Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-11-27


Judiciary system, then just going into oper-
alton. lie was given to understand that he
could have his choice TO be either Supreme
Court, or Circuit Judge, and be expressed a
preference for the service Of presiding in the
County Courts. lie held that Office until be
was elected Senator in Congress in October.
1914, to which Office he was again elected in
October 1860. He was wearing his Senate
rial robes with ever increasing dignity and
grace, till on the evening Of the 9th day Of
November, 1865, he " wrapped the drapery
OF his couch about him, and laid down IL
pleasant Dreams
OF Judge Collamer's childhood and life be
fore entering college, have learned nothing
to distinguish him from the children of other
poor parents, living in the early, growing
villages Of the State, end getting a scantv sub
sistance by daily toll. In College he encoun-
tered the customary emharrassments Of power
ty' IN meagre fitting. and in the inability to
supply himself with all the needed auViliaries
TO the most successful prosecution ola liberal
education during his college c5uIse.
As student, in the earlier portion Of his
course, his 50yIsh propensity for fup and ro-
gulsh playlulness operated adversely % his
asslduity and success in study. not indeed in
dlcatlng tendency 10 vicious iudulgeuces and
habits, so much as a l0ndness for annoying
bis c1llege-m3tes whom be could successfully
tease for the amusement Of himse.tand others
tn the last two years Of his studentshIp, he
devoted himself with moro assilaity t. the
prescribed studie. and t. general reading:
and. as boyhood was yielding to tie increasing
c1nsidcratene-s and forecast Of dawning man
hood, be gave clear indications ofthe suueriori-
ty tia; was developed by linn in his protest.
onalaud official life.
The Hon. Charles Marsh. then iu the glory
of li- professional ability and fame. said to
me OF him, that when Judge Colhmer fr.t
began practice in Windsor county. hi- know
ledge of the law was about a. mragrt and in
adequate as that of any man ofhis age whom
he had known at the Bar: that be manifested
O. confidence in his own ability. and purpose
% take care ofhis cases himself f-that it soon
appeared that he was making himsll master
Of his cases, both in their facts and in tae
law. and justiiyiug his apparent seifseiiance
IN coming before the Courts, that De slJE
began e. attract the attention. and enlist the
favorable interest VI the more mature mem
hers OF the Bar, and ofthe Courts: and in
10 very long time, lie was regarded ar one Of
the most promising, and soon became one of
the most successful OF the younger members
OF the Bar.
Il is a matter Of common knowledge. that
be- rapidly advanced 10 the front rank iu pro
tessioual prosperity, and steadily grew IN
strength and public esteem. till De was cleo
tel o. the Bench IN 1888. He lecamca lea
der. not only in Windsor, bat in Orange C0uu-
'y. and, as consequence. had occasional en-
pigment in important causes Iu other see
ti1ns Of the State. Of the soldity and high
order of bis merit a conclusive proof consists
iu the fact, that 900 bis coming to the Bar Of
W mdslr County. Charles Marsh. Jonathan
II. Hubbard, Jacob Smith. Horace Everett.
and Titus Hutchinson. were in the maturity
OF their strength. and the fan glow Or their
Professional ame; and they continued To rule
The asccndent till Jacob t0llamer became their
peer. and Isaac y. Cu-lmau. and Carlos Cool
ldSe- and Asa Aiken. bic c9tempoErie- and
rivals, and Andrew Tracy was rising iu thar
distinguished career in which ulW he has go
Ion. sustained himself
Judge C0llamer was not g.Qi,ls In thatuu-
drina5.e. ideal sense thar nobody c1mrre-
heuds, and specimens of which arclikc am
gel visits men of spontaneous iutuitilus.
and prcternatual inspirations. that relieve
them from the ordinary processes af intellect
nal cultivation and i...s 3D. -... . .7.--
IN at-aipi,,, ,l..,lt. +4,+ ,,;.f ,...-. r..-.l
o.. tbe yoluntary AMI ,i..r,.. ,[..., "A ~.
f..gltia- ortle mind liz b.5 ,.r;,- ~ y.
far more apr.reciaile and ,,..ri,.7r',. ,ser,,l
charactcrIIthe Genius Of sa..s,. by ,lrrif.,lI,.
bending all bis faculties, by lab5ri1us and
persistent eXertiun 10 subjects and occasions
which bis vocation and positions brought IN
d.. uav.andcaI On hin, III. ..n,,gr-o- T'.
faet stated of him Lv Mr.. Marsh. already fe-
peated as To his carly manifestations at the
Bar, is the secret of his vigorous growth t.,
t.le professional. judicial and political emf
nance that he attainel-the making himself
master Of the cases, the subjects. tie business
that fell to his lot to engage IN and carry
through. His course as lawyer. with the
discipline to which DE was subjected DO Leiu.
associated with, or pit-ed against the profess
l0nal giants of those day-, gave him those
habits and faculties Of mind which rendered
hm SO able, and 50 seryiceablc In the high
o-lcial positions that DE filed in after life.
In native ent0wmen-s ! hayc known mot
few men of as high, and even Of higher or
der OF intellect, both for strength and scope.
and "t wider attainmeuts. oHd more through
cultivation ln the line 81 scholarly study and
rshnement,-oi more OF the accanI Ili7hmeuts
ana grace- oi professional and high official
Ltc, Who. nevertheless. have come far short
oi hm IN the practical results OF their life
aIt seUICe,-iar short OF him In the good
they did. in the character they established. in
the renown, present and p0sthum0us. they
achieved.
propose % devote a little space t0 the
presentation of my idea Of bis mcutal quail
tiles, and his characteriziug tuit- as Law
Yer and Judge for, as already Iutimated.
out Of these sprung bic greatness as q Lc-i--
latur. Minister ot state, and Senator.
Without any o.. the qualities designated
t0i"y, Imagination. briiliaucv genius. his
mind was made up OF clear ana ready per-
cgptiUn. acuteness of discrimination. lacile
faculty of analysis. an aptne,s and case in
rigid and simple logic. excellent common
sense, and. withal, a most tenacious memory
Of facts. In the exercise and combined oper-
alton of these leading faculties. heaurrehend-
cd and appreciated fundamental trinciples
in law. and politics, and ethics. and religion.
with great readiness and business and gath
cred and held in mind large accmnulations
and combinations of facts relating TO. and
constituting the substance Of. the subject. 10
winch principle. We're To be practically an
,Iiod cir tio -.
init. in r,soI,;,,,i ,5 I,r g,' n
Qualities of mind erotIoj lin, -, .a,,1
answer all the substantisl raToscs i 49, IF ~o1s e.
sonal and judicial avocari5n Tifbogt Fis te-
c1nino- cInrLatica1I,, ;,ri,j;.:.I -, =
the sense in yybic7 we -
of Kent and Storv and Prcntiss and 60 ,
He was NOT indeed wjdelv read or IoorreJ
ontside of what onrertainej +, lis ,.,... and
tho subjects Of the l,yr involved in Hon, srd
was rconisite IN he known in orie- IN
tborouob understa,diu., and Ian5lio, ,f rbe
coses themselves In tie e,rlvs ,eria5 If bis
practice his library was yerv limited Wbar
these hooks contained he knew NOT rs mere
matters of recollection their substance he
came Incorporated as matter of cons,ionsnees
into Ito "a Ind MIL L.