Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-04-06
Hsuor % Judso HcLean-Dar RTeeunr--
Aeffnu ~ eHe v,go-~.r. .Al r

on Resolutions, who retired, and soon after
presented the following report which was
adopted unanimously; or Hl
II has pleased God to terminate the mortal
life Of our friend and neighbor, John Nc
Lean, late an Asso late Justice of the Su-
preme Court ofthe United States. He died
at his late residence in Clifton, near this city.
Wednesday morning, full of years and OF
honors; man without reproach; a distin.
guished statesman; patriot untouched by
degeneracy; a learned, laborious, patient and
upright Judge; a benevolent and public
spirited citizen, in all the relations Of hus-
band, father, friend and neighbor, Affection
ate and faithful; a model Christian gentle
man. We sincerely mourn his loss. and
deeply sympathize with his family and rela-
tives in their affliction; and as a mark of
respect for bis virtues, his talents his at
tsinments, his exemplary life and character.
we will attend his funeral in body.
ResotUed: That copy of these proceed
lpgs be presented, by the District Attorney
of the United States of this district. to the
Circuit and District Courts Of this city, for
entry on their minutes.
ResolUed That copies be also presented To
the various courts Of this county, by the
chairman of this committee for entry on
their minutes,
ResolUed: That the Chairman of this meet
ing communicate q copy of the same TO the
family of the deceased
ReSoIUed' That the Secretary of this meet.
ing present copies to the several newspapers
OF the city, for publication. ~
Speeches were delivered by number of
prominent lawyers, but our space forbids us
publishing more than synopsis:
Judge Storer remarked that it was beau
tiful saying of the ancients, that we never
begin to live until we are dead, and upop
this occasion it applies with great propriety.
The many services of Judge Mclean are now
justly estimated. Forty four years aoo he
admitted me to practice at the Bar. Two wears
previous he had taken his seat upon the bench
OF the Supreme Court of Ohio. He gave me
the hand of friendship, and, encouraged with
his smile and advice my youthful and mex
perienced efforts. Those have ever been to
me cherished tokens of regard. l saw him
often, and knew him well but when he be-
came Supreme Judge, | was brought into
immediate communication with him. knew
his generous nature. He was all we could
look for as a model man he justified the
highest expectations of his friends and the
public. He was pre-. eminently great He
always preserved the equanimity of his tenn
per, and he so admirably composed the
elements of his physical and moral nature.
u,
acter was all harmony. In every act, civil
and judicial, public or private, he felt that as
q magistrate below he was responsible to
Him who was King above, and he SO regulated
himself that while he was performing his
duty to his fellow-men, he was continually
asking himself; Am performing my duty
to God? ?
In all time to come, whenever the his
torian or biographer shall collate the facts
IA g. l. i
vert to his memory, 1t will stand out as the
distinctive mark of his greatness that he
was an humble, devout sincere Christian.
Judge VIM. Johnston said: This, nv
friends, is solemn occasion; one which oc-
ours not more than once in the lifetime of
man. We come here to commemorate the
life, action and death of a common friend;
not merely to express regret that great and
good man has left us, but for the purpose of
transferring his good deeds to our children.
John Mclean has been in office all the
days of his life, as soldier, member of Con-
gress and head of the justal. He was the
hTst, as Postmaster General, to bring light
out of darkness, confusion out of disorder;
and in all of his positions--whether as a
member of the militia, or Associate Justice
of the Supreme Court ofthe United States
he has performed the several duties with
singular modeety, and without the slightest
ostentation. do not stand here, Mr. Chair.
man, to speak of him as learned jurist or
eulogize his genius as man. He had no
genius; with him patience, industry and So
Der sense supplied the place of genius. In
all the Offices he has held, he has conducted
himself with great purity. John Mclean
lived and died without being stained by any
honest man, leaving name in pure marble
whiteness, which will shine forever.
Judge Mclean, in his official capacity, re-
lied more upon common sense than the tech
nicalities of legal learning. He relied upon
the justice of the cause, backed by the sim
Plicity of common sense; and of all the
Judges, by far the smallest number of his
rulings have been overruled by the Federal
Courts.
He was q model man in all the relations
of life. He had merely enough of the dross
of human nature to identify himself with
man. He came to his end as each of US de-
sires to do. He was man of great human.
ity-not humanity in the general acceDtation
OF the word, but that humanity which makes
a man feel like man, realizing the brother
hood of the human race. He sympathized
with every one who was struggling in any
field of sefulness-cordially and without
reserve he would extend a helping hand,
and never fail to give merit where merit
was due. l stand here, and while could
not say as much for myself, and, probably.
not ss much for any other man, can say of
Judge Mclean, that there is no one whose
feelings he ever wounded by the utterance
of an unkind word. He was benevolent
man. / fancy that he never put in his
pocket 81 Of his income. He achieved
what not one in thousand Christians ever
attain: he exhausted his charities that were
known only to his God and himself.
He was model of a Christian gentleman;
his life preached sermons daily and hourly
to the world, and we can point the finger to
his character, saying, "There is a speci-
men-we recommend it as shining exam
ple."
We express our regret at the loss of this
man but after all, John Mclean lived long
enough. He lived to be an example of every
thing that was excellent. He had leave to
withdraw from this busy scene without ex-
hibiting any of the infrmities of age. There
are few men who pass the life of three score
years and ten but he, by great strength,
passed that period six years, without doing
any thing Of which his friends could be
ashamed. He accomplished his destiny,
lived to good old age, and then died. He
was but a probationer in this ife-lived well
here that he might live better hereafter.
Judge D. K. Este followed Judge Johnston,
and said, as he arose to his feet, that he did
not purpose to eulogize the deceased. He
had been early associated with Judge
Mclean, and he could cheerfully testify to,
as being correct all that had been said ofhim
on the present occasion. In early life he
was beloved by all who knew him, and in
his business transactions, ofwhatsoeVer kind,
he was aCtuated by the highest principles of
honor and integrity. In speaking of Judge
McLean's public life, Judge Este character
lied il as pure, manly and correct his exam
pie is legacy which we all should feel proud
to inherit. AS a lawyer and judge, he had
a clear and proper sense of his responsibility,
and in all instances he performed his duties
with courtesy, promptness and fidelity. Few
men have been before the world so long as
Judge Mclean, and few men have borne
their part so well. But we need not sorrow