The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-05-11
Information.

(Fnem the Chicago TribuneD
Illinois Supreme COurl-PersOnaI
Sketch OF the Judges.
The supreme court, northern division, is now
in session at Ottawa. The three judges are at
their work, or, rather are literally buried under
it. With some three hundred cases before them
At this term. they have determined to work off
one hundred and thirty-fve, if possible, the re-
maiuder going over to the next September term.
The present term over, they must repair to
Springfield, and thence again to Mount Vernon
in rapid succession, there again to be threatened
with smotheration. They do not appreciate the
sentiment, in the mundane connection at least
that .'there is rest for the weary" Litigation in
this large State is increasing rapidly, and the
necessity for some relief in this particular now
stares our people in the face. This necessity has
worked some practical changes in the court
practice. For instance, oral argument in the
supreme court is about at an end. No more
Websterian appeals: no more grand exhibitions
of legal acumen and lore. The flow of gas and
attendant tobacco spitle is effectually squelched
The Judges can only work over the cases as pre-
sented by the record, and it stands the lawyers
we'll in hand to have their papers right, and to
insure accuracy, the bar now generally print
their abstracts, briefs, etc. The judges appor-
ton the call for so many cases each day, are
through with the call in an hour or two in the
morning. and their real work takes place in their
chambers afternoons and evenings, where, no
doubt, they wrestle with the papers, and often
with each other, most fervently, hip and thigh,
nip and tuck.
Let us have pencil sketch Of the court, after
they have arisen from the august wsol-sack and
move around among us, simply as men and
brothers The senior and chief Justice Hon.
Pinckniy H. Walker, a native of Kentucky, re-
sides at nashville; one of the oldest and best
lawyers n the State Would put his age at
about fifty. He was circuit Judge of the Schuy-
Ter circuit when he was appointed supreme Judge
by Gov. Bssell, to fill the unexpired term of
Judge Skinner, at thesend of which term he was
reelected for u term Of nine years, which end in
June next, when an election is to be held in the
second grand division to fill the place If Judge
Walker will consent to be candidate, he will be
reelected by an overwhelming majority if not
by reclamation. He is universally beloved by
the gentleman of the bar and by all who have
official intercourse with him for these many
years. In person he is a fine specimen OF man
hood. His manly, massive features, mild, genial
eye, and modest and ever pleasant and cheerful
voice and smile convert and disarm the observer
at once. His politics democratic, but not OBJ
trusive, and are sufficiently progressive and
healthy and he has no penchant for gnawing
over the dry bones of the dead pasta DISPOSE.
away upon shelves so many partisan leaders and
hacks Of past times, there to moulder and decay
OF our second senior Hon. Sidney Breese, I
can say but little that remains unsaid. He has
made his mark high upon the roll Of honor and
fame, and quite beyond my reach. As lawyer,
judge and senator, the history of Illinois for
twenty-five years past is his history. He was
successful compeer of Douglas. should put
his age at about fifty. In person he is full and
fraS .,,tnJ No..
upon the ponderous. His speeches and writings
are models of scholarship, and will survive him,
as having made their impress upon the age. His
honor and integrity, and his love of justice, are
eyinced in the welding his sedge-hammer
blows against vice and corruption whenever he
believes he observes them stealing within the
portals of his court, or entering his presence
When a friend, he sticketh tighter than a
brother, and as an enemy, he is truly terrible.
Say our lawyers, Save me, or my client, from
his wrath, We gods" Upon my soul, like such
men, and for their faith and zeal would, if needs
be, pardon them in thousand errors. The nine
years term Of Judge Brcese is about half ex-
PRED, believe, and in June next he becomes
chief justice by succession. lie now resides,
ana mas Tor many years past, at Carlyle, Clinton
county, where, as n citizen, neighbor and large
farmer or landholder, he is greatly esteemed and
respected.
WIN Vhe I1on CnarieS b. Lawrence M sketch
Is completed. He was elected to the supreme
bench in 1864, for term of nine years lie is
native of Vermont, and would put his age at
forty-fvc. He resides at Galesburg, and when
elected to his present position was Judge of the
judicial circuit A fine lawyer and ripe scho-
ar, Tor some years previously he had retired to
farm life for season i'll pursuit of health, and
had also taken trip to Europe for the same rea-
son. In person he Us the Calvin Edison of the
supreme trio, and his shadow hardly grow
less. But while thus physically incapable to
''lard the lean earth" as he passes on, there is
genius, written upon his lofty brow and beaming
from the deeply sunken eye betokening conflict
OF the intellectual forces, in which they seem to
rise superior to the feebler letters of the flesh
and soar in higher and grander realms. His
mind is clear like sunbeam, and in his lively in.
tercourse with the bar it cuts with the sound of
the sickle in the harvest field.