Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-01-19

it be manly and honorable to ask for
your votes, would it not be nnmanly
and dishonorable through false SELL
sitiveness 10 withhold the reasons
for asking them?
1t was my good fortune, that my
father had the ability and the Will
to give me the best OF educational
advantages. From the time was
seven years Of age, until | was nine
teen, ! was kept constantly at my
books, and then graduated at Dart
mouth College. 1t is true | might
have improved my advantages more
than | did, but in after life found
my scholastic attalnments, such as
they were,to be of the utmost adVan-
tage to me in the study and pursuit
OF my profession.
was then placed in the law school
of Judge Gould (author Of Gould's
Pleadings) at Litchtield, Conn,
which was generally recognized at
that day as being the best law school
in the United States, and which has
certainly sent out some of its most
eminent .jurists. One of my class
mates was Hon. Ward Hunt, now
on the bench Of the Supreme Court
Of the United States, and others
have attained marked distinction.
While attending Judge Gould's Law
School, | wrote, and now have in
manuscript, FIVE volumes of about
500 pages each of his lectures, form
ing an entire compendium of the
science Of law, every title of which
is as complete as his Published work
on Pleadings, which is almost a lit
eral copy OF his lecture on that title.
After completing my very thor
ough course of law studies, | was
admitted to practice at the bar of
Litchtield County after most ex
haustve public examination, by the
Judge of the Court d all the mem
bers of the bar, who took pride III
the boast that none were admitted
to that bar who were not thoroughly
educated in the profession.
then returned to my native State
OF Vermont aud commenced the prac'
tico OF my chosen profession, and
continued it with reasonable success
until in 1886 was taken with the
fever Of migrating To the West, and
the month Of June of that year found
ne located at Mineral Point, where
entered upon large and lucrative
practice, which | maIptaiued so long as
devoted my exclusive attention to it.
Ia 1888 | was appointed United
States Attorney Tor the Territory Of
Wisconsin, which Office | held until
1871 when III company with Governor
Dodge and other t. ). officers Of the
Territory, was removed by President
john Tyler. The duties Of this Office
called me 70 every county in the
Territory, and my professional engage
ments III all of the were numerous and
remuntratlve. After the organization
of the State Government my practice
gradually became restricted to the Fifth
Circuit, and in large degree to
Iowa county
In 1882 my anxiety to aid in the
developement of the industrial re-
sources OF the State, betrayed me
into the folly of giving up my law
practice aud devotirg my time to
efforts iowa, DIS securing the construc-
ton Of railroads especially the Mineral
poirt X. X. and the La Crosse and
Milwaukee These efforts continued |
for about six years, and although |
the roads were built, 1t was my |
misfortune to waste six years of
the most active portion of my lite, as
well as to loose the little means had !
acquired, aud 70 be compelled to start
anew 10 my profession, aud to tulld |
up again If possible a business which
| had SO toolishly although voluntarily |
abandoned
During the last seventeen years |
have quietly pursued the even tenor
of an uneveutual lie attending to the !
education of my children aud whatever
professional business came IN my way.
From this brief statement some idea !
may be formed OF my qualifications as
a theoretical and practical lawyer, to |
discharge the duties of Judge with |
credit aud honor
But legal aud ability, although /
indispensable, aud without which all +,
other elements of fitness are valucless /
on the bench, is aot the only charac-
teris,ie whie ought to distinguish the .
perfect judge. J