Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-01-12
RETIREMENT Of JUDGE Hall
RESOLUTIONS OF THE nAR AssOCIA-
TON.

QUIZ OF Tue OulteQ states on luesuay molu- u
lg, being the first regular term since tina a
eslgnaiion Of Judge Hall, William @. Spru- Il
nee, Esq, addressed the Court as follows; Ia
May il please your Honor, the Bar Asso- o
ialion ol this county, deeply sensible of the
miusht public services and private b
lorth OF the Honorable Willard Hall, have fl
eemed il proper that there should BIO some c
uitable expression OF their sentiments upon h
lie occasion OF his retirement from the seat u
which you now occupy; and have the honor 1
o be one ola Committee charged with the (
luty OF presenting to you a series ofresolu- /
ions in reference TO that interesting event {
While little accustomed TO the language of q
the services of Judge Hall have {
Jeen Of such character and duration as TO be
known TO nll-and our task on this occasion I
Is both easy and pleasant.
His career at the Bar closed before the re-
Of most OF US, but there have come
down TO US traditions of his diligence. ac-
curacy, leaning and fidelity 10 his clients,
which made him Il safe counselor and a sue
Cesslul practitioner
His career as Judge, although commence
ing almos' fl tY years ago, has been better
known to us. We have had abundant OPP
poriuni'y Ol observing aud estimating his
worth in that pc ior, and indeed 1t Is upon
the members Of the legal profession, for the
most part, that the reputation Of the judici-
ary depends.
Patience, leaning, justice, clear percep- |
lion Ofiruth, unwaverng tirmn.ss and inn |
paItialIty have characterized the adminiSita. |
ton Of Justice in no tribunal in any country,
or In any time, more sign0lly than in this
| Court during the Ing period lie has presided
| here.
! The suior, whatever his condition in life,
or lis political or religious sentiments, was
always sure ofa fair and impartial hearing,
and a wise aud conscientious judgment; and
we wlo arc 90 Otea warped by the enthus
asm OF advocacy, when the fever OF the hour
was over, aud the momentarY disappOint'
ment Of defeat had passed, seldom tailed to
sec that his judgment was right.
j is especially in his intercourse with us
that We have occasion to cherish his name.
Always courteous and cOnsilerate ol the
feelings of the Bar, lie gave the most dill
gent attention to tue arguments OF counsel,
and seemed aimed when duty and tlulh for
bsde iiim TO yield 10 their opinions.
AS no sUiiof in all the Yeas 0i lis career
as a judge can now instance single stained
, or unjust jud-mCut, 50 no member of this
llar can recall a single circumstance Of harsh
/. Z or unkiud treatment. lie was truly model
,frolicuess IN III, bearing toward the Bar,
and We fully appreciate it.
~ Besides lis merely professional services
!, as q lawyer, and his official services as a
= ia igC, he had, in earlier life, largely paili'
paicd in public Affairs. lie had been a
@ prominent membero' Congress ofthe United
States aud was one Of HE most learned and
~ efficient members OF the Convention which
a. framed our present Constitution, oi which
4 the lercnlCd Clayton was The acknowledged
= leader.
Ia lie was hc compiler oi the excellent Hi
~ gest Of 1879, the FIRST attempt to cOndenst
1. the statute Law OF This State; and this adj
e mirabe volume, the result Of great labor
"a accuracy ana sound discrimination, was thl
y sole compendium. OF our It .tuie law Tor %
ne years, and until superseded by the present
M Revised Code, was more constant y in thi
"a hands Of tat plJVsle lwyrt than any othe
,o book.
Our IRIS q. Free School system, however
,r OuierOWl by later ones Of some OF our siste
Il States. w.s in ills day fully up to the re
p qulrcmcnis of The times. and has been Al
M iucsiimanl- blessing 10 thousands OF the mel
i. AID women OF this Slate, who row CRATE
IT. ally recognz ~ him as lis father.
r Nor is il Inappropriate that We on III
nd occasion lay U him oul tribute Of respect Il
MI q Curisiitu gentleman
$50 lie was not content with mere persona
IN, s1odn' Sc, but bis heart went ont % nil men
A. ana hc "Ne constantly and actively engage,
m 90 good works. As an elder in his church
Is a. ihe President Of the State Bible Socet
,- ANA .s @ a'ou- advocate aud promoter G
N, form, h' spent large nat Of his yaluabl
he twc.
,at Tie teachiut of b.. HE, sif moi only {
On tie Dung, bul TO us who are older is ina
nr. consistent piCly aud benevolent labOrs ar
not only compatible with the duties Of
rs successful lawyer and Judge, but they crow
nj hrs lie with beauty and hcnor.
n And now, Sir, in Hgscttng 10 YOU tn
m. formal resolutions Of the Il r. AMI moving
~ as l now DO that they be- Placed Hron III
a.; % cords Of This Court W!Jle We lid vn