The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-01-09
No. 6

his rsre intellect is ;ndeiihly stamped.
| The opinions Of Judge Baldwin in tbia
/ class OF cases are monuments OF legal
learning; they are more, they exhibit the
| highest qualities Of legal mind, aud above
all. they show how nas;fest'y were thu
eternal principles Of right and justice, the
| governing attributes Of his clear, legal,
! philosophic mind.
! 10 say that Judge Baldwin was deeply
! read in his profession, would 10 but fee
BILE mode OF expressing his thorough and
accurate knowledge Of the great element
airy principles Of the law, and which we're
Iso iueradieablc Exed in his men1ory, that
he never was At a loss in applying them to
any given legal proposition with an accu-
racy and quiekness that have seldom, if
ever, seen equaled. His memory was
great store house of legal learning, not
jumbled toseatherin proiaiscuous confn-
sion, but garnerea away in perfect order,
and always fit and ready for practical ap-
plicstien.
I 1t is not, however, as a jnrist alone that
the name Of Judge baldwin will be known
to posterity: when he was comparatively
young. nlaa, he had established an en-
yisble rndwide spread literary reputation
| first as the author Of the entertaining vo-
hume go we'll known, as illustrating with
wit and hulAor the characters Of the resi-
dents ofthoseStaies, entitled Flush Times
in Ala5a:aa and Mississippi" These
| sketches attracted 50 much attention
that he WAS encouraged to publish the
| voulame called sI'artisan Leaders," por-
traying with great skill and power the
characters OF our most eminent esateslnant
OF that day. But when it is known that it
| was only his leisure hours he devoted to
his literary labors, and then more for re-
taxation aud amusement then with the ex-
pectation OF achieving lasting fame, the
wonderful and rich endownenss Of his
mind can never he fully appreciated A
man til more rare, useful, entertaining
or cultivated intellect, and whose preju-
dices even were tempered with moderation,
aud always subject to d prudent discretion,
is seldom met with in q generation and it
is no misapplic;st!on Of words when ] Eay
thatin the death ofJudge Baldwin, "a great
men has fallen" It is not saying too much
to add that no man has been taken from
among Us whose death has SO sensibly at
facted the members Of the bar. The large
meeting OF the bar On Saturday last their,
resolution and the eloquent tributes Of
honor and respect paid to his memory
by these who h;a kno~n him longest and
intimately, the deep feeling of sadness
which pervaded every countenance, their
general at enhance at his funeral, the ad-
journment of the Supreme Court at Sacrs-
nlento, the attendance Of its members in
body, and his remains having been borne
to their last resting place by the hands Of
those who had bcen on the bench with him
and by other devoted friends, all testify
more forc:bly then words can express, the
profound respect ofthe Judiciary and ths
bar for the deceased jurist and author.
And may God temper this great bereave-
ment TO those who have the heartfelt SYM
pathy Of the bar, and as believe, Of our
citizens generally.
Who that hss ever enjoyed the charm
Of his social hours. can ever forget his
lnexhaustible fund of aneedote, his bril-
Liant Wit, his genial humor, his keen rs.-
pastee, THAT were wont to set the table in
a roar" But how free We're all his sallies
from malice or unkindness his arrows
though sharp and piercing were never
poisoned, the very objects Of his attack
were charmed with his spirit, aud we're
psver wounded by his spoitive assaults
ii ,o..ncCo, re- No
nature libAralto fault, always open heart
ed snd open handed. and as friend he
stood without reproaeh. But he is gone"
The golden bowl is broken, and the silver
cord is loosea' When, oh when, shall
we look upon his. like again? Peace be
to his ashes, and to his memory, immor-
talisy!
10 which Judge Field responded SUBJ
'stantiaily as follows:
The resolutions adopted by the Bar of
this city III relation to our deceased friend
and brother. are cordially asssntsd to and
fully concurred in by this Court. The
sentiments they express are.an appropri-
ate aud just tribute to the memory Of
good man, and an eminent lawyer and
Judge.
Our brother possessed intellectual quail
tiles which commanded our admiration;
aud moral and social qualities which en-
deared him to all who had the happiness
Of his aoquaintanes. His mind was ons
of great natural vigor, and it was enrich
ed with the learning of his profession, and
by the attanments of the scholar To
his eminent abilities and learning lie ad-
ded the incest sense Of professional honor,
aud the strictest integrity and an unfai!-
ing conltesy OF manner.
As Judge, he has had no superior in
this State He was elected one of the
Justices Of the Supreme Court in the fall
OF 1858. and on the second OF October Of
that year took his seat on the bench. II
vas my happiness TO oe associated with
ilm during the three years ard three
months in i!ch ne continued to discharge
the duties Of his Office. During that Pc
riod the calendar was crowded with causes,
involving interests Of great magnitude,
and questions Of vast Importance, and in
the discharge Of his duties unexampled
difficulties had to be encountered. There
were rights and contracts afiaing underline
civil law, modified by Mexican usages and
Mexican legislation, to be enforced there
was the common law to be declared from
tie conflicting decisions of different courts
in the United States and England. Our
relations with tae countries of Eastern
Asia brought new questions hefare the
Court; and for the great mining interests