Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-12-22

the fact that the professional and judci. labors a law
yers and judges are generally bestowed upon matters Of
mere prvee concern and individual interest,", and how
important and useful TO the pa-ties themselves,
cite but little interest in the public mind Much the
larger part OF Judge Co amets professional life had
passed before knew him personally for he had been al
ready three years upon the bench Of supreme
when came TO the bar in 1885 From that time until
his retirement from the bench In 1912 was praotiton-
or efore the OF witch he wAsa member During
the short period that elapsed between his retirement
om the lover House OF Congress and his return the
bei CHI in 1857 he resumed the practice ofhis profession
and during that time I was member Of the supreme
court OF the State Under the organ zson Of the
judiciary Of the State In 1850 Judge Colsmer made
Judge Of the second Judicial circuit and held that office
until his election to the Senate In 1854 During this
period held the office for the fourth judicial cir
cut and Il was dur ng THIS time only that was EVER
br ught into very intimate personal relAtona With him
i Earn from members u the profession who con-
temporary with Judge Colamtr in the earlier portion Of
his professional that his natural abilities togeth
e. with bis thorough and accurate knowledge Of the law,
obtained BY close apple and sud his diligence
and hthuness in attending to the interests Of his clients
and especially his unswervng honesty and integrity coon
brought to him large professional employment and that
his sphere Of practice and rtpu alton steadily enlarged
up the time he left the bar for the bench He was
ever exact and tho ough in his prepaau n TO the NAL
lest details and In the conduct Of trials always
wachiu that no proper resentaton or argnment bene.
ial TO his client should be omitted. Nor did he
tail to see aud TO avail himself Of all proper advsnu
given him, either BY the weakness of his Adverserys
cause OF by any lack Of professional ,kll shown in It's
support But his practice Of the law honorable and
manly he never sought advantage for his cects cause
by the Of craft and cunning often resorted by
less seTupuous membe Of profes sion But Il was
more in his character as advocate that his peculiar
and characteristic fairness exhibited He always
presented every lee innate argument in favor Of his
foTcibly aud effectively.
But he orted to subtle snd ingenious soph
tries TO Disguise and conceal dshonts, cause
trap and be~ildei The tfieis. His lyle and as
an advocate, especially before ures peculiarly his
own. His presep tAon Of q Jury cool,
deliberate, and dis assonAte as his argument Of dry
question Of law fore the court question Of public
III aI.lf fhaa apua
or pref dces u his auditors whoever they were but
sought always 70 move aud convince their judgments
He abhored and deesed every form Of dec 1t and false
hood in others, and disdained the Of il himself
Such an advocate was Of coutGe listened TO with
the highest respect aud his received all that
titled them
Judge Collamtr came to the bench ripe, tho oughly
uaned LAWYER HIS popularity as judge was all that
eNuld have been exrected fom Of hts talents and
attsinments lie especially fortunate aud gifted as
presiding judge at jury til His ready and ate
snoNdse OF the law his teen ana quick apprch nsion
hi extensive Acquaintance with and the motive
and incentives 20 human conduct and especially hi.
strong add ntutye love Of justice enabled him
to master case detect the true from the fall and
without apparent effort, to make the truth Of the
manifest 10 others. His manner and department upon
the bench we're always kind and consdsrst he listened
patiently to even slow and poddiug councillors endeav
oiiug to explain and illustrate what he already saw
clearly
He was ever prompt, fearless aud inf ,1 bic in his de
oisions with nothing Of timidity fayorsm Away
so painful when exhibited the bench IL is saying
more han the ruth, thar he one Of the siieen
and satisfactory nii riu judges who upon the
bench.
His pub ished opinions while dge Of the suprem,
court models Of Judicial ostons For accurac,
OF learn ng, terseness Of statement cesrness and
prthensiyeness Of style, do not know where they
exctlled
Had Judge Colamer remained upon the bench to tn,
end Of his life, like Chief Justice shaw Of
or Chief Justice Gibson OF Penn Sl,ania, have ne
doubt his judicial fame would have equaled that Of IN
eminent juists.
have need to speak OF Judge Collamsr in bis mor
private and personal reatonsor ofhs and
qualities and gifts social companion All Vho wer
ever assocatd with him in any capacity will all
loving remembrance Of his kind and genial BIZ
hteu 40 rsasapt wit his love fund Of antcdoe
uls uunts as a Iusf and ~oi father as citz zen an,
christian, were ever faithfully cvuseientiousy fl
filed. '' -
In brief sir, have known any man who cam
neaer attaining the fu measure Of what believe u
have been the Of my predecessor In the per
Torrance Of all the duties Of life from the humbes
the highest, to be just before and his fellow
men
The people Of his aud my State have held him II
the highest respect; they mourn his loss in },
with the shoe DAt and they cherish in lhei
hesrts the memory II his VII dom and his virtues
Fortuna may each Of us slider himself II at tn
end OF tn journey OF life he be able leave behind hin
reputation so full Of usefulness. and character pun
and unsuled.
The resolutions we're unanimously adopted; and tn
Senate adjourned.