the court
addressed the bar briefly and eloquently. The
reply of the court was ordered to be recorded
with the resolutions.
The members of the Suffolk bar held
meeting at noon, Monday, for the purpose of
giving expression to the regrets of that body
upon the retirement Of Chief Justice Shaw
The meeting was fully attended, and included
many venerable gentlemen who have long
since retired from the profession CHARLES
G. LoRING, Esq, was elected chairman of the
meeting. On assuming the duties OF the place
he said that as one of the older members of
the profession, he desired to express his pro.
found respect for the eminent jurist now re-
firing, and his affection for the man. Mr.. SID.
NEY BARTLETT remarked that the language
OF eulogy was on the lips OF all, but the cir.
cumstances which called them together de-
manded that what they said should be with
deliberation, and he recommended the appoint
ment of a committee TO draft an address to be
presented to the chief justice Hon. JOHN H.
CLIFFORD seconded the motion. He hoped the
bar would avoid either extremes OF regret that
the chief justice no longer occupied his late
laborious position, and of coincidence upon the
loss TO the bar and the public. He felt that
there was nothing here for tears. While the
great light had ceased TO burn for lis in this
golden candlestick the illumination which it
has given will endure forever. The committee
consisted of Messrs Sidney Bartlett, B. f.
Thomas, John II. Clifford, Josiah g. Abbott,
Geo. L. Curtis, P. w. Chandler. After an
hours absence, MIR. GEORGE 7. CURTIS pre-
scented as the report of the committee long
address, which will be published hereafter,
with the reply of Judge SHAW.
The address was accepted, and upon motion
by Mr.. Chas. NJ. Ellis, the chair was requested
to appoint committee from each of the bars
Of the commonwealth to present the same to
the late chief justice The committee was
constituted as follows
Suffolk Sidney Bartlett B. R. Curtis, B F. Hal
lett, George T. Curtis; Essex, Attorney General
Lincoln; Norfolk, j. j. Clarke Hampshire, -
Baker; Hampden, X. A Chapman; Franklin, Geo.
I. Davis; Berkshire, Julius Rockwell Bristol, j.
IL. Clifford; Plymouth, VIM Baylies; Barnstable,
NJ. Marston
The chairman of the meeting was added to
the committee, upon motion by Judge Curtis.
Mr.. SWEET, veteran member of the bar, who
retired from the profession many years since,
read brief biography Of Chief Justice Shaw.
On the motion OF Hon. b. +. Hallett, it was
voted that the unoccupied niche in the court
room be filled with the bust of Judge Shaw,
to be procured under the direction OF the COM
mittee who prepared the address.