The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-12-18
JUDGE BREEsE FOB PRECEDENT.

earnestly urging the name OF Judge Breest
for nomination as the democratic candidate
for the Presidency. His pre.sminent ability
large experience in public affairs, SOUND
craftsmanship and exalted purity of charac
ter raise HIM SO far above the typical poll
,icisn Of the day, that in comparison with
him he seems almost like being Of another
world-of some higher and purer sphere.
From an able aud lengthy article in tint
East 81. Louis Gazette, advocating the nomin
; alton OF Judge Breese, we make the follow
ing extract:
\ Such a man shall be sought for the office
4 That he can't be found amongst the CROWD
who shave claims" upon 1t, IS undoubted. NC
! chronic office seeker need hope for success
l That he should and must be western man
appears equally clear Who this man shall
be is the auandary. Exchanges on our desk
holding one opinion IN the premises with US
sug gest the name of a man not unknown tc
our readers. The Hon. Sidney Breese, Of the
supreme court of our state, for many years It's
Chief Justice! Though not native OF this
state, Judge Breese grew up with it-from
his boyhoOd to ripe old age, and though
ripe in wears, in wisdom and In hon0rs, he il
vet in the possession of as vigorous mind
and body MS most men In their prime, Fifty
years ago he was practicing young attorney
at the state capital-then at Kaskaskla; later
VIZ read of him as studious and exemplary
circuit Judge residing in Belleville, a mem
Der of congress, and still later, and for twenty
years past, a prominent, aye, the leading
int Der of the tribunal of last resort in the
state.
Following, to the same purpose, is an ex.
tract from lengthy editorial in the Ashland
Adcocdte:
Some one, in the leading newspaper OF st.
Louis, presents, in an able article, the name
of Hon. Sidney Breese, Chief justice of the
supreme court of Illinois, for the next presi-
dency. This great jurist IS no stranger to US
Judge Breese is one of the truly great men
of this age. He was born In the state of New
York inlone of the early years Of this century,
graduated at Union college, removed to Hi.
nois, and, after full course Of study before
becoming of age, was admitted to the bar.
"A hen only twenty-five years of age he be-
came assistant secretary of the state; and at
the age OF tweHty-seven was appointed attor-
ney of the United States for Illinois, Two
years afterwards he published volume of
decisions of the supreme court, which now
bears his name, and was the first octave vol.
ume ever published In Illinois.
With the exception of one term rs speaker
in the Illinois Legislature, and SIX years ser.
vice (l843-1849) as United States senatOrfrom
his state. Judge Breese has been over thirty
years on the supreme bench of Illinois. and
during the greater part of that time its chief
justice, which position be occupies at this
time. Innumerable other appointments and
nominations Qncluding that of governor of
Illin0is) have been rendered him, but for
nearly a generation, he has declined all over
lures which might withdraw him from his
judicial station. II is not to be inferred from
this that he lacks either patriotism or spirit,
for the records of his long public life bear
abundant evidence that both his intellect and
labOrs have been active, brilliant and pro.
gresslve His industry and profound learn.
ing gave him enviablC rank as statesman,
when that was his line Of duty, while great
numbers of his decisions from the supreme
bench have challenged the attention and al.
miration of both hemisplieres, in consequence
of the purity and great range Of knowledge
exhibited in them Perhaps no man living
has performed greater amount of steady
heavy work; and yet by virtue of well or
dered habits of life he 10 to-day male, hearty
gentleman, full of amiability and good cheer,
as ready for full measure of work as he was
at forty.
But the browning renown in the honorable
fame accorded by common consent to Judge
Breese, lies in the truth that in all his long
career-whetheT as statesman, Judge or
chief justice-in addition to his great talents,
and works, he has borne an exalted character
for the purity of his life and exact integrity
in all his relations with mankind. These
virtues, in life surrounded by such circum-
stances, are lamentably rare, and the state.
ment of them should be written in letters of
gold. We have made many visits 10 Illinois
during the past fifteen years, and have yet
to hear the first citizen of that state speak
otherwise OF him than IN terms of the loudest
praise.
The following is from the Joliet Signal:
Judge Breese Is one of the great men of
the nation. For years past he has taken no
part IN politics, and although ripe in years,
he Is still as vigorous In mind and body az
most men at forty, and on all living issues of
the day. he stands with the great mass of the
people in favor of retrenchment, and an hon.
est and genuine reform of the abuses which
have grown up under the corrupt party in
power. With his well known dislike for all
that is unjust and dishonest, he would make
u NV IVA UiuPtiouintS anu tultNtS III WHAT
ever department be found them; aud In the
words of the Cairo Gazette, which we fully
indorse, mo man IN the United States would
command neaItier support in the West than
Judge Breese. In Illinois his name would BE-
the certain key note to sweeping victory"
Though never an Incorporate partisan,
Judge Breese has always been sincere and
consistent, If not noisy, democrat That fact
does not, however, proven, the more pure and
exalted among his political opponents from
giving voluntary and cordial expression to
their appreciation of his great political and
personal worth. Thus we find the Hon. Z.
b. Washburn, our able republican minister 10
France, in a late pamphlet giving sketch OF
Chas II. Hampstead, one of the pioneer great
men of Illinois, lately deceased, depressing
from the main purpose OF his narrative, to
pay the following unsought but just and
graceful tribute TO HIS old friend, the present
1s.I .f -