New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-09-26
THE RESIGNATION OF CHIEF JUSTICE
SHAW.

DHdW.
The following is the reply of Chief Justice Shaw to
the Massachusetts Bar:
GENTLEMEN OF The BAR or MASSACHUSETTS,
Your presence this OCCASION at the cloe OF Judicial
life now somewhat extended, and the very kind and
warm hearted tx preFsons in which you have felt jus
titled in communicating your appreciation OF my judicial
course offered in this hour OF parting are most well
come ard acceptable. 1T affords me an opportunity
which hsye long desired and readily seize to ex
press to the Government and people Of the Common.
wealth and more esIeesly to the entire Bar Of Masea
cbusetts, my hearty thanks for the kind and marked
respect with which they have unitormery bonored and
cbeered me personally from the first moment of my
appointment 10 the present time end more especially
for the confding ard ndllgentl might also say the
forbeariDg spirit in which my professional brethren
have regarded al my efforts toward tne performances
of the great duties with which have been intrused
Be aseured my friends this is sudden
feeling awakened by strong expressions OF regard Incl
dent to the close Of of judicial Atom
has rather resulted from my recollection OF constant
intercourse which has actually existed between )adge
and advocate in trials sometimes involving the most
interesting and exciting topics and leadn TO earnest
and animated debate. IT. upon such or any similar oc.
casion a momeniary spark OF resentment was excited
auy supposed wrong, am happy TO believe ,hat the
feeling was but mNmentary yielded to any reasonable
explanation and was forth with forgotten This abid-
ing reliance upon the good will OF my professional as
socstes the advocates at the bar TO 90 Justice to my
motives. and TO thlnk IaNOraDly OF my
was early and deeply impressed upon me- impressed,
indeed nth 40 much force and effect TO become
practical ground of relief aud comfort IN the perform
ance of responsible duties. the weight OF when
would have otherwise been almost too oppressive TO be
borne.
But now that my judicial labors are finished, and
the RESPONSIBILITIES attending them have Terminated,
nothing could be more consoasory to my feeNngs IMAM
the deliberate approval Of my Judicial course by those
ruost conyerssnt with the contests aud struggles OF the
fomp-most concerned in maintaining the justice ana
efficiency, as well as the honor and dignity, OF our
capable of forming true estimate
of judicial character
G4rtlsmep in this slight retrospect Of my judicial
course. indeed in reviewing the whole course Of my
life desire in this solemn hour TO express my sincere
and devout gratitude 10 that beDlgnant and oyeTuing
Providence who has crowned my days with lnnumer-
able blessings without whose sustaining AID all hu nan
strepRh is but eakuess and the highest human exer-
tons but vanity. May the smiles OF that Divine Provl
dence ever rest upon the administration OF justice ana
on ali the great civil and socis interests OF our beloved
Commonwealth, to invigora'e the minds 10 warm the
hearts and enghteD the confciences OF all those ell
gagged in their administration.
Gentlemen OF the Committee, my brethren, sssoci-
ates and friends recognize in you the represen-
tatives of the Bar of Massachusetts, and IN meeting
you for the last time feel that it is no Meeting OF
strangers In regard TO most OF the members OF our
profession indeed oil of them who approach my own
nosiliop in point of age have bten aseocatsd with
them not only in the labors of common and honor
able in the interesting connection OF Judge
and advocate in the actual administration OF Ice,
but in the relations of friendship and social
1t IN consciousness Of this relation and not hope
Won will believe me- in any feeling OF arrogance that
receive with grats ful satisfaction the very strong
expressions of commentator in winch you sum up
your estimate of my official cous know tl9 sOurcs
whence originates and the feelings which clothe and
accompany it ard the purpose if intended to accom-
plish; and have vet to learn that an approving Jnog
ment is ess the true exponent OF the mlno ina uterS
it, less dear TO one on wnom IL 10 bestowed, 9ecause
,,f,adh x-tl 40 pniO
with The glow of afiectionate feeling. The ,ermlna.
ton of the interesting relations which have so long ana
uninterTupedy continued, seems Mt occasion Tor lay
ing aside reserve and speaking from the lulhesS anu
sincerity Of the heart.
Gentlemen, pardon me in glancing moment at the
future 40 far ST least TO express hope and prayer
for the continued prosperity Of institutions TO which
our lives have been dedicated. My nope rests on te
enlightened character Of the people OF Massachusetts,
Rave already, from my own experience 81 the haoiV-
nal respect of this community for the judiciary and us
officers spoken of the support and encourage men!
which il has afforded under the weight OF Jadlcal
responsibilities. .....o =
believing these favorable regards to proceed from any
consideration personal TO myself. No, gentlemen,
believe and rejoice in the conviction, th3t RODE
yeueration for the Judiciary department OF our Hee
government ana respect for those 10 wAom u s el-
trusted is the psrvadng sentiment Il the great oody OF
the fretmen # Massachusetts that 1t nourishes ga
suetaIs IN abiding conservative pcDGpie, iaVO'ao'e
10 the incepeBdsnCe and stability OF the Jnolcsry' us
rho foundation of public peace and the security OF phi
yaie rights Much very much, wss done by the Wi+e
founders OF Commonwealth 70 gave IOrce anu e4'
feet to those principles and TO maintain the Just power
of the Judiciary as the essential elements OF good gov
eminent.
If amid the gues ard whrlwinds OF political VIC,
erce of personal rancor and party rage, passion aud
force for the time bear rule may we not s Wen nope
that the calm reflection, the abiding reflection oil t1e
sober men OF tie Commonwealth will resume Their
syay AID enable q Trustworthy Judiciary To- MAINTAIN
tbe lafetv Of the Safe. Above all let us be careIm
how We dspsrage the wisdom ct our ltrheis, ~ pro-
yidirQ for tie appointment to Judicial office, IN hxng
the tenure Of Office and Masking judges as Tree, .,
martial and independent as the 1T OF hun anty WIZ
admit Let no plausible deusive hope OF oD'aln.
ing larger liberty, let not the example OF any o.Iei
State lead you ia this mater 70 desert yVul on Ia;
ment of others shall have demonstrated me csuohsh
ment of a Judiciary wiser and more sold toan our
own. f.fos.
Gentlemen. in terminating long course OF probes
sional and judicial life and IN takiog leave OF tloso
whom have 70 long abored in the study aud practice
of the law and in the administration oil justice "I
hapry 20 bear sroug testimony 10 my hlgh sepsI VI
the Influence and power of the legal proiSsoioh "
honor integrity and Conscientious reg'rd 70 us'! a
its true characteristics. On you genusmehi anu w.
associates and successors the proessei ministers VI
the law it depends TO maintain this character rlo o
your ranks subject to your training, must be ara &
tbose who re called 10 the office OF lo1gei III LUZ
the value sno efficiency Of the Jurisprudence OF a
chusetts are committed 20 your charge hhu ID, zoe e
earne,t hope and prayer for yourselves ana succees
and for all the people of our beloved Commoh"cals,
IL that through an honorable practice OF tho hN 80
faithful COMMUNICATION of Justice they may ions -
time 10 epioy the inesusbe blessings OF liberty, eai0
" and peace.
'Bo,ton, Sept 10, 1860.
m, IT.. rno, A narsoraph is going the ROUNDS,