Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-05-18

be lives in wider sphere than this. He has
given the example OF bis life to ALTO the old
for reflection and approval, and to the yonng for
study and imitation. II survives and will never
perish IL is so much of added treasure to the
true wealth Of the world Let us study, as be-
comes the part of wisdom. this example and profit
by the lessons which it imparts
Elisha Mills Huntington was born in Otsego
county, in the State OF New York, March 90,
A D., 1906.
He died in the city of St. Paul. Minnesota, on
the 26th day of October, A. d., 1862
At very early age Judge Huntington was
left by the death of his father without the advan-
tages of paterDa guidance and support To a
most intelligent mother however, he was greatly
indebted during his boyhood, for the promotion
Of those lofty traits Of character which greatly
distinguished him in the days of his manhood.
He paid grateful and tender tribute TO her memory
in every stage of his career. A kind and just
providence rewards the mother for her anxiety,
pain and care, IN the reverence and devotion
which men of cultivation and distinction always
cherish tor the sacred guardian OF their infant
minds, and the author of their earliest ideas
In 1922, when sixteen years of age. Judge
Huntington came west with bis brother Nathaniel
Huntington, older than himself. and settled
in the county of Vigo, in the then new
State Of Indiana Forty years ago the
unknown boy commenced the journey of
| life in the midst of the same generous commu-
niiy where but Yesterday, they and their descend,
ants laid him down to his last, long sleep and
planted flowers on his honored grave. There
was space of ten years, it is true, during that
time that hs made his residence on the banks Of
the Ohio; but when the angel of death darkened
bis door and bore away from his heartbstone the
light of his house and his heart, he came back
and sought repose admidst the scenes of his early
attachments and his early triumphs Upon my
introduction to him in the city of 1erre Haute,
he was just completing his return to that place
| shall never forget the mournful pathos and
beauty with which he alluded to that circumstance
II have come home, come home to stay have
been away ten years. but this has always been
home" Yes he came home to stay The day
vas closing; the evening shadows we're coming
gently but surely on; the curiew of life was toll
ing, and the exile instinctively 'homeward plod-
ded his weary way" The night has come, bur it
is full OF stars more beautiful than the day. His
labors are over and he is taking his rest at
home
Judge Huntington. in an eminent degree
throughout his life. enjoyed the public confidence
The people are safe and appreciative judges of
merit and integrity. At the very early age of
twenty-t three he was elected Prosecuting Attorney
of circuit which at that time embraced an ex-
terisive scope OF country and a peculiarly dis
tngushed array of legal talent. He was equal
to the position and laid the foundation of that
character for elearness and just discrimination
which was in after life so universally conceded to
him BY the Bar of Indiana. In 1881 he was elected
to the Legislature by the people of Vigo county.
and was twice reelected under the most fattering
circumstances But little is preserved of the
legislative proceedings of that early period, but
enough is known TO assure to Judge Huntington
n hiqh noSitiOn 70 tOOE af
the gifted and rising young men of the State As
very strong evidence of this fact, when he re-
tired from the Legislature he was elected BY that
body President Judge of the Judicial Circuit in
which he lived. To be selected at this early age
by those who were best acquainted with his legal
abilities to preside over a circuit i'm which law
yers, whose names are now historical. were then
in the full tide of their practice and the meridian
of their fame, is all the proof we need that this
advancement in the walks of his profession was but
the Just appreciation of substantial merit The pc
riOd of his service as Circuit Judge was always a
pleasant one for him to recall. He loved to summon
up its buried treasures of friendship association,
wit. learning and genius. The incidents of the
Court room thirty years ago, the intellectual
struggles of the forum, the trumphs and the de-
featS, the streams of classic elOquence shaking
the rude temple of Justice, unhappy now lost TO
all save tradition, the merry meeting of hopeful
and joyous spirits at the village tavern, the am
brosal nights, where Curran and his cotempora-
ries would have found congenial conversation,
where the attic taste of Erskine and Sheridan
would have fingered with delight over disquisi-
tons into history, poetry art and the philosophy
of life. all these were recalled by Judge Hunting
ton with beaming eye, and voice musical with
affectiOnate memory. 1t was easy to observe how
great personal favorite he had been with his
professional brethren. He would call over their
names one by one and recount their virtues
and their accomplishments with love which
showed that he himself had been by them be
loved. That period had been TO him invigo-
rating fountain of refreshment for the mind and
the heart And, indeed, where in all the expan-
sive fields of human action is found such lessons
of profound philosophical Importance as in the
practice Of the law? Where is human nature,
that mystery which has almost baffled the con
troll of the Deity who fashioned it, so fully pOr-
trayed. so wonderfully developed as in court of
justice? The depths to which it can descend are
there all fathOmed. The heart of mar which has
been pronounced past finding out there gives up
all its secrets. Murder there stands naked to be
studied in all its various moods Robbery, plum
der. theft there, with avarice, the mocking
fend who tempted them on. The extor:ioner is
there. and the faces of the poor which be has
sharpened there also. The broker and
dishonOred VOWS of the marriage altar are all
there paraded; and domestic grief and house
hold tragedies bring their tears to the judgment
seat of this earthly tribune. All that is sinful
and all that is weak in the nfrm nature of fallen
man, is poured into the ear of the Judge and the
advocate. But is this all that we learn of life
in the duties of the profession? Ifit was, the
mind of every lawyer would be dragged down
from the recognition of virtue TO the dark and
degrading belief of universal vice and depravity
Rut IL M Gptrif- ,f liubf ,,oll
as spirits of darkness. Virtue in the very hues
Of Heaven has here achieved its greatest victories
The true hero, with Gods OVID courage in bis
SOUL here fights the battles of truth and Justice,
bowed down 70 the earth by temptation, sorrow
and shame. The frail and shrinking woman
here displays the divinity of love and her kindred
to merciful master, by clinging with imperisha-
bic devotion to the scared and blackened ruin
who sits in the dock of criminals.
Who that has ever conducted trial involving
the all of wealth, the all of happiness, the all of
liberty, or the all of life of party. but has
witnessed at some stage of the drama, and from
some actor in the scenes, the highest exhibition
Of human virtue and the most sublime points of,
moral heroisml Whose eye has not mOistened,
whose lip has not trembled, whose breast has not
heaved at the touching, pathetic and perhaps al
most unconscious manifestation of the loftiest
attributes, the brightest glories of human nature,
by one whose unlettered mind left him no other
guide than the instincts Of true nobility.
The study of the true lawyer is his fellow
man as well as the written laws. This brings
knowledge of the world in its highest and noblest
sense; for of man and his varied interests and re-
lations the world il made. And he who has ac-
ouired this kind Of knowledge Of the world, will
never take a narrow or illiberal view of human
conduct. He will spend bis time in seeking for
matter of approval. rather than matter of con-
demnation. He will find excuses for the erring,
and carry a mantle of charity for fralty. He will