Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-05-20

great body OF the people, Who leved hin, anl
whom be loved Mr. Lincoln tr.nsferre.
iron the bar of that circuit to the ofce of PTesi
den, Of the Uuiled States. having been vithou
official position since be left congress in lS49 Ia
ell the elements that constitute the great lawyer
! be hsc few equals He vas great both at ME
prius and before an appellate tribunal II.
seszed the strong points OF q ca use, and present
| Ell them With clesrness snd great eonpActpess
| Hs mind vas logical aud direct. and be did no
indulge ia exlraneous discussion. Generslitie'
! and platitudes had no charms for him An
failing vein Of humor never deserted him, anc
be was always able to chain the attention oil
court and jury, when the cause vas the most IN
interesting, by the appropriateness OF his anec
dotes
HIS power OF comparison was large. and be
rarely failed in a legal discussion 20 use that
mode of reasoning. The frame work Of his men,
tai and moral being vas honesty. and a wrong
cause was poorly defended by him. The ability
which some eminent LAWYERS possess of explain
ing away the bad points of a cause BY ingenious
sophisiry, was denied him In order to bring
into full activity his great powers. il was neces-
ssry that he should be convinced OF the right and
Justice of the matter which he advocated. When
so convinced, whether the cause was great or
small, be was usually successful. He read law
books but little, except when the cause in hand
made il necessary, vet be was unusually self reli-
ant depending on bis own resources and rareycon
sulting his brother lawyers either on the manage
ment of his case in the legal questions in
VOWED Mr.. Lincoln was the farest and most
accommodating of practitioners. granting all ia
vofs which he could do consistently with his duty
to bis client, and rarely availing himself of an
unwsry oversight of his adversary.
He hated wrong aad oppression everywhere
and many a man. whose fraudulent conduct
undergoing review in court OF justice, has
writhed under his terrific Indignation andrebukes
He the most simple and unostentatious OF
men IN his habits, having few wants and those
easily supplied. To his honor be it said, that he
never took from a client even when the case was
gained, more than he thought the service was
worth, and the client could reasonably affOrd to
pay The people where he practiced law we're
not rich, and his charges were always small.
When he was elected president, | question
whether there was lawyer ia the circuit who
had been a, the bar as long time, whose
means were not larger. 1t did not seem to
be one of the purposes OF his life to accumulate a
fortune In fact. outside of his profession, he
had no knowledge of the way to make money,
ard be never even attempted it
Mr Lincoln was loved by his brethren of the
bar, and no body of men will grieve more at his
DEATH or pay more sincere tr butte To his mem
ory. His presence on the circuit was watched
for with interest and never failed to produce joy
aud hilarity. When casually absent, the spirits
of both bar and people were de-
pressed. He was rot fond of contro-
versy. aud would compromise a Law suit
whenever practicable Aud may be permitted
TO say here that the great qualities of his mind
and heart pre- eminentlv fitted him TO settle the
questions crossing out of this war. to retdjust the
displaced machinery Of government. and TO re
unite a divided people. War with him WAS sim
ply necessity for the sake of peace. Ii has
seemed TO me that the atrocity OF the crime
viii h deprived him of life was only excelled by
its folly. He loved his profession, appreciating
the high services always rendered BY it to the
cause of good govern ment and civil liberty. To
eucidate truth was . precious privilege with
him. and he was always glad to avail himself Of
il He was kind and gentle in bis nature. with
sympathies easily aw tkened. with charity for
all, and malice to none." harboring no resent
ment to opposing counsel, aud indulgent to his
Younger brethren
RMr Lincoln's whole life attests the strength
and sincerity of bis convictions. Although
ambitious. yet Office had attractions for him.
if attainabe through sacrifice of principle He
attached himself 10 party. when satisfied that
its views of public policy were correct. and the
circumstances that the party was in the minority
and could with difficulty win its way to the con-
ideace of the people. had no terrors for him.
Had he loved principle less and place more, he
would not have been without official station dur
ing the greater portion of his lite
He had fath--without which true greatness
does not exist. Believing in certain great prin-
ciples of government, he did not complain be-
cause for season, they we're unacceptable to
the people-having faith in their ultimate
triumph
Mr. Lincoln was daily growing in wisdom.
and greatness. and was fast gaining the con
6dence and attachment Of he whole American
people. he died at the most critical period in
the history of the nation, when it was apparent
that his country would be free from the curse and
disgrace of slavery. Had he survived to com
pete the work he had begun, it is easy to see
that the basis, which in his wisdom he should
thought proper to adopt to settle our difficulties,
would have been accepted by the country. and
that all factous opposition to his administration
would have ceased Hereafter the name of Al
raham Lincoln will be associated with that of
George Washington and the present and all flu
ture generations will equally honor and revere
them,
After the delivery OF Judge Davis remarks the
court adjourned until this morning.