National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-10-24

ness and force, and all who Knew hin Know how
ton. Physically, intellectually aud morally he
was all that Chief Justice ought TO be. In
PEELED by what has been called the innrmity Of
noble minds, he pursued with untiring zeal his
lofty aims, and Whatever else may DO said Of his
aspirations, happily no one can say that they
marred the excellence or purity OF hts personal
HampssIre. wheye he was born IN isas and soon
after became citizen OF OHIO, where, unalded
by fortune or friends, he commenced his success
ful public Greer. Inspired by an arior that
spurned all obstacles, he pressed nward and up
ward until he was exalted to the Read Of this
high tribunals place that but few men can ever
attain, whence he has come down 10 his grave
crowned with years and many honors, and left
life
"Rich in the worlds opinion and mems praise,
And full OF all we could desire. but days"
To which Me-. Justice clifford responded as
follows:
JUSTICE CLiFfoRp's ADDRESS.
GENTLEMEN OF THE BAR: Providence has or
dalned that man must die, and IL Is q matter OF
solemn import TO every rejecting mind that the
sentence applies to the whole human family,
without regard TO station, attainment or useful
ness.
None OF those who occupied theAe seats six
teen years ago are now here TO participate In
these commemorative proceedings, and only two
OF the number then In ONCE survive to JOIN In
the general sorrow, so well expressed In the res
olutions OF the bar. for the great loss which the
Nouuul Hhs llt uthth bi htt
Chief Justice Of this court. Vacancy followed
vacancy subsequent to that period, until the
place OF the Chief Justice and those Of his asso-
ciates were all nlled by new appointments, and
the junior Of the imme ateiy succe edlng perioJ,
who was appointed to nl a prior vacancy, has
become the senior Associate Justice OF tho court.
., Great events IN the meantime have occdrred.
and was crushed. Slavery was abolished and
amendments were made to the Constitution to
make u conform To that great change In the So
al al nf Aiaia tai hr fhn
New laws were passed extending the jurisdlc-
ton Of the court and vastly augmcnting Its la
bors and responsibilities.
Gratitude is due To Providence that the lives
and health OF the present members Of the court
have been preserved throughout that period,
and for the success which has attended their
efforts, aided by the wise counsels OF the late
Chief Justice, In UNFOLDING all the safeguards Of
liberty ordained In the Constitution. Civil war
ragged for time, with all It's dcmoralizing in1u-
ences, hut the court continued calm and un-
Paired, to shed Its benign influence upon the
whole people OF the country, and to secure the
blessings Of liberty to the present generation
Death has now again entered these walls, and,
for second time within the period mentioned,
has removed the Chief Justice Of the court.
Such loss Ia deeply felt by the whole county,
and by none more heavily than by those con-
nected with this tribunal. Whenever a good
man dies, In any walk OF life, there group
OF sad regrets from the hearts OF all who may
have either experienced or witnessed his benen-
cence. But when, from some dignined and ele-
waited station OF public trust obcdient to the In
evitable summons. great and good man drops
suddenly and noselessly away, In the compre-
hensivc sphere OF whose high duties nothing re-
nscsnc Sa, INC sG,emn snd sGsses,e senes 81
do Justice TO his motives and TO award their SAL
dened and anectionate appreciation OF his otficial
services aud public acts.
difference Of opinion, envy, or jealousy may
have created barriers to Just appreciation OF
such man during the active and angry strug-
giles Of life, but when the curtain Of death In
terposes It's impenetrable mystery between him
and the living, that involuntary homage which
human aature instinctively pays to its true no.
blemen, is almost always SUFFICIENT to hush such
Influences and override every such barrier.
Passions Of the Kind cloud the understanding,
and too often prevent any impartial Judgment
upon the life and character OF contemporary
behind him, and he has passed that solemn por-
tai towards which all human life Is only the
pathway. Influences Of the kind sometimes
Affect even the public Judgment Ind compel
as they take their night" Whether good or
bad, the public man TO whom. under Govern
ment o. the structure Of ours, has been COM
ask no more, nor can his friends, than that
those who desire TO review his acts shall be gov
erned BY the innextble standard Of Justice, look
ing TO his motives and purposes as embodied In his
acts, when properly construed In the light OF the
circumstances OF his life and the nature, DIM
Guilty and peril OF his public duty.
Without thought OF anythlng so invdious a.
COMPARISON Of merit 1t may be safely said that
OF all the characters who were chief and promi-
nent amid the swift and terrible connections
emerged, none bore q more perpiexing and oner.
Gus share Of the public duty than the man to
whose memory, more especially as Its Chief
Justice, the supreme Judicial tribunal OF the ma
ton now pays Its sad tribute OF mourning aud
respect.
Called to preside over the administration Of