New-York tribune., 1873-01-18
4 JURIST HONORED.

ACTION OF TIE BAR ON THE RETIREMENT OF
JUDGE NELSON.
The Bar of the United States Circuit Court for
the Southern District of NewYor responded masse
yesterday TO the call for meeting take action relative
to the retirement Of Justice Samuel Nelson from the
Bench Of the Supreme Court Of the United States On
motion OF ex-Judge Bosworth, Charles O'Conor was
chosen Chalrman and on motion OF Sidney Webster the
following Vice Presidents were elected:
Exyudge II. E; Davies, E; j. Phelps John oI' Ganson'
Geo. II. Hibbard, Lyman Tremain, Francis Herman,
Judge Henry X. selden, Samuel Hand, X D. Hubbard
ray Hoffman, Edgar s. Van Wrinkle, the Hon. j. ;; Bos-
worth, Welcome K Beebe. Henry Nicon, John Mckeon'
L. &. Benedict, John X Porter.
Upon taking the chair Mr. 0'Conor said. in part:
Brethren OF Tie Bar: The great lawyer who for half
century has practically the very life and light or
on Jurisprudence has retired from active duty his
enment and will descend 10 posterity In these DIS gs
TO even the present and the future are
alike. But in some things we are all exclusively MS
benefciares His magnificent demean9r on the oenea
model Of all the judicial graces In that mgh place
his prncey bearing onront inspired every honest
suior with confidence, while 1t paralyZed the most
| and viii ever remember; but neither tOngue
nor pen can convey to future tunes an, an az au
equate portraiture of them. These memories ana the
pleasure of contemplating him IN the sereney tranqu
refinement which closes his great careeF Inc d
the which Kent and Spencer decided IL nhpply
in history NTH all t9aS new NsoS a5oTped
Patriotism and professional pride can nope 1Or no more
transmit to worthy the great fame derived by
their class from such high sources ana turoush such
| noble channel.
At close of Mr. OConors remarks, which were re-
ceved prolonged applause Mr. stoughton read the
following address to Justice Nelson:
| THE ADDRESS.
To The Hon. SAMUEL NELSoN.-Sir: Your retirement
from the Bench of the Supreme Court OF the United
States judicial service Of more than 40 years ~
an event which the members of the Bar OF the Federal
Courts cannot allow to pass history without
Meeting herewith the OF their profound sense
annie Enon the bar and the people OF this country. APP
pointed early TO the Bench OF the Circuit court
of the State Of NewYOrk you commenced your judicial
career under "A system which pledged 10 you long and
independent tenure IN return for which you devoted t
requirements which singularly fitted you 10 administer
iusiiee among men. You brought 10 this work great
sOlute impartiaiy, an elevated conception OF all the
| duties of magistrate, united with Judgment OF
unsurpassed sOundness Acknowledging Responsibility
only your conscience TO the law and to your Cod you
early won the confidence OF bar among whose members
were numbered of the greatest lawyers of the last
generation. From the Circuit Court OF the State you
proved yourself worthy sit in the place OF the great
masters of Jurisprudence. who had preceded you and
regulations will endure forever Again you were
advanced aud the with pride you robed Chief
Justice of the State As such you presided for many
years and had your judicial terminated with the
resignation that Office the records of jurisprudence
would transmitted your name TO postenty that
Your iabors were not thus to end. You had admins
tered Justice the period Of % years, During that
of fht lustrous bar which had greeted your entrance
into judicial life, Around you had grown up younger
| bar 10 whom you object of admiration and
reverence You had served the State OF your nativity
well. and well had you maintained the State and even
national fame of the court over which you presided
Your opinions there delivered VIII long stand as exam
pies OF the right application OF established legal priD
cipes exact learning and sound common sense TO the
cases presented for judgment More than 27 years ago.
the full maturity of your powers you were appointed
an Associate Justice Of the Supreme Court OF the United
states There and at the Circuit you encountered new
aud untried questions the law OF nations OF admiralty
OF prize, of revenue and OF patents you mastered and
as those who address you can bear testimony, ad
n1nlstered WIN uhsuIpdseeu aoliiy Win oIilVaI dc
latiOn and multitude OF rules comprised within the
special branches OF jurisprudence you were compelled
The benefits you conferred did not consist solely in
bringing as you did TO the investigation and decision OF
causes, deep insight Judgment matuted Dy long ana
varied experience, and solid earnng-the fruit OF life
of study and reflection Your kind and generous treat
ment OF young lawyers ever encoufaged tnem 10 re-
newed exertiOn and III struggling to deserve your ap
hey knew that your standard OF professional excellence
was high that 10 your approval was an earnest
OF future distinction. -
Bevond a this you have afforded 10 the Bench OF this
country an example by which the wsest and best OF s
Ifo as a magistrate you have added dignity and luser
10 history Of our Jurisprudence; for while the de
aradatOn and corruption OF the Judges OF nation N
fict upon IL an offensive revolving blot Their nde-
pendeuce, their purity and their learning have ever
There among those who now address you many
who have so long been accustomed to your presence
upOn the Bench that they will never be quite reconced
10 vour absence They will sometimes earnestly wish
you could nave remained TO STEADY them III the per
sonai career Nevertheless all who now address you
will never cease thankful that, upon your retire
ment 10 your family and home IT can be said OF you as
was said Of Lord Mansfield " IL has pleased God TO
allow to the evening of useful and lustrous life the
purest enioyments which nature has allotted TO it
fhe uncouded reflections of superior and unfading
mind over varied events and the happy conscious
ness that hath been faithfully and emnenty devoted
10 the highest duties OF human society"
Earnestly hoping that these blessings may be enjoyed
by YOU for many years. the members OF the bar who
nne in this imperfect tribute 10 your worth remain Tor
ever your friends.
Extended remarks were made by exJudge PerepoDt,
Clarence A. Seward Wm. VI. Evarts, III reference 10
the public services OF Judge Nelson, after which the ad
dress was approved and the following committees were
appointed:
Comm,e. AddresE W scOsb'on p. silimaD Theodore
W. Dwight George Clifford, I. Van StuvOord.
Committee 0! Address Judge Neson-Edwards
Peepopt T. w Stoughton A. Seward, Oven, G. NJ Keller,
WIN ebster T. {. T. Buckley j. NJ Van Co j.
L. NJ Barlow A. j. VkDderPoe james Jbonen Augustus
+. Smith, John Sherwood - -
Committee Present Address United States Circuit CourtChaes
James W. Gerard John keBeop Daniel Lord b. d. simsn,
p Nash Ches Blake j. e. Carter, G. DonE-
hue George Bliss IT,, Charles NJ Ds Costa
COMMITTEE Present the Supreme Court Of the United
States Nj Edwards Peuepont w.
Stougbon George Carus Samuel deD, George G1ord NJ
Keller, Sidney Webster -
Committee Address Cour o. AppeAEdvp W. Slough
ton e Judge Lyman fireman. Hand
-