Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-09-21
while he had held seat upon lthe benc'

NAL III every way qudllhed TO Judge, and
" who had been accustomed for years, to
re listen to the Ciceros and Demosthenes
ne of the American bar.
10 Among the last efforts of Mr. Dewey.
es was the trial of the famous and celebrated
y Plumley case, in the management of
C. which, as Counsel for the State, he not
O. only sustained his previous high reputa-
ce ton, but added fresh laurels to his brow.
re We all remember with what mastery
r power and strength he conducted that
as holly contested case, what whitening and
scortching cross examination of the res
as pondents witnesses, what strong points
az made for the government, and with what
"a fiery charges he met and attempted TO de-
molish every bulwark which was set up
y, for the defence. Aud finally, the almost
7, superhnman effort he made, in the closing
argument, to obtain the conviction of
u those unfortunate men. But I must
t, leave the task to those who were present
e to flush the picture, as no language of
l. mine could convey an adequate descrip-
IS ton of the scene.
n But the events and emotions of that day
n have passed away, the eye which then
e flashed so brightly is now closed in death,
the lips upon whose accents we then hung
I, with delight, are now sealed forever, the |
d strange music of that voice is hushed, and |
all that was mortal of him we respected
/, and honored, has been laid away in the
9 tomb, to await the morning of glorious
'. resurrection, when death shall lose its
t sting, and the grave shall be swallowed |
g up in victory.
: But, if the court please, it is in refer
? ence to his peculiar traits of character as
e lawyer and advocate, that we desire to
e speak of our lamented brother at this time
, and IN this presence; to endeavor to ana
lyze h is powers, and trace ont, if we can
the hidden springs of his brilliant success
intellectually aud physically, it might
have been said of him, when he Joined the
brotherhood,
with prospects bright upon the world he came,
Pure love of virtue strong desire of fame
Men watched the way his lofty mind would take
And all foretold the progress he would make"
Few men have ever been endowed by 5
nature, in higher degree, with all the F
outward advantages of an orator and
jury advocate than he He was we'll A
built, of medium height, and we'll ball C
anCed well turned figure animated and 7
graceful in his gestures, voice at once
pleasing and we'll modulated, counten- t
ance of intellectual and dignifed expires. f
sion, and an eye of more than ordinary /
keenness and power. C
Although he was denied the advantages &
of liberal education, yet he was, in the G.
best sense of that term one Of the finest Of II
scholars By his energy and perseverance. '
aided by reteStive and tenacious memo
~. in which was stored away, in most
admirable order, whatever he hoard or
read, he was enabled to become, not only u
ripe scholar, but broad, deep and COM &C
pTehonsive thinker aud reasoner. md in "
all his efforts. both at the bar and in the n
forum. it might be said of him, rs il was g
of Lord BrouQham, that he snatohed -
beam from every science with which to re
support and strengthen his argument tn
Mr.. Dewey made up for his lack of Dc
knowledge of the classics by having so
thoroughly studied and made himself
complete master of his own LANGUAGE he -
had studied his native tongue, as it al pc
ways has been studied, by all the great si1
masters of elequence, who have cxcelled th
and risen to fame. sc
His style in speaking or writing. was
ohaste, forcible and harmonious, without co
the slightest mannerism or straining after g
effect. 20,
The exordium with which he intro. fee
duced an argument or a speech, was AL u
ways natural, ingenius and highly appro. 90
pirate, couched in the pure@t English and
In a manner which chained the eSE
attention of his audience. or,
He had one popularity in all his argn- IN
- +bar, 49, 80 Ho" '@'"r the
yreat 1eading principle, to which all his liz
,fforts were referable, and which govern Geo
md elucidated every part of II. A. the rec
principle or position he thus laid down ~.
vas, in theory, always true one, what.
YER might be its application to that par It"
icnar case, it gave TO his whole speech rec
n air of honesty and sincerity, which his He
dversary fouad it very difficult to re- oe,
list =.
In the trial of q case the man who en-.
him found powerful opponent. "'0
nd a foaman wor by Of his steel-with apo
lear legal mind, PERCEPTION which en- par
hled him to discover and SEIZE upon all his
A. weak points in his adversaries cause, 49,.
nd ct the same time Uarry every thrust
irected against his own, he stood b sfore OF
lie court like warrior Of old, clad in his the
'at of mail, with shield. and buoklerand and
Year, conscious If his own strength. and Let
nal rasnit "'''"'"' "sSI 'i''uS OF ne of c
He possessed courage without rashnes- we
oonstancy of spirit which none could I'VE
bdue, sound and intuitive Judgment.
OF decision equal to the 7,
ost trying emergencies. and oonsummatc J..
i'll and tact under all circumstances - ."
is powers of concentration were truly conF
1nderful, and almost miraculous. snd grea
is enabled him TO trng all the powers men
his mind to bear upon n single point, or +;
At in all bis aronmnnts 1917 We me- unit
ame Court, he never failed to probe from
estion to the bottom, and exhaust every him
ing which could possibly be said upon of az
2 subject. g..
When engaged upon a subject which a..-
lily fixed his attention, he became per. '' a.
tly oblivious to all that was go;ng On but
uud him, and have known him often speai
get his meals, 20 completely would he differ
come engrossed in his studies. 1t
The mind of Mr. Dawav WAC NOT ono take
those which RIM in rpts in tho ;nveo+i- assen
ion and analysis of a subject, and he ana ,,
ION denended much unon nraoedonts tered
decided cases but ra1io5 nnor b;s o1-o that
nd Judgment in the ennIina+;or 90 +bo eertif
mentary principles of law TO the ones. Dewe
4 in hand therefore, when a question
) presented to him he sat down and, a. DE
said, reasoned it out, instead of spend FACT
ms 'iine IN searching Libraries for ter"
~ ~ o,,I,, 's prau'IGe lha1e out IL
safe counsellor. ' oelebr
hat he was ambitious and desirons Of festiv
@ is no doubt true, but it was that up to
9 whlch Is alone substantial and en- ing ii
toble ar,I",,e aoy ior 'he NOISY ana stance
" their nets and ;5oIs Co.. - huiaf h"., factor
whirlwind of passing olamor. havinl
then drop them forever, but he Chest,
sbe 1 1nr gn9ried IN the good opinions approx
f. Ha had b' rIe NV miss anu tne truly Goth,
ambition ono lonoi,r, ater,,,I 5o";r itants