The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-04
THI LATE JUDGE NATHAN K. HALF
Eulogistic Addresses by e. w.
Stoughton, John e. Parsons
and Judge Blatchford.

A Suo80 6laLcnIOr0.
Adjournment Of the United
States District Court.
yesterday, as soon as Judge Batchford took hta
seat upon the Bench In the United States District
court room' motion was made that the Court de
adjourn IN consequence OF the death OF the Hon.
Nathan X. Hail. who had for many years a,led tina
ONCE OF Judge OF the United States District Court
for the Northern district of New York. As win IA
seen from the proceedings reported below thu
Court at once acquiesced In the proprietv OF tina
notion
REMARKS OF MIR. x. W. sToUGHToN
Mr.. St0ughtOn said:-Inf0rmation yesterday sf.
ternoon reached me- and this morning is commu-
nicated by the press to the public, that the Hon.
Nathan X. Hall, who for the period OF nearly
twenty-five years has administered justice In tho
federal courts OF this circuit has gone from for
ever. He died suddenly yesterday morning.
at no advanced age, in the full maturity
OF his powers and of his learning, at a period OF
his life which still promised much OF future useful
ness His has been most honorable and useful
and satisfactory career. Educated to the Bar, no
soon acquired distinction in his profession In the
practice OF which he early became associated with
Mr.. Fillmore, who, though much the senior Of
Judge Hall, still survives him. When MIR. FILL
more became President OF the United States
Judge Hall, then quite young, became, as Post
master General, q member OF his Cabinet, and a.
such secured the confidence and esteem OF all Its
members and especially Of Mr.. Webster. In that
high ONCE Judge Hall served his country we'll
swayed by no unworthy or partisan motives ever
mindful of his duties. moved by no desire Of
nv
honest means to attain noble ends Finally.
Judge Conklng, who had long presided as Judge
OF the United States Court for the Northern dis
trict OF New York, resigned that ofice, and Judge
Hall was IN August 1852 appointed his successor.
This was most satisfactory to the Bar OF that dis
trct and indeed of the entire circuit. He entered
upon the discharge Of his judicial duties with .
high sense OF the sacred obligation imposed upon
him. He has often presided In this district both
his entire judicial LIE 1t has been my good fortune
TO know him wen and to enjoy. as believe, his
fore him in the trial and argument oil cases. some
OF which were OF great length and difficulty. HIS
efforts TO thoroughly understand the most complt
Gated cases were ever persistent and labOrous. He
rarely conceived and less rarely expressed at an
early stage Of any cause Impressions for against
either side. He was slow to arrive at conclusions,
and seldom did 80 until he had most carefully in
vestigated and de1berated upon the questions to
be determined His love of Justice his desire to do
justice, impelled him Oftentmes to the performance
OF judicial labor OF the most painful and minute
OF exact legal learning. the accommodations OF many
well spent years. He heard counsel with patience,
and ever treated them with courtesy and Kindness.
His judicial lie has been pure and spOtless and TO
his labors and his example the Bar, the public and
even the BENCH are greatly indebted. moro
completely gratitv the pride and the honest ambl-
ton Of the widow and descendants who mourn his
high places In the State and on the Bench, without
having sought or secured them by unworthy
MEANS and he has ever so discharged his high and
responsible trusts as to merit the approval and
the applause OF the best among his fellow men.
He was worthy associate upon the Bench of that
great Judge whose loss we still sincerely mourn,
and who, alter few months OF separation he has
gone from US to join. OF the private life OF Judge
Hall desire to say few words He was genial
in MS disposition, gentle In his manners, KIND
to all with whom he associated, and brought
fed MS own. thoughtful ana conslderate Of the
comfort OF Others he was kind even in his reprools
and was even more willing to make excuses for
faults than to condemn them. He trusted firmly
in the justice and mercy Of our Great Father st
and by example, unostentatious, but earnest and
sincere encouraged men to do well that they
at the last day. We shall see him no more forever.
mourn his loss When few, very few more
no more. 1 VIII have been nen laid 10 gently
away whom ION Rut knew s,o in my early pro.
da e BUT viii them not i've to see
In mourning above their graves May such lessons
teach the way OF life The one now presented to
us may help to do this. In view OF the life and
long judicial services OF the eminent Judge who
lies cold and unburied in our midst l move that
out OF respect to his memory this Court do now
REMARKS OF Mr.. JOHN z. PARSONS.
Mr. Parsons o IN the course Of few appropriate
tribute to the memory OF Judge Hall than that ft
should be said OF him. and said truthfuly, that no
was found to complain Of the justice Of mis- de-
cisions and no question ever raised as to the
integrity OF his character. II Judge Hall escaped
which commended his example TO all OF them. mr..
Parsons concluded by secondlng the motion Of Mr..
REMARKS By JUDGE BLATcHFoRD.
Judge Batchlord said 1T is not only appropriate
that this only tribute which as Court can be paid
by US to the memory OF Judge Hall should be paid,
but eminently fitting that we ourselves should
pause and take this lesson to heart AS members
the federal courts, we have all Of US been called
recently in thick and quick succession to mourn
have been upon the Bench OF the federal courts.
1t was but few days since that the predecessor Of
Judge Hall ripe years sand and 1at passed to
followed to the grave the remains OF that eminent
Justice who presided nearly alty years over the
sanse 4n m called aH sf Spsn d 70
that now occupy for over forty years. and but
short time before that Judge Ingerso Of Connecti-
both in this Court ana in the circuit Court for this
dlsrict and, therefore, it is that the uncertainty
OF human lie comes home to US who are in
the habit OF meeting daily IN the
federal courts ana, in view Of these examples,
with striking force When Judge Hall came upon
the Bench OF the federal Court in 1882 was resid-
ing IN his district. witnessed the passing away
from the Bench OF Judge Conkling, who
resigned the place, and the accession OF
Judge Hall. practised before him at
the Bar for some fifteen years. l had occasion to
know him In that relation, to know him in private
l1ie and after came to this Bench to meet him III
other relations. He came to the Bench in the ma
turity OF his powers, at the age OF forty-two ana
nom that time during those twenty years, which
are the years OF a lawyers life from forty-twoto
sixty-four he gave an acute mind patient m
dustry, conscience void OF all offence, or earnest
application, to the duties OF hts place and to the
discharge Of all the responsibilities that Iei upon