The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-07-08

/ tul temperament, of an unusually large
amount Of sympathy and kindness Of heart
and of generous and forgiving nature.
His requirements, both in legal learning
and In general knowledge derived from books
and from the study of humrn nature by OBJ
seryation, were very considerable and were
1t not for the destructive effect of one unfor
tunate habit, which with him, as with so
many others, had gradually and steadily in
creased In strength till il had become ire
sislble, he would have lived many years
longer, and have risen, as 1t was his ambition
TO do, to eminent rank IN his profession ana
in social lite.
If there was any one marked peculiarly in
the deceased it was the great warmth, fervor
and strength of his sympathy for those IN
distress. 1t is rare to find one In whom the
impulse to relieve those In afi1iction was so
quickly and strongly aroused. ne ~ t'nes
expressed himself strongly in relation TO The
evil consequences of this habit to others, and
alluded with deep feelings OF sympathy to
instances of its deleterious effect upon friends
whom he esteemed
noticed this peculiarly more particularly
in my late illness, during which, impelled by
il, he came to see nae often, thus affording me
an opportunity to become more thoroughly
acquainted with him than l had previously
been. / was always glad to see him, and the
more l saw Of him the more discovered the
better part Of his nature, and that there was
much III his character to be esteemed and
respected.
The deceased is entitled to be held in CRATE
full remembrance as one who nobly did his
duty to his country in the war of the rebel
hon, and as one who had suffered much in
aiding TO preserve the free institutions we
now enjoy.
The Court has alluded to the habit Of the
deceased as an unfortunate one, because 1t
may generally be regarded rather as mis-.
fortune than as a fault for one to acquire it.
1t is misfortune, too, of a character likely to
betall the very best Of nen-one to the hap
pening of which sympathy and kindness of
heart often materially contribute, and one to
resist which the effort is not made till the
power for successful resistance is gone. Some
times, indeed, the habit or inclination may
be so inherited as to be irresistible.
For the formation of the habit producing
an early death Of this kind one is often in
debted to ones most intimate associates and
warmest friends, and if so, the oft quoted ex-
preston, "Save me from my friends cannot
be inappropriate in relation to such NANTES
tations Of friendly interest as tend to cause
such untmely deaths.
If there is anything IN the early death of
worthy man, thus prematurely destroyed,
which is of any value as warning to those
who may have not yet entered or who may
yet be but in the outer circle of the maelstrom,
it is to be sincerely hoped that they may be
|profted by 1t in time to enable them to avoid
la similar fate. For those who are rapidly
nearing the center OF the vortex, 1t is, of course,
useless to hope. Their friends can do moth
ing but painfully watch them till they disap.
pear, and mourn for them when they are gone.
Tie Court has deemed it its duty to speak
thus plainly on an unpleasant subject. The
proper observance of the maxim, "De mortuis
nil nisi bonum," does not, in the judgment
of this Court, require that a misfortune
known to every one should not be mentioned
when alusion to il can not harm the dead
and may benefit the living.
When we look back upon the dreadful de-
struction which suicidal convivIality of this
kind has caused among the members of the
bar, Frequently selecting the brightest and
best one,) as well as among others of our &C.
Quaintance, we ought not to refrain from
speaking the truth firmly but kindly on occa.
sions like this. A court of Justice at all
events is not the place where the truth should
be suppressed.
Whether having. with friendly interest IN
his welfare, but without due reflection, aided
in forming the habit which caused his de-
structlon; or whether having, with like
friendly interest, but with better judgment,
earnestly striven to dissuade him therefrom,
all may now unite IN deplorng the existence
,of the causes which have brought about the
early death of one who, as a lawyer as a sol.
dier and as q man has done so much, and
who under other circumstances might have
done so much more to enttle him to be CRATE
fully remembered and highly esteemed by
these who have survived him.
The requast of the bar Will be complied
with and the clerk will spread the resolutions
on the records of this Court