Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-06-05

while Others anticipated its failure from the want
or loss of the necessary powers. Looking to the
conflicts Of jurisdiction that must arise our fathers
established the Supreme Court as the tribunal of
last resort in arising under the Constitution
OF the United States, or involving the construction
or validity OF laws enacted and treaties made un-
der their authority; and before it have come TOR
decision, questions touching the authority of the
Federal Government, the limit prescribed to its
jurisdiction, the purposes and powers of its depart
ments, and also the validity and force of State
constitutions and laws For the consideration and
decisions OF such questions, the Judges must not
only be learned jurists but also statesmen of pro
found wisdom.
Before that court appear parties of the highest
dignity. Where, sir, can we witness a scene of
greater moral sublimity than was exhibited few
years since, when in that court the great State of
Virginia was inpleaded by her r.poweriul neigh
Dor. Pennsylvania-not then "dssevered' nor
belllgerent, but Notwithstanding the nayi-
gable river which washed the territory of each:
and when the cause of difference was submitted
fer decision, not upon the ordeal of battle but ac-
cerding TO the laws of nations, as modified in
respect to the States, by their federal relations,
the Climax was attained when the judgment was
pronounced, and the parties bowed Their proud
helds in acquiesence and submission What other
court ever had before it more august parties or
QUESTIONS OF graver Importance? Because of the
Character and Importance of the court it has been
the wise policy OF the Government to select for
its Judges citizens OF the highest character, and
jursts Of the most profound learning, and the po-
sition has been esteemed of the very highest dig
nifty.
Is it net enough to say of Judge Mclean, as a
member Of the Supreme Court. that for thirty
one years he participated in the deliberations of
such mei, upon questions affecting the highest in
terests 1t the citizen and of the State; that where
success was of so difficult attainment he succeed
ed; and that from his home in the wilderness of
the Moth west. he arose to be peer among the
Judges Of the highest court in the world and that
his name goes down in history in connection with
that OF Marshal and of Story, and Of Taney?
His courts are over now the crier has pro-
claimed their adjournment, and lie himself stands
in the presence of that court where there
pleas to the Jurisdiction, where there no errors
of fact or of law, no judgments upon default or
nil dicit but only upon the very merits, and
where the judgments are final and without APP
peal. We may not follow his lofty spirit into
that dead presence, yet we have the as
suranct that well-spent life, and the humble
itith OF the Christian, are defences that fail not
May ,t'please your Honor. l now present the
resolutions, ask that they be read by the Clerk
ssnd that they be made part OF the records of
The Court.
RESOLUTIONS.
The following resolutions offered by Mr.. Hen
bricks, we're adopted by a committee appointed
for the purpose at a previous meeting of the bar:
Resotred That the members of this bar and the OIL
GERS Of this Court have heard with deep regret of the
death, on The 4h day of April last, of the Hon. John
Mclean lae OF the Associate Justices of the Supreme
Court of the United States and Presiding Judge Of this
Court.
Resored That entertain the highest veneration for
the memory of Judge Mclean jurst, man, and a
patriot As urt he was learned Judge digniiied,
al in and
and citizen his devotion to his country
bated.
Resoired. That Thomas A. Hendricks communicate the
proceedings of this meeting to the Circuit Court, in
session, and respectfully ask in the Of this meeting,
that they be inserted among its records.
Rsored, That the Chairman of this meeting transmit
copy to the family Of the deceased ard them OF
our coincidence account of the loss they have
tanned.
The resolutions we're ordered to be spread on
the records of the Court.
REMARKS OF HON. HENRY s. LANE.
If the court pleases and you gentlemen of the
Indiana bar, | will claim your kind indulgence
for few moments. while | add my feeble yet
honest and heart felt tribute to the memory oil
that great and good man, whose recent death has
caused our present meeting. Judge Mclean has
been intimately associated with the judicial his
tory of our State Tor more than thirty years
known, honored, loved, revered by all His
intercourse with the bar was always kind and
courteous, yet firm and dgnfed, a model Amer
can Judge, model Christian.
Gentlemen, his decisions remain to us an in
estimable legacy marked by untIring research
great learning, and embodying the highest and
purest principles of human justice They show
him to have been not only the great lawyer, but
the elevated far-seeing Statesman. 1t has beer
my good fortune to have met many of the mos
distinguished men of the Republic, and in all tina
constitutes the able lawyer, the uprghtjudge, thu
honest man, he was the peer and equal of tn,
most distinguished. true in all the rela
tions OF life; true to his social, religious profes
sional and civic duties. But eulogy is Idle. W.
shall best honor his memory by following his ex
ample and by emulating his virtues. The melan
choly event which now engages our attention
naturally recalls the memory of other distin
guished members OF our bar who have passe,
"from labor to reward" men whose genius an,
learning would have lnored and whose virtue
would have adorned any forum upon earth.
The names of Howard, Smith, Hinnegan
Rariden, Whitcomb, BlackfOrd, Houk, Moore
Mckinney. Sample, Parker, Quarles, ONeal
McGaughey, and many Others equally honore'
and worthy, can never be heard without jus
| pride and deep emotion by any true son of tn
| Indiana bar Within the last twenty five year
those great lights have been extinguished upol
earth, but the Christians hope assures that il
their far-of and happy home they shall shin
brighter and brighter, until the coming of tn
| "perfect day"
! But | will not trust myself to speak furthe
upon this subject. Your hearts speak for me
! There are times and occasions when words are
mockery-when the voice of nature is the elo
quence of silence. The sorrow which rests :
heavily upon the hearts of the immediate friend
and relatives of the honored dead, and which ha
so saddened the great heart of the nation, IS no
without It's circumstances of alleyiation; 9Th
dark cloud has still its silver lining" He die
after long life, adorned By every private vrtu
and distinguished by the most exalted public ser
vices, beloved and mourned by great people
He was spared the evil days to come; his eye
were closed in death before the storm-cloud Q
civil war had swept in desolation over his muc
beloved native land. Yet know, from persona
intercourse, that his last DAYS were full of gloor
and apprehension on account of the dangers whic
threatened the existence of that Government b
so much loved. shall never forget the last il
terview | had with him. shortly before he lei
Washington. He seemed to rise superior to hi
conditon-to forget himself and his suffering
in the burning patriotism aud lofty devotion I
the Union of the States and the liberties of tt
people. He died as he had lived, the SINGER
Christian, the true patriot. the great man.
REMARKS JUDGE HUNTINGTON.
The delth of Il member of the highest judicii
tribunal known to our Government. has awa,
been an event OF great public interest and impor
ance, and among the eminent jurists and patriO
who have held that position and are mon
i doubt if one has been more sincerely mourne
by the country than will be John Mclean, la'
presiding Judge of this circuit. For eightee
years have been accustomed to sit by his SIDE
this court; twelve months ago he was here and c.
hibited, as thought, an unusual physical vigo
could detect any abatement i'll his capaCi
for the business of the court. But death, whiC
comes sooner or later to ALL and which ever
yeir is robbing us OF some valued member of OF
profession, has at length claimed this illustriol
victim, but not until he had passed his three scO
} years and ten. and not until he had laid the ioul
: ds:ion of an enduring and noble fame by a Ion
public service illustrated b. high abilities and Il
, most lofty virtues To me his loss is persons
ailliction. for in intercourse. personal al