Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-10-09

own discretion as to the length OF time
would occupy. / at once decided to
accept and join in the tribute OF admit
ration for the character of the great man
whose remains lie under this monu-
ment. l was glad to come into
this section, where / have never been
before, and look into the faces OF the
people whom have represented for the
last five years in the Congress OF the
United States, and make myself ae-
quainted with you. l can add but little
to what has been so well said by Mr.
Walton, who, for learning, research and
general culture, is as well prepared for
such a task as the best in the State. L
did not have the happiness of being ac-
quainted with Judge Chapman, having
resided in another part of the State, and
| have no personal remembrance of him
to cherish, but gladly join in generating
his memory. 1t is very late, thirty
years after the death of this eminent
man, to erect this monument over his
grave, but better late than never. When
our minds go back down the annals
of time, and we call up the power and
wisdom Of the founders of our institu-
tions, y Z learn lessons by which we can
we'll T, Jft. When we go back to honor
and v lerate the great men who founded
our Institutions and built their name into
our jurisprudence, we honor and improve
Oursc .y>cs. One thought arose in my
mimi, 20 which wish briefly to call at
tenti0n, when Mr.. Walton spoke of
Nathani Chapman as a Senator. He
was a man of principle and not of eX-
pediency, and when a question of priv
ilege arose between the two houses of
Congress, he never sought for a prece-
dent for a decision, but saw his duty
clear and plain in deciding upon the
fundamental principles upon which
rested the rights and duties Of the cO-or-
dinate branches of the national legisla-
ture, and we can find in this mode of de-
cision lessons Of wisdom for all men. |
have recently been reading the essay of
Judge Chapman on the Common Law.
In that able essay he rests his whole
argument on the ground that principles
of right and Justice can be applied to all
the varying scenes of American life, and
that so far as the common law rested ON
principle it could be applied to the local
affairs of Vermont. As a lawyer and a
Judge he was a man who relied on prin-
ciple and not upon decided cases. He
was not what lawyers call case lawyer;
but he relied upon the principles of the
common law and moral law, and applied
those principles to the case he was try
ing. The ablest lawyers are those who
have stood by principles and let prece-
dents go, and as we stand here TO dedi-
cate this marble column to the memory
of the great man we now venerate, we
can wish to ground ourselves anew in
the principles he loved to make the rules
of his life, and we can well extract this
lesson from this occasion that we renew
our allegiance to the great principle of
right against wrong. The physician who
doctors SYMPTOMS is the poorest. When
we find men who let precedents go but
follow principles it is wise to rear the
monumental marble to such great men.
1t is well for free State to come back
and contemplate the men who give tone
and direction to the State. We wish to
come back to this contemplation for our
selves. This monument will do no good
to Judge Chapman, but to us it may be a
lesson of wisdom and lead US to safe
guide for our lives.
The next speaker called out was D. E.
Nicholson.
MR.. NIOHoLsoN's REMARKS.
FeIloao Citizens, Lad5es and Gentlemen,
and Professional Brethen We have
met to exhibit appropriate honor to one
whose life has so richly earned it, and to
unite as professional brethren who have
sat at the feet of the oracle and learned
lessons of wisdom from his lips and pen.
Mr.. Nicholson continued at considerable
length to speak of the learning, integrity
and virtue of Judge Chapman; to briefly
sketch the history of the town of Tin
mouth and of the sons and daughters
she had sent away to build up and orna-
ment other communities, as well as of
those who staid at home among the
green hills to uphold the high prestige
of the town. The speech was replete
with "reminiscences and anecdotes and
was we'll received as having struck a
popular chord in the hearts of the people,
LETTER OF HON. L. p. POLAND.
The chairman called upon Col. Veazey,
who made brief and touching speech,
and read the following letter from Hon.
l., P. Poland;
ST. JoHNsBURY, Sept. q. 1878
My DEAR COLONEL,-I received your
telegram last evening askingme to make
a short address on the occasion of raising
a monument to Chief Justice Chipman
sible for me to come I should certainly /
do so, but some business engagements /
forbid. NY knowledge of the early and /
eminent Chief Justice is, of course, /
gathered wholly from his legal writings, /
and the little tradition that remains of |
his personal history. But l have ever
entertained the most profound respect
for his memory, and the highest regard
for his ability and knowledge of the law.
He lived in the formative period in the
history of the State, when all our insti-
tutiOns were taking shape, and whenth
influence of strong, learned and up
right judge at the head of our judiciary
was most important in establishing its
future character. l have always regard
ed him as the father of our Vermont