The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-12-20

Ottumwa Bar to Judge Town
send, ON his retiring from the
Bench.
BE it remembered that at meeting of
the members Of the Bar aud officers of
the Court of the city Of Ottumwa convcn-
ed in the Court House in said city on the
first day of Dec. 1862 upo. the occasion
Of the termination of the Judicial labors
Of the Hon. j. s. Townsend Judge of the
second Judicial District of the State of
Iowa committee was appointed to pre-
pare an address on the occasion which
was prepared accordingly and unanimous
ly adopted and now on this 9th day of
Dec. 1862 il being the last day of said
Court the same was presented ant deliv-
cred to his Hon. Judge Townsend in
open Court as follows, to>wit:
SIR The time having arrived when
you are to relinquish the high Judicial
functions which you have SO ably exerci-
sed the members of the bar and officers
of Court of the city Of Ottumwa desire to
comply with the seeming obligations of
duty as we'll as the dictates of their own
hearts by expressing to you their senti-
ments on this interesting occasion. In
the regrets which are experienced at
the termination of labors which have
been fraught with SO much honor to your
self and such varied usefulness 10 the
community VIC most deeply participate.
Called to the duties of the Bench at
time when the spirit of innovation had
wrought out some Of the most radical
changes in that grand old system of COM
mon Law which is the noblest inheritance
Of an American. your path was beset with
new difficulties calling for the highest de-
gree Of practical wisdomand the most ac-
curate discrimination.
We desire to say that we have felt and
acknowledged the industry and zeal with
which you have at all times applied the
energies and resources Of a most active
and vigorous mind to the discharge of the
duties of your position under those more
than ordinary trying and difficult circuu-
stances. But not less is our gratitude,
and that of the community due to the f.
deity, the honesty Of purpose and the
simplicity with which amidst these irk-
some duties you have ever kept in view
the great cause of truth and those princi.
pies which lie at the foundation Of enlight.
ened justice.
The relationship between us which is
now about to close has enabled us to
large extent to be witnesses to the irk-
somness of those duties and the Difficult
ties of those labors which it has been yours
t, perform and while we cannot hope
that the duties on our part have been so
performed as to rend err that relationship
at all times, source Of comfort and
pleasure to your honor we cannot but as.
sure you that we shall ever look back up
on it rs a most important School Of our
experience and the source whence we
have received the most valuable lessons of
practical instruction.
Accept, sir, our most cordial wishes for
your future prosperity and happiness.
NJ. j. Williams, +. II. Stiles,
S. F, Clark, A. w. CASTOR,
II. Il. Hend.rshOtt Hugh Brown clerk,
A. Harris, ID. F. Gaylord dep.
=. l.. Burton, l.. f. Gray Shift.
5. w. Summers, A. NJ. Bonnifsld
j. W. Dixon. John D. Dsvin,
j. I. Hackworth, 7. Bingham,
Judge Townsend responded as fol-
lows: E
Gentlemen Of the bar and officers of
the Court.
With no ordinary feelings 1 have re-
ceived your address, expressing your re-
gard aud kind wishes for me personally
aud your approval of my Judicial course,
and regrets at the separation of our relative
positions. @a. a@
Comparatively stranger ] come among
you, distressing my ability to meet with
your expectations. Our intercourse with
each other has ripened, trust, into re-
eiprocal kind regard. Always kind and
courteous, scrupulously sustaining from
any act or word calculated to wound feel
ings, you have now not only my conf
dence but my highest regards. s
To yuu gentlemen members of the bar.
] am deeply indebted for the assistance
you have given me, being the results Of
your learning industry aud experience
TOR which feel thankful and grateful. In
after life, in looking over my Judicial Ca
reer, no p, rtion OFF will afford more
agreeable reflections than that spent with
the Ottumwa bar and officers of the
,ourt
Errors, many and grave ones, perhaps,
have committed, but you have kindly
attributed them to the judgement and not
n the heat knowin0 that To err ia human