The Portland daily press., 1870-02-21

Resolved, That the members of this Assoeia-
ton, IN token of their respect and regard for
him will attend his funeral.
ReSolued, That copy of these resolutions
DC presented to the Supreme Judicial Court
now IN session, with the request that they may
be entered on its records.
The resolutions were accepted.
1t was moved and seconded that the resolu-
tons be presented to the Court after adjourn
ment of this meeting. ....-- ....
The meeting then adjourned.
PROCEEDINGS IN THr SUPREME JUDICIAL
COURT.
At the coming in VI Court Hon. Nathan
Webb presented the resolutions adopted by
the Cumberland Bar on the death of Hon.
William Willis.
Henry p. DeaDe spoke as follows:
May 1t please your Honor 1t is with no
little grief that second the motion of n hon
ored brother. Not only has a great and good
man fallen, not only bas the Bar and commu
nifty loss to NOUN, but personally lament
the dea ath of an old and valued friend and the
last of my earlier instructors in the law, Ii
was my good fortune TO read law in the Office
of Willis & Fessenden. My fellow student
was ID. W; Fessenden, Esq. cur worthy and
and prvfosSivnuf iIubis or the
well as of his partner, the late Hon. VIM, Pitt
Fessenden. When not actively engaged in
the examination of cases or preparatIo fol
Court or consultation with clients OF the Inul
tiarious duties connected with an extensive
and lucrative practice they were very geniai
in their intercourse with us, telling OF
their personal experience as studei is and prac-
ttioners, and making suggestions to our
studias, reading and habits, which wei g OF
great interest and utility. Their exam pie and
influence tended TO insp re u.s. not only with a
high regard for the profession, but alse with
scorn and contempt for every, bise or disrepu
table act Industrious and exact in their
habits, honorable in their practice, thorough
in their prepar aratIon of cases. skilled in the eX-
ercise Of their diverse powers, one in the TO-
rum and the other with the pen, kindly and
social in their intercourse with us they i'm
pressed us vii profound respect and sincere
affection for themselves, which the experience
of rper years strengthened and increased
Mr. Willis reminded me of the ancient phil
osophers. He seemed to have scbooled and
disciplined every element of passion until they
were completely under his control. No excite
ment of clients, no tale of fraud and wrong or
outrage aroused him to passionate effort or
demonstration in word or Ceed. He was ever
calm, sel-poised, equable and deliberate, and
continued so TO The day of his death.
But that great firm is no more. MIR. Fessen-
den soon entered upon another arena and won
lofty position as statesman in the highest
councils OF the nation, and while in the me-
ridian splendor of his intellectual greatness
was smitten by disease and died.
Mr.. Willis retired from the active labors of
the profession and devoted himself TO literary
and scientific pursuits, and won laurels by the
skliliul use OF his pen, especially in the bOora-
ply OF eminent lawyers OF our State, as the his
torlan of Portland and the author of able arti-
cles on the early history of Maine.
His last days reminded me of the lannon's
Thomas Fl. Benton, of Missouri. He was en-
gagged in his great work of Thirty years in
the United States Senate" until the last dav
and almost the last hour OF his life. When be
could do more from physical weakness, be gave
friends, who gathered around his bedside as
his falling strength would permit, and then
gathering his robe around him fell asleep for
ever And so our honored friend and brother
worked upon his cherished themes, his truth
Iul and to Ching obituaries and historic arti-
oles, untii bis declining strength admonished
him he could write no more,'5 and then gave
up completely exhausted, and no rest. no heal
ing art or earthly medicine could revive him.
and he passed away as calmly as philosopher.
aAe, more than as Christian, in the full hope
of blessed Immortality.
Hon. Ether Shepley spoke as follows:
bay At please your Honor:-I will say few |
brother, confniDg myself entirety To his nro. |
esslonal character. There are some traits
Nhlch he exhibited in his professional life which
ire worthy of being noted for the examnle thew
lfford to all members of the profession In |
lls professional intercourse he was kindly spir-
ted, always free from all vuis .rity, doaa.,i,,u
md fafse statement so that he could be relied
lpon when engaged in trying n case wub him
he was never known to do anything which was
n her false, deceptive, dlshonorable or unsuit-
ID to gentlemaply demeauor.
While he was not distinguished as an adyo
ate, he was stlll very worthy, estimabe and
mclent member OF the bar. For a long nnm
er OF years associated with the late Mr.. Fes.
enden, known as the firm of Willis 81 Fessen-
eu, it seemed to be understood between tbon,
hat Mr.. Willis should do the office busine.a
nd prepare for the business to be performej
a court and that Mr.. Fessenden shouId a.
est qualified, perform the duties of an adv.
ate at the bar. They were exceedingly well
ulteo 10 eacn other. While we were Dassup
brou9h the long trouble in this State abon,
he land sales Mr.. Willis acquired a wide ran
tatlon aud did large business as a convep-
ncer and drawer OF contracts between ~
es, and perhaps was quite as useful and efi
enC IN the profession in doing business of that
escrption as he could have been had he heem
etter suited or made more attempts at d;sn,on
exertlon before The courts. In all his conrso |
business his gentlemanly demeanor was in
u respects suited 10 aid in keeping So far 90
might the court from all improprieties and
1deavorlng to promote in every way which
circumstances |
le dignity, propriety and success of the CnnrI
the transaction of its business, in a manner
lat should be creditable to the court and the
.r. e
George f. Emery spoke as follows:
I cannot permit the present occasion to nass (
ithout adding word to " hat has been said
ith respect to the character and life ot onr I
,parted brother. There can be no biobar
mpliment paid to any member of the har or c
~ member of the community than this to Y
Y in all the relations of lite "he hath vel I
rformed his part" And I think as VIC a
ntemplate the life and character of Mr. vii
we must all admit that in every relation ot a
e he has presented to US an example which h
2 may follow and the light of which will con- | C
lue to shine upon this Community long after
$ remains have been conveyed to their silent Ii
sting--place. As lawyer sound and Just. as a
man honest and of strict integrity, in social Il
latlons one whom we were always glad to d
eet, as a citizen universally beloved, as
lrlstlan of the catholic spirit. feel as thouob II
'ould commend to my Christian brethren The O
ample he has presented to us and pray that
may be able as we pass off the stage of ac'
n to leave such a record that our brotbars
" come before the court and say "he hath | 3
be well in his day and generation Il
q on. James T. McCobb then followed with | D
ew brief remarks relative to Mr.. Willis as a m