Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-02-13

L y
posing counsel, before jurors of 9th
er names and supported and listen
ed to by different audiences. BY
this let US be reminded, even at this
festive board, that in life, as in our
profession, the second trial is always
before a higher court. The suitor
who would be relieved of an error
in his case must seek for power
higher than the one in which he lost
his. right. But a few years have
been added to our complement,
since we first met as attorneys at the
bar, yet in that time, short as it ap-
pears, judges, juries, witnesses and
the spectators, who so shortly since
composed trial and its surround
ings of interest and excitement, in
the old courtroom, on the square,
have all disappeared. You and l
Mr.. President, appear to have been
passed in the race and struggle to
resch the other side, and we are now
leisurely following the advance of
our comrades who are but few pa
ces before.
But few days have elapsed since
the presence of Cain, Taggart, Gil
bert, Given, Tannyhill, Hoagland
and Spangler, was as familiar to us
as those with whom we are to night
assembled. With them we have made
our claims, before honorable Dean,
Parker, Cox and Given, with briefs
well taken from Vinnus, Voet, Coke,
Blackstone, Chitty and Kent. But
they have now all gone to courts
where to hold such briefs will be, to
be briefless, and where the judges
of this life must yield the ermine to
a judge, whose judgment will be
without error, and founded in JUS
tlce, and be beyond all review.
Mr.. President, / have made the
foregoing remarks, knowing that the
ardor of youth might bring against
it the criticism, that it is foreign to
the occasion of a bar supper, where
festive mirth elected from the rem
iniscences of the bar would natur
ally be expected. But, sir, my age
and yours, 1 think sufficient apol-
ogy for looking at our meeting to-
night, in the light of retrospect
life, reminding us that we too shall
shortly be again numbered with
those with whom we stood in the
past, in higher courts than we have
been in life. @
JUDGE wELKER's REMARKS.
Mr.. PRESIDENT: The occasion,
as well as the remarks of Mr.. Voor-
hes, suggests to me busy memories
of the past of the Millersburg Bar.
The senior at the Bar of all now
present, the many events, the active
struggles, and the bitter contests of
third of a century of professional
life now come upon me.
Over thirty-six years ago, on the
same day, you and 1 came to this
place to start on life's battle. Alike
poor, and without friends to help
us, we have marked our own career,
what that has been and is, and what
we have accomplished is not for us
to say. Suffice it that we had hard
work, as my young brethren around
me will find they will have to win
success in their future efforts.
Many of our old associates of the
Bar are now gone. Willyan, Scott,
Hoagland, Tanneyhill, Cain, Given,
Gilbert Taggart, Leadbetter, Nc
Culloch and Mckinley have passed
to that "higher court" where we
must all one day appear.
In looking over the records of the
members of the Holmes County Bar
1 venture to say that no bar of the
State, in comparison to its members,
has furnished SO many lawyers, who
have occupied places of trust and
responsibilities in the government.
Let me present that honrable record.
1t has furnished one Lieut.. Cover
nor of the State, and one nominee
for the same place who was not cleo
ted; one Attorney General of the
State, and one nominee for the same
office; five members of Congress, and |
two nominees who failed to be elec-
ted; four common Pleas Judges,
and four nominees who failed of an
election; three State Senators, and
one nominee for the same office; six
members of the House of Represen-
tatives; one member of the last Con |
stitutional Convention; seven Pro-
bate Judges, and two nominees for
same office; one Professor who has
won the titles of A. NJ. NJ. D and L.
L. D.; one Deputy Commissioner of
the U. S. Internal Revenue Depart
ment; one Presidential elector; one
District Attorney in Iowa; four
clerks of Common Pleas, and one
County Commissioner; and, in the
military line, have furnished three
Brig. Generals, four colonels, two
majors, and several captains.
l need not say to you that l am
proud of that record. 1t demon
strates that lawyers are trustworthy,
and valuable as public officers, and
possess, as they deserve, the conf
dence of the people. !
These reunions of the Bar are
pleasant as well as profitable. Here,
around the festive board, old mem
ories are revived, and more intimate
and friendly relation cultivated. AS
a class lawyers are remarkable for
good fellowship, and readiness to
relieve and aid each other. In all
benevolent enterprises and public
Improvements, they are foremost,
an d do their full duty.
Mr.. President, we have among us
this evening, the only surviving
member of the first court held in
this county (Dr. Enos), from whom
we no doubt will hear. In the per-
son of your speaker you have the
senior surviving Common Pleas
Judge ofthis District. All my pre-
decessors have gone to render an
account of their stewardship. Allow ,
me now to abuse the privileges of
this judicial seniority, in few gen
eral reflections in the review of the ,
past.
We have lived, Mr.. President, in ,
an eventful period of the worlds ,
history. During our professional /,
life great changes have been accom- t
plished in the law. In our State the $
law practice has been abol- {
shed: John Doe and Richard Roe {
stricken from the docket-and the ;
code practice instituted; our law of ,
evidence preatlv changed and onr