The New York herald., 1873-12-14
OBITUARY.
Samuel Nelson.

mr. SdInlel nelson. eX.AS5Ociatc JHstlCe Vi JHc
su RENE Court % the United states died suddenly
yesterday Of apoplexg, wnile sitting IN hts caalr
at harpast pne O'Clock, at his no nc IN Coopers-
town In this state Judge Nelson had been Tor
some months past in good health and spirits. On
MoidaJ ne complained OF having taken slight
cold anu was confined to his room till Friday alter
noon. He tnen came down stairs to tea and spent
the evening in his paror Yesterday morning at
an nGur later than usual he took breakfast and
seemed to BE- well usual Wnile
sitting in his chair between and
TWO O'CLOCK. listening to the reading OF
letter by Mrs. Nelson, he made an inquiry in re-
gard 70 IT, and then, without word or sigh, sud
denly died. He had reached mis- eighty first year
the 10th OF last month, having been born at Hebron,
washington county, IN the year 1892. Judge Nelson
graduated at Mlddleborough College. Vermont.
He was member OF the Constitutional Convention
0i 1921, and under the Judicial system the consttu
ton tnen adopted, was III Aprii. 1928, appointed
Judge OF the Sixth Circuit. when included Otsego
county. Tbs position he held until February, 1884,
when he became Associate Justice OF tile Supreme
Court o. the State OF New York In 1857 ChieI
Justice Savage resigned, and Judge Nelson
was promoted to his place. holding Ii
ior eight wears. and bringing 70 the discharge Of
his important mdgsterial duties great learning
and ability, high sense Of honor and the most IN
flexible integrity. Alter an honorable and distin-
guisned career OF % years upon the bench OF his
native State he was elevated to the Bench OF the
Supreme Court OF the United States In February,
1s45. This Office he filed until Thanksgiving Day.
1872, when he sent In his resignation, and 1t was
accepted Oh the 1st OF the following month. Since
that time till yesterday, when his death took place,
this eminent jurlst resided at Cooperstown, sur
rounded by all tn. quetude and attraction OF a
peioveu home passing away the evening oi noble
lie and tiIat splenuld scenery whicn Cooper mas
1mmortalized IN MS famous novels
some TWO years ago, when the Joint Hlgn COM
mission sat LII Washington to arrange the details
OF treaty lor the settlement OF international
questions between Great Britain and the United
States, Judge Nelson was member OF tnat body,
ami by ms vast Knowledge ot law and thorough
familiarity with t.ose principles that regulate and
Iuide the conduct OF nations towards each other,
aided the government in no small degree III set
thing a dispute that had threatened 10 interrupt
the friendly relations OF England ANA America 10
the task assigned him ou this occasion Judge
Nelson brous ut all the powers OF ms
mind. Accustomed deal with difficult and
intricate questions Of law and OF TACT ana decide
them with nr.nness ana justice he was peculiarly
fitted to be a member OF that COMMISSION and Tie
wees he rendered his country during the ses-
SONS Of that commission, protiacted as tney were.
VIII be long remembered by the people and
the nation OF whose best interests lie proved
himself TO be a watcniul and uniincnlng guardian.
III tue proceedings OF the Comm ission he had OPP
posed 10 1n some OF the ab est diplomatS Of
England; but wnen they came III contact with
Juuge Nelson they were bound TO admit, as they
dlu, tnat they had found a man atle to cope VITA
the most expert OF them, and Of whom TINS Kepup-
lie hau reason TO be proud, ior he was as WISE in
council as ne was fearless. independent and ncor-
ruptIbe Oh the bench.
1t Will be from what we have previously
stated that Judge Nelson was Tor y years a judi
cla officer OF mis- native state, and Tor ears,
wanting lew months, a member of the supreme
Court OF the United states. Had he not sent in his
resignation till last February he would have COM
pleted his fiitieth year upon the bench. The MIS-
tory OF England does not furnish similar in
stance. Tne Judicial records OF tie United states
do not supply US with parallel case. Lord Mans
hnln nu1 Inr.N
Edon for IS years Chief Justice Marshall adoi ned
tnc Supreme court o. tne United States lor a
80 '. years. Mr. Justice Story Wv was "a a Judge
Tor "a years. and Chancellor Kent for about 25 years.
10 none OF these great men was Samuel Ae.sou in
ierur jurst. TO the future historian may fifty
pc iet the duty saying now @ iar IN every respect
were his contemporaries at the Bar and upon the
Bench
duty the members OF the Bar who Practise
the Second circuit of the United states Circuit
Court for the Southern District OF this rtate-a DIS
trict in which Judge Nelson often pres.ded-hed
pubic meeting and agreed upon an address, which
was presented to the Judge at his home IN Coop
erstown, by deputation OF eminent lawyers
specially named ior the purpose. This ad-
dress was an eloquent tribute to the
worth OF the great man VINO is gone, and his reply
that occasion showed that Gnere can be nothing
trv tnan an honest Jndcary ana Bar pat
at I'll achievement OF justice TIN Ough the proper
administration and application OF law. other ad-
dresses poured IN upon Judge Nelson from his
brethren of the Supreme Court OF the United
States IRON the Judges OF the Court oi Appeals
aud various other Judges from the memoe OF
the Bar OF the state and rom Senators and mein-
bers OF the House OF representatives, all
the distinguished character OF the learned
Judge. and assuring him that he carried
Win MN ho ms YIrtusa ae h mos.
to which he was model Of dignity and source
Had Judge Nelson been on the Supreme Court
Bench at the time OF Chlei Justice Cnaseis death
he might possibly, nave been nominated and ap
poini ed Ch.e Justice; for most unquestionably lie
| possessed all the requirements necessary to
| worthiy I'LL so eminent a position, which never
law wen ,I yepsea apna IN nernaonai I aairs and
thoroughly acquainted with great mercantile and
| ocial questions.
Nelson are Mrs. Nelson his two SONS. 5. w Neson,
| the Hon. Rensselaer, X. Nelson, the latter at
present Judge OF the United states Circuit Court of
Minnesota, aud two daughters, Mrs. Beach and
Mrs. Staikweather.
| The Judge was a man of massive Frame strong
! will and cheerful temperament HIS portrait, very
| well painted, hangs upon the wall OF tie United
States Circuit Court OF this city, aud remains thete
TO recall the minds Oh the lawye ers WHO practlsed
before MIN to tue days when he added dignity and
lorce 10 the character OF one OF the most upright
| judges that has ever occupied seat upon the
| Bench OF this country.
MEETING OF THE BAR.
meeting OF the Bar OF this circuit will be held
| at the United States court room, No. Al Chambers
street, ON Monday, December Is, at one O'Clock
p. NJ, to make arrangements Tor the attendance OF
delegation to represent the Bench and the Bar OF
this city and vicinity at the funeral Vi MIR. Justice
Neson at IoOpefsLown.
! VIM. Al. EvAkIS CHARLES M. KELLER,
r.. w. SIOUGHTUN, JANE, THOMSON,
| ED. PIERREpONI, A. j. NANDEkfUbL,
| G. a. SEWARD. GEORGE CLIFFORD
L. II. OWEN, 4. o. ). BUCKLEY.
SIDNEY WEBSTER,
Charles w. Moore.
Charles W. Moore, distinguished member OF the
Masonic order in America, died on Friday, at West
Concord Mass, from the effects OF an attack OF
Mr. was m In Morch