Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-01-17

PORTRAITS OF EMINENT NERMONTERS.
Hon. Frederick E. Billings Of New
York, has presented to Windsor County
Bar an excellent portrait of Hon. Nor
man Williams, painted by B. F. Mason.
From the eloquent presentation address
of Mr.. Billings, which is given atlength
by the Woodstock Standard, we select
the following
at is a matter of profound regret,
am sure to you ali, that the painters art
was not early called in to preserve for
US Of to-day, and for those who are TO
come after US, the features Of those
prominent men those historic men Of
the Court. What a Qualification, what
O perpetual delight, and, to the young
men of the Bar especially, what an abid-
ing inspiration it would be, if their
faces were every looking down from
these now bare walls This regret, gen.
tlemen, will ever be increasing as time
passes, and one by one gradually disap-
pear those who saw, came in contact
with and knew these men, and there is
left at last not a single soul TO speak of
them from personal association and per-
sonal recollection.
This regret is not confined to Windsor
county. Not here alone are memorial
portraits wanting. Vermont, always
Astounding in strong, vigorous minded
original men, was especially rich in her
early days in men of great natural intel
lectual ability, and of most marked in
dividuality of character. In no depart
ment of life was this more the case than
in connection with the Bench and the
Bar. There is hardly county in the
State whose courtroom could not be
adorned with portraits Of men Of
the legal profession, who were born,
lived and died in the county, but whose
just fame went far beyond the limits OF
the State. And yet there are only three
portraits to be found in all the court
rooms of Vermont These three are
those of Stephen R. Bradley, the emf
nent lawyer, judge and senator, and of
his great son, william G. Bradley, to be
found in the courtroom of Windham
county, and that of Samuel 5. Phelps
another most distinguished lawyer
judge and senator, in the United States
courtroom at Rutland.
The regret, indeed, applies to the
whole State. What pity that in the
| State House are not to be found, il We
90 no further back, the portraits o
Thomas Chittenden, the first Governor
and for so many years the Governor o
the State and of Isaac Tichenor, anC
of the early and memorable Governors
hot 40 AID ho -
| Of Moses Robinson, Elijah Paine, Dudley
Chase and others, who in the early
times represented Vermont in the
United States Senate. What pity that
Of the great array of distinguished mer
who have graced the Bench Of the Su
preme Court, only one judge, Chief Jus
tice Williams, Ills there Who would
not be glad to behold the face OF Ma
thaniel Chapman, pronounced by compe
tent authority to have been the grea'
Judge Of his time, without superior in al
New England What satisfaction there
would be in having added to the portrait
| of Chief Justice Williams the portraits
of Stephen Royce, Samuel S. Phelps, ia
cob Collamer, and Isaac F. Redfeld, pre-
senting the Supreme Court as constitu
ted when first knew it-a court, which
in personal presence and impressiveness
as well as in judicial ability, 1 have
never seen 'excelled, and am not cleal
that have ever seen it equaled.
Something yet might be done by thu
State in its sphere, something by the
Bars Of the various counties in theil
spheres to secure for posterity, by aid o
family pictures, accurate Tkenesses o
some Of the leaders of the State and thu
Bar who have passed away. And as W,
have no right ever to forget the grea
men who have gone before us, anC
wrought out things for US, the founders
the constructive men, the Representative
men of their time as it is rather, gu
solemn duty to revere, incorporate il
the public thought and faithfully pei
f petuate the memories of all such mer
is there not, in this regard, work, nor
pleasant and most profitable withal, IT
=. naming to be done in Vermont whic
= has been long and strangely neglected