The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-05-13
RESOLUTIONS or TIE BAR.

"Being assembled TO express our grief for
the sudden death OF the President Of the Re-
public 10 mourn fJr the loss OF an eminent
member of our profession, and to pay merited
tribute of respect to he memory OF Abraham
Lincoln, we his brethren Of the Bar do
''I2ssoirs lst, That deeply deplorc the
irreparabEe loss which the nation has sustain
ed in this irving hour of lis history, by TIE
melancholy d.ath OF lis listfnguis ed Chief
Magistrate. That 1t Is with tine most pro-
found sorrow that par; with bsptber
member OF the Bar who has so long occupied
an exalted position among us-oHe whose
great ability. uu beuIishod integrity, and kind
and genial nature have commanded 50 much
of the respect. admiration and love OF our
profession, and that with the most sincere
grief we mourn for the death OF whose
inestimable social qualities have 50 eudearei
him 20 US a man.
"2d, That copy Of these resolutions BE-
presented 20 the SuiIcne Cou:t oi the STATE
of Illinois, nov in session, with quest III at
they he spread upon its records. and tGat a
copy be sent 10 the Secretary of Stale OF the
United States, anu another copy 10 the ,anI!y
of the deceased, aaI thai, - the members oi
his family we tender oar heartf ltsympIthy i in
their sad aiIliction, and oar kiudest and best
wishes for their iutu e prosperity
In tie performance of the sad dutv. both
precedent and proPririy viii justify me III add
ing few words, though bat a icw, 10 what Is
expressed N these resolutions. Ia any other
position | mish; b7 perm ttcd to speak Of Mr..
i,ncoIu as he 3 known to every iuhabitaut
of this broad ilsd, aud he wlIl be known
III history IL all ialure tme-.s frs7ide"t n.
the Uri;et States .. .-... ..s ri
Little more than fnir years ago he was by
the voice OF the \ American people taken from
among Us at this bar and placed over lis
great nation In administering the affairs OF
this Government be has. un louDte liy, display
ed "a very high order vi ability.
At the very conmercement of his admin
jstraiion IA great rebellion broke out and pre-
seuted the question whether the light of this
republic which had foF few years shole so
brightly vas but the brilliant ia h of a me
tsor to illuminate the polir cal horizon of i
civilized wori,I for but a moment, and then
90 out in darkness, or was the fixed shining
of lumInary which should point out to fu,
ture ages the pa hway to liberty, pros. .erity,
and happiness .-.
With the aid of great men, whose names
history viii write on the same page with his
own, and with the support of n patriotic peo-
pie, he had put down the rebeillonand already
saw the angel OF peace arising with healing
in his wings TO bless his native land, when
he was struck down by an assassn's hand.
He is mourned Ly whole nation as few have
been mourned before him.
But to others we must leave tie pleasing
task of speaking of him as the chosen ruler
of the nation While poets sing his praises
and orators proclaim, his greatness as a pub
lie man, it becomes US, his professional hreth
ren, who knew him better than stranger;
could know him, tn speak of him we knew
him in his profession.
For nearly thirty years was Mr. Lincoln s
member of this bar. But few of US are let
who preceded hi n. From very early peri
cd he assumed a high position in his profess
Iol. Without the advantage OF that menta
culture which Is afforded by a classical edu
cation, he learned the lay as science. M
ture endowed him with philosophic mine
and he learned and appreciated the element
airy principles of the law and the reasons WHY
they had become established as such Ii,
remembered well what he read because h.
fully comprehended it. He understood thi
relations of things and hence his deduction
were raIely wrong from any given state @
facts So he applied the principles of tn
law to the transactions of men, with grea
clearness and precision. He was close rea
soler. He reasoned by analogy and usuall
enforced his views by apt illustrations. Hi
mod. OF speaking was generally OF plal
and unimpdSsioned character, and yet he wa
the author of some of the most beautiful an
eloquent passages in our language. which /
collected together would form {. valuable cor
tribution to American literature Those wb
suppose NJ. Lincoln was destitute of imagl
nation or fancy know bat little of his menta
endowments In truth. his mind overhowe
with pleasing imagery. His great reputation
for integrity was well deserved The mos
prnetilious honor ever marked his profes
sional and private life. He seemed entire
ly ignorant of the arr of deception or of dis
stimulation His frankness and candor wa
one great element Of his character which cor
tributed to bis professional success. If b
discovered weak point in his cause he frank
ly admitted it, and thereby prepared the min,