The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-11-15
cry INTELLIG ENfE
DEAT TIL OFJUDGE ECCLESTON-MEET
OF THE UEUBERS OF THE BAR


OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BAR.
The announcement of the death of the Honorable
John b. EcclestOn one of the Associate Justices of
the Court of Appeals of Maryland, appro.
priately announced in the several Courts yesterday
morning. Afterwards meeting of the members of
the Bar was called to convene at o'clock, p. NJ.
in the United States Courtroom. At the appoint
ed hour the several Judges Of the Courts, and quite
a large number of the members of the Bar, assem-
bled at the above place for the purpose of paying
proper tribute of respect to the memory of of
the highest judicial officers of the State.
The Hon. Roger B. Taney, Chief Justice of the
United States, by invitation, acted President of
the meeting.
arose and said, that, understanding his Honor the
ChiefJustic had consented to preside at the meet
ing, he would move, in order to complete the or
ganization, that Geo. NJ. Gill, Esq. act as Secre-
tary. The motion was carried.
Charles F. Mayer, Esq. then moved that COM
mttee of five be appointed by the chair to prepare
suitable resolutions, expressive of the sentiments of
this meeting upon the mourntul occasion which
they had been called together
After the adoption of this motion the chair an
nOunced the committe, as follows Chas. F. Mayer,
ESD, Hon. Judge Martin, Hon. Judge Krebs, l.
hewitt Steele, Esq. and S. Teackle Wallis, Esq
The committee, after short absence, returned
to the Court room, when Charles F. Mayer, Esq,
chairman, said:
L
to report the following resolutions, to be acted on
by this meeting:
RESOLVED, That have learned with the
death of the Hon. John B. Ecceston and would offer
tribute respect to the memory of whose life
exemplary in every moral beauty, and whose judi
cia career has left for his record of highest
honor
Resolved, That the deceased has won admra-
ton for his devotion to his judicial duty, while his de-
and converse social and official, marked by
genteness and kndlness adorning the rmness of his
nature and themselves the fruit of his religious love of
justice and OF peace.
Rssogred, That in the works his elevated public
function he has transmitted for the Judicial history of
Maryland memorials to be cherished of erudtion
and elaborate research and scrupuous recttude dear
ing him to portray at once the good Judge and the good
man.
Resolved, That wear the usual badge of mourning
in token of our feeling for loss, for thirty days
Resolrcd, That the Secretary of the meeting transmit
to the family of the deceased Of these resolutions
with the expression of sympathy in their beresve
men and that he also present copy to the Court of Ap
peals and to the Supreme Court of Baltimore city, with
respectful request that the Resolutions be recorded
the minutes of the Court.
Mr.. Mayer, in submitting the resolutions said
that he was sure that the sentiments contained
therein would find a home in the hearts Of all
those who knew the late Judge Eccleston. Death
had again clouded the forum-again the awful call
had taken another from the muster-r roll, and they
were again called to sympathize and give their
pressions of regret for the departed 1t is always
consoling, however, on occasions like the
present. to know that those mourn, and have
left us, have passed to their bright reward. Mr..
mayer t0eu pau All eloquent Tribute TO the CnrlS-
tian virtues of the deceased Judge-virtues which
adorned his life citizen and Judge. All
knew how he labored in the discharge of bis
public functions; his decisions were elaborate,
and indicate pious dread of being in the wrong;
but with his gentleness of disposition he not to
be DETECTED from his duties, to be weakened from
the firmness of his purpose Mr. Mayer then refer
red to the lega career of the late Judge, from the
time he entered upon the practice of his profession
until the time he called to the position which
he occupied at the time of his death. No young
man began his day with brighter career before
him; and by his virtues and his labors in his pro-
fession-ioving to do right, and seeking to do his
dutv-he marked out to fill place in the Court
of highest adudicature in the State. He has
worked out the picture of a good Judge and
a good man, worthy of being a member of that
great social safeguard, upon which depends the
peace of society, and that of nations themselves.
Mr.. Mayer then alluded to the sudden demise of
Judge Eecleston, stricken down at time when
apparently in robust health, and in the full enjoy
ment of his physical powers. Death makes no dis
tinctons in his allotments-he looks not to the
dition or age of his victims. The speaker then
ferred in feeling manner to the death of the late
John Nelson, whose death only recently the pro-
fesson was called upon to mOurn-a brother pos
sessing strength of mind, worthy of bright
chapter in the judicial history of the country.
In conclusion, Mr.. Mayer again alluded to the
high professional and judicial character of the late
Judge, and moved the adoption of the resolutions.
William Schey, ESQ.,. in secondng the resolutions,
said they fully represented the sentiment of the
meeting he did not intend to make any extended
remarks To almost all who present Judge
Eccleston was well known as a courteous gentle
man, an upright man, and a good Judge; and he
knew personally that be possessed in eminent
degree all those great qualities which made him a
good Judge and an upright man, and heartily Sc
cOnded the resolutions
Cornelius Mclean, Esq, also spoke to the motion
and said: We called upon this day to show
our respect for one who, having occupied a high
station among us, has gone to his rest To him
death was emphatically rest, for do not know
any person of his day who labored more continu-
ously better improved the talents with which
he endowed. His career steady, calm and
emnently useful, and it was his good fortune to
find himself appreciated by his feow-men, whose
confidence he never for a single moment abused or
betrayed.
That he was learned and laborious lawyer all
who knew him will readily admit; and although he
too much disposed to adhere to old landmarks
and abide by ancient precedents, yet he was always
safe and conscientious and did all he could to
attain the ends of Justice. And indeed with many
his strong indispostion to meet the progressive spir
it of the day small recommendation. At
any rate, he always did and did well what he pro-
fessed to do and his purpose and profession was to
he occupied during a long and happy life.
He no theorist, and with him there
speculation, but he accepted the facts of to-day to
deal with them as they arose and came under his
judicial cOgnzance without fear or excitement or
conceit or obstnacy. This calmness and steadiness
of character and freedom from passion and impulse,
made him successful.
1t has been wisely said that "work is worship
With him work the evidence he gave of the
Christian principles which governed his whole ca
reer. How much OF happiness comes from work
or the performance of any other duty in this life,
where every act is criticised by some one whom it
may affect, where almost every good motive is i'm
pugned put down to the account of hypocrisy,
and where the pains-taking, conscientious working
man is so apt to be undervalued by, and indeed
main unknown to, his fellow men, even while they
are enjoying the results of his labor, has always
been question both with moralists and divnes.
But for myself L never contemplated the death
of laborious Christian man, such as Judge Eccle
ston was, whose vocation had been to calm the
passions of his felow-men-t define the bounds of
propriety, and apply the principles of law and JUS
tice by which the arrogant rebuked, the
principed punished, the passionate impulses of
selfishness and covetousness struck down, and
schemes OF malice thwarted-without feeling that
to such so employed, and seeing how far
short he always falls of attaining the highest good
at which he aims, death must be approached with
calmness and gratitude. Indeed, l am almost will
ing to admit, in the language of the poet
"yicturos que Del celant ut vivere durent
Felix esse mort"
We are all deluded, vainly searching ways
To make us happy by the length of days;
For cunningly, to make IS protract this breath,
The gods conceal the happiness of death.
Judge Taney then said: Before putting the ques-
ton to the meeting, on the adoption of the resolu
tons, desire to repeat what l said this morning
at the adjournment of the Circuit Court.
Inc nlgh ludiclal posltlon whlch Juuge Eccleston
long filed with honor to himself and usefulness to
the public, justly entities him to the tribute of re-
respect now proposed to be paid to his memory by
the members of the State Courts and the Bar 1
may say for myself personally that | have
known him for more than forty years. l met
him as 81 Legislator, in the Legislative Councils of
| Maryland, when he yet young man.
have witnessed his career judicial officer, and
| citizen, and man, and unite cordially in
the language of sympathy and respect contained in
| the resolutions.
The meeting then adjourned.
LAuNcH.-This afternoon, between the hours of
four and five. the fine ship Virginia Dare, Cnamed
after the first white child born in Virginia), will
be launched from the ship yard of Messrs Abra-
| hams & Ashcraft, Fells street. The Virginia
! Dare is ship the first class, and in finish and
workmanship will add to the already high reputa-
| tion of her budeR. She is l60 feet long, SO feet
| inches breadth of beam, and % feet depth of
hold. Capacity 500 tons. She has been built TO
] the order of a cnmnany in Richmond and is of