Litchfield enquirer., 1860-04-05

I ou ,,v nrofessional life caused me to attend the cnnrts in in that county, where found MT. Smith as | fnIIy engaged and as highly esteemed as in his own county. In New Haven also know he had very considerable practice.
 "It is worthy also to be observed, in forming an estimate of Mir. Smiths professional talents and character, that there never at any period was an abler bar in Connecticut, than during his practice. In Litchfeld county, were Judge Reeve, Judge Adams, General Tracy, John AL len, Judge Gould. N. B. Benedict, and others at the Fairfield county bar, were Pierpont Ed wards, Judge Ingersoll, and Judge Daggett, con- stantly from New Haven, Judge Edmonds, $. E. Sherwood R. NJ. Sherman, Judge Chapman and Governor Bssell and in New Haven, besides the three above named, were James Hillhouse, Judge Baldwin, and others.
 As l suppose it not probable that you ever saw Judge Smith, as he ceased to attend courts in 1919, and died when you was very young will observe what you have doubtless heard, that he was large and fine appearing man, much ot the same complexion of the Hon. Truman omitn his nephew, with whom you are so well acquaint- ed less tall than he, but of rather fuller habit His face was not only the index of high capaci- tv. and solid judgment but uncommOnly hand some his hair was dark and thin, though not to badness except on the fore part of his head, and was very slightly sprinkled with gray. His fine, dark eyes, were remarkably pleasing and gentle in ordinary intercourse, but very variable always kindling when he began to speak in public, and, when highly excited in debate, they became a. most oppressive. His voice was excellent, be- ing both powerful and harmonious, and never broke under any exertion of its capacity. His manner was very ardent and the seeming dictate of strong conviction of the justice of his cause and his gestures were the natural expression of such conviction. Mr. Smith style was pure and genuine Saxon, with no attempt at classic ornament or allusion. His train of reasoning was lucid and direct and evincive of the fact that the whole of it was like map spread out in his mind eye from the beginning. His ingenuity was always felt and dreaded by his opponent He spoke with much fuency, but with no undue rapidity; he never hesitated for or hagglel at a word, nor did he ever tire his audience with un- due prolixity, omit to do full justice to his case tie danger of it. Though certainly very fine speaker, he never achieved or aspred to those strains of almost superhuman eloquence with which his old master Reeve, sometimes electri- fed and a5tonishcd his audience, and yet, in or nary cases, he Was the most correct speaker of the two-though Judge Reeve was, and he was not, scholar Mir. Smith, though quite unas- suming, and often receding in common inter course and conversation, was, when heated in a.. gument, it must be confessed, often overbearing to the adverse party, and, not only to them, but to their counsel. Upon all other occasions, he appeared to be, and 1 believe was, a very kind hearted, agreeable and pleasant man. To me, he always so appeared, aud have been much in his company
 "Mr. Smith came early into public life, and was frequently elected to the General Assembly from Woodbury. In l795, he was elected a member of the fourth Congress /; aud in l797, he was chosen to the fifth Congress; but declined further election. In May, l799, he was made an assistant. and was reelected for the five follow ing years, when he resigned his seat at that board in consequence of the passage of the act in 1903, prohibiting the members of the then supreme court of errors from practcing before that court He remained in full practice at the bar until Oc- tober, 1906, when he was elected judge of the superior court. and continued to fill that office until May 1919, when the judiciary establish ment of that year went into operation from which time he remained in private life until his death.
 "ln every public station in which Mr. Smith was placed, he distinguished himself He did so in Congress, at time when our representation was as able. perhaps, as it ever has been, and when the character of the house to which he be- longed was far higher than it now is. In the su- perior court he was certainly very greatly re- spected and admired, as all able and perfectly upright judge.
 |" In private life his name was free from all re- proach. A strictly honest and pure life, free from any of those little blemshes which often mar the fame of distinguished men, may, I think, be fairly claimed by his biographer to be his due. As husband parent, friend. neighbor. a mOrast and christian, believe flow have left a more faultless name.
 eff, sir, the foregoing facts and suggestions will be of any use to you shall feel gratifed in having furnished them. In the success of the undertaking in which you are engaged feel an interest It is one which has been quite too long neglected.
 "I am sir very respectfully yours,
 ID. s. BoARpAAN." To c. H. HoNister Esq