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

uatiOn tnen IN power called hlm To NIL the posi-
ton of Commissioner of the General Land Office
This Office he held but a short period. But brief
as was his discharge of its duties yet his ability
kindness and winning manners left an impression
at the Capital which time has not vet effaced
The clerks of that Department, when he retired
from il, manifested their appreciation of his high
qualities in handsome and enduring testimonial.
Indeed, / have been unable to find any portion of
Judge Huntington's career, either ia public or
private life, which fails to give marked and sin
gular evidence of the warm personal esteem of
bis fellow citizens.
During the year le4l, however. the death of
Judge Holman left the Office of Judge of the
District Court of Indianavacant
1t was rendered to Judge Huntington, and he
wisely accepted it Here commenced the long,
the faithful, the brilliant career of Judge Hun
tington as judicial officer. In this capacity, he
was principally known for more than twenty
years by the people of Indiana. In this capacity,
his mind matured. his judgment ripened, and in
the conscientious and acceptable discharge of
his duties, he reached the full measure of his am
bition-tasted the full fruition Of all his hopes
He but thirty FIVE years of age when be put
on the ermine of this court, and though he fell
at the high noon of mental vigor and experience,
yet he had worn it during an ordinary
lifetime of activity and labor. It was upon
his shoulders when the insatiate archer struck
him down, anddt will descend to each successor,
identified with his name, his character, and his
influence.
In estimating the character Of Judge in. the
discharge of his duties on the Bench there are a
few very plain and obvious tests to be applied.
No man ever ascended to the seat of Judgment
with a view to his own aggrandizement and the
qualification of selfish ambition who was sue
ces ful in rearing up an unsulied fame as an i'm
IL L.. a.
right under all circumstances, Is the first and
important element of brilliant judicial career
Justice is blind when she poises her scales. She
sees neither of the suitors before her. They
bring their causes and weigh them without being
seen or known by the fabled Goddess. This is
Heather Mythology, tits true, but it most faith
fully pOrtrays the great moral scales which in
the hands of the single minded Judge determine
the claims of right and wrong in these davs Of
Christian revelation. He becomes blind to all save
theinward light of an enlightened conscience. He
sees neither friends nor enemies in those who
come to ask Judgment on their conduct Love
and hate are alike banished from his heart when
he assumes the awful task of judging his fellow
men. A deep and overwhelming sense OF respon-
sibility purges his breast of all passion and preju
dice, the cOmmO;i inheritance of us ALL and ele
Yates his mind for support and guidance upwards
towards the source and fountain of all wisdom
He bends his lips towards the inspiring waters of
"Siloa's brook. which flows fast by the oracles
of God" This deep moral sense, this keen and
active appreciation of right and WRONG, this blind
devotion to the principles of omnipresent and
eternal Justice is the broad enduring basis, the
majestic rock on which judicial eminence has
been founded in every age of civilized jurispru-
dence Mansfield and Hale built upon it. Mar
shall and Story. and all the great lights OF Amer
ican Jurisprudence have done the same. The
pedestal of fame springing upward towards the
sky from such foundation never falls Storms
beat on it in vain. The lightnings are harmless
against its head. 1t is as immortal and imperish-
able as justice ITSELF for the spirit of justice ami
mates all its parts.
Judge Huntington often dwelt, in his conver-
sation. and especially with young men, on this
essential element of Judicial character; and was
himself a most perfect example of Its complete
and beautiful development. How unmeasured
was his devotion to the demands of iusticei
How unclouded was his vision when he surveyed
the equities of a case! Nothing obscured his
moral perceptions. Who of us will ever forget
his easy. temperate. cool, and impartial bearing
upon that benchl He was never lost, obscured
confused in following and calculating the great
fundamental principles which governments
laws. and social order all depend He tried
everything by primary truths. by Just principles,
and then turned to the law not as "A code of
barren and technical rules, but as the perfection
of reason" for authority to support him in his
conclusions.
Much has been said and much has been written
in regard TO the various kinds of legal ability,
which we find at the bar and on the bench Opin
ions differ on this subject just minds are diff
ferently constituted. 1t is said of Chief Justice
Marshal. that he often delivered most important
opinions, and at the close requested brother
Judge to find the authorities to sustain him.
His decisions were drawn from general princi-
pies, which, like the demonstrations of the physi
cal sciences, cannot lead us into error. To re-
member the book the page and the case in which
some other court has made a similar decision, is
a mere effort Of memory; but to determine what
the law is in the light of reason and Justice, re-
qures the exercise of the lofest attributes of the
human mind. In one case we simply appropri-
ate very properly. it is true. the labors of other
men In the othercase we launch out upon our
own strength and come in laden with the rich
spOils of original thought. To combine these
two qualities of professional life, is to make the
perfect lawyer but if one has to exist without
the other. then the mind which is guided and
governed by general principles, has all the ad-
vantages.
Judge Huntington was, in very marked and
eminent degree, an original thinker, and con
trolled in his judicial capacity, by general
principles. growing out of the reason and
ssture of law / have often known his decisions
sustained by authorities, examined and produced
after the decisions were made. He had followed
the science. the reason, the spirit of the law and
that is always harmorius. consistent and Just.
If l may be allowed an expression. often used by
him, he was a devout believer in the plain and
familiar maxims of common sense, and always
Brought them to bear in the discharge of his of,
fetal duties Will any one say that such traits of
mental character make an unsafe iurist? Let
the records of this Court for more than twenty
years answer the objection. Perhaps not in the
United States can there be found so long line
of decisions, with so few of them disturbed by
higher Court, is presented here in this theatre
OF Judge Huntington's labOrs. His fame as a
ripe, learned and profound jurist rests
upon no slight or accidental basis Every
legal question that ever came for solu
tion into court of justice was presented to the
analysis of his mind. Every variety of interest
was pressed upon his judgment A Bar, second
TO none in the United States crossed their blades
in many fierce encounter in his presence. Above
him was that august tribunal of ultimate resort,
the Supreme Court OF the United States to re-
wise and correct his errors. Itwas matter of honest
and commendable pride with him, that, under these
circumstances, he could look back upon a record of
decisions almost untouched by the revision of
superior Court Such career can only be
achieved by great ability. Our profession is one
in which distinction cannot be attained without
merit. The empty pretender must seek other
fields. Solid, patient, and laborious ability can
alone climb the ladder of legal eminence Esei-
mating the professional career of Judge Hunting
ton in this light, he will forever stand in the his
tory of Indiana, and 10 the history of the Fed
eral Judiciary, as one of their brightest legal or
naments.
But it was not merely as the presiding officer
of this court that we knew and admired Judge
Huntington. He loved and upheld the law not