Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-01-11
Death of Judge caleb IL. smith.


TBseSSSma6ity we're startled on Thursday exc
ming with the announce ment of the the sudden i'll
ness and dscease OF the Hon OAtEssB. SnlrH,
Judge or the Dstrct Court of the United States
for the District Of Indiana. He had been indis
posed for several months. but yesterday morning
be stated to his son. while he was driving from
his residence to the Court room, to attend to his
Official business, his Court being in session. that
he felt better thar he had for long while. He
retired to his Office and il Is supposed tbAt he
burst a blood vessel in ft of coughing, to
which he,was subject. occasioning hemOrrhage
os the ssDrnaeh. He was found in this condiiion
BY porter who opened his door TO attend to his
Ere. The alarm was Immediately given. and
every ef,,rs that his family. his friends and his
medical advisers could render for his relief
proved unavailing. He fingered until o'clock
IN the evening when he expired, fully conscious
of his approaching dissolution. ( y s-
Judge SxrsH was fty six wears old He
was born in Massachusetts. When at early
age his parents removed to Cincinnati, where be
rssidesi until be was twenty one years old He
then went 70 C5nnersyIIe, this State, and studied
law with the late Hon. G H SxIrH. The latter
thus described the personal appearance aud adj
dress Of the former at the time: s f.s.
"One day was sitting in my Office at Con-
nersvile, when there entered small youth,
about Eve feet eight inches high. large bead. thin
brown hair. light blue eyes, high, capacious fore
head aud good features, and introduced himself
as Caleb B Smith. IRON Cincinnati He stated
his business in h-ping tone He had come to
read law with me, If / would receive him. 4
assented TO his wishes, and he remained with me
until he was admitted TO practice, and commenced
his professional well his political career, at
Connerssi!Ie He rose rapidly at the bar. was
remarkably fluent. rapid and eloquent before the
jury, never loss for ideas, words To
press them; If he had fault "a an advocate. it
WIS that he suffered his nature to press forward
his ideas for ulteraBce, faster than the minds Of
the jurors were prepared to re Give them; still
be was very successful before the court and
jury" eseA rr
Those who have seen Judge SNrrH and knew
him will recognize the laithlulnesS of the fore
going portrait. For over thirty years Judge SMITH
was Identified with the public history and public
affairs of Indiana He was one of the Fund
Commissioners appointed in 1887 or g to settle
the Outstanding Indebtedness due the State arts
ing from the sale of her bonds. He was Rep
reseneative in the Legislature and was elected
Speaker Of the House; he represented his district
in Congress two terms and subsequently on
the commission with Messrs CoRwIN and PAYNE,
under the Mexican treaty About 1850 Judge
SMITH became interested in the Junction Rail-
road Company, was elected its President, and he
removed to Cincinnati to discharge the duties
that position devolved upon him aud to pursue
his profession About year previous to the last
Presidential election Judge SMITH removed to this
city, made it his residence and entered upon the
practice of his profession. Upon the accession oil
Mr.. LrScoLS TO the Presidency, he selected Judge
SMITH as one of his official advisers. appointing
him Secretary of the Interior, and for nearly two
years he discharged the arduous and responsible
duties of this position, during The most trying
period 10 the history of the country, with the
ability that ever had distinguished him Falling
health admonished the deceased that he was
physically unequal to the task imposed upon him.
He retired from the Cabinet and the President
appointed him. just about year ago. Judge of
the District Court I the United States for the
District of Indiana. as the successor of the la
mented HUxrINeroS. and alasl how soon he fol-
lows him
Judge SMITH discharged every public position
to which he was called with dignity. ability
and in accordance with his convictions of duty
As public speaker he was graceful, forcible
and eloquent and as \ stump orator he had but
few Superiors In politics he was a Wing, de-
bandmeHt Of that noble party he follow
ed the radical portion into the Republican
ranks. The natural tendency of Judge SMIrn's
mind was to conservatism, and he generally so
expressed himself especially the last year or two
in his private conversations upon the difficulties
of the country. but the surroundings of party in
Auences guided his public action into the radical
channels. While Judge SMITH was not profound
or learned, be possessed comprehensive mind
which reIdily grASpei the subject to which it was
directed, with the rare faculty cornhnel OF giving
utterance to his ideas in language appropriate,
eloquent and exhtusting, illustrating them
with the charms Of oratory. In the private re-
Istons Of life Judge SMITH was most genial, gen
erOus and courteous In his death his family
lose devoted husband. kind and indulgent
father am, the community COOL and valuable
citizen Rapidly are passing away the public
men identified With the eaVIy history of Indiana.
One after another falls by the way side. and in a
short time they viii all be gathered to their
fathers
But few die a did Judge SMITH. In appar-
ent improving health while in the discharge OF
his official duties, with the robes of office upon
him. and almost within the Court room, he
crossed the narrow line which divides time from
eternity. THOMAS ADDS EMMETT dropped dead
in the court room as he closed an able speech in
an important case. IoHS QUINCY ADAMs
fell in the Hall Of the House and his spirit
passed away in an adjoining room. In looking
upon the nanimate form of one who thus dies
we can say with the poet:
The boast Of heraIdry, the pomp Of power.
And all that beauty. all that wealth e'er gave,
Await alike the inevitable hour,
The paths Of glory lead but TO the grave.