Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-05-26
VOL. xLIX. NEW SERIES. VOL. xxi
to it, Withdrawing all its former announce

to it, Withdrawing all its former announce
ments
have listened to Webster, and to most
oil the more distinguished American ora
tors, both at the bar and in Congress, and
to the most distinguished orators of Eng
land at the present time. in parliament, as
well as at the bar. but for real maddened
el0quence, | have never heard anything
which seemed to me quite up to this argu-
ment of Governor Mattocks. 1t is scarcely
needful to add that Cleveland was convicted
OF murder and sentenced to death, a most
salutary example, but finally his punish
ment was commuted.
have listened to a great many of Gov
ernor Mattock' S arguments at the bar. both
to court and jury, sometimes when not my
sell engaged in the cause; sometimes when
acting as opposing counsel. and sometimes
while sitting as judge, and in all Of them
there seemed to me great power and ability.
| had no reason to suppose myself partl
cular favorite of the Governor at any time.
Our position as opposing counsel in every
case where we were both engaged naturally
led to no very special intimacy, and in ad-
dltiOn TO this the effort of Young man TO
compete as far as possible with one so much
his senior, naturally tended to create the
feeling of assumption and pretension on my
part, unless was more fortunate than ialls
to the common lot in such cases. But in
our last tournament at the bar, ust before
his elevation to the bench, where he remain
ed till his own voluntary retirement, when
my labors at the bar had been exchanged
for others Of graver nature, he acted the
part Of noble and generous competitor.
saying to some of his friends who urged
him TO attend to the re-argument of the
Airaatad bu ha
he could never have better time to retire
than when he had made drawn game with
the young lion of the North 1t was said
with no expectation to have it reach me.
lie was far too delicate for anything of that
character
But | felt that it was generous and SIN
cere, and as Junlus says, that 1t would
wear well. because it was extorted from
him ;" and repeat it here more in justice
to him than from any qualification 1t can
give me, when scarcely expect consolation
for the sorrows of advancing years from
things Of that character.
am conscious that | have dealt mainly
upon the more serious elements in his char
acter, which were always predominant in
all his great efforts at the bar. But IN
times of relaxation, and when no deep
sense of responsibility rested upon him. he
was man VI slSdb stulailNS shN p4ag ANA-
ness OF character. His witticisms in the
undertone of the bar, are more remember
ed than those Of almost any other in the
State, and many of them are more worth
repeating than most of those we meet IN
collections of the kind. But have already
far transcended the proper limits OF such
sketch Isaac +. REDFiELD.
BOsTON, January Il, 1876.
NoTF In oar brief enumeration of some
Of the prominent men in Vermont with
whom Governor Mattocks associated and
acted, | did not name any OF the opposite
party although many such existed whose
names are held in deserved yeneTation.
Richard skinner 60 Of Manchester. for
many years successively Governor and Chief
Justicesof the State. was among the ablest
and best men which the State has ever had
in its public services. The Bradleys, father
and son, are remembered with universal
respect Israel Smith, Senator in Congress,
Horatio Seymour, twice Senator IN Con
gress. Chief Justice Adds, and many others,
will long be held IN the highest esteem "a
among the most able and faithful OF the
public servants of the State. There are Of
course many others to whom reference
might be made in a. general review of the
public men of the State, bat there is no oc-
casion for it here. l. +. X.
a. John W. Chandler was near relative OF
Gen. John L. Thompson. OF the law firm of WI
lams and Thompson OF this city, and George W.
Chandler OF the law firm OF Goudy Chandler.aiso
of IL city.
e. Cleveland was sentenced 60 be hung, and Il
the sentence executed, It would be the duty OF
the sheriff to hang him. The sheriff was the father
oi the Hon. John A. Jameson, Judge Of the SupeII
Court ot this county, and OF Mr. Jameson % the
well known printers, Jameson Morse.
Cleveland was one o: the most intimate friends
uf Sheriff Jameson. After the eony elton, the SAer
n realizing his position the official executioner
of one OF hi dearest friends, suffered untold Eon
les OF m nd from which he only relieved by
the commutation Of his sentence. The public feel
ia. ran SO hi rh that the Governor feared TO com
mute the sentence himself, aud special act Of the
lez stature had 10 he ubta ned. Upon receiving
the news OF the passage Of the act Sheriff Jameson
giving way o. the widest eXciamatons Of Joy,
every now and then would IN a loud voice cry out
" Thank God, lie is saved and | haven't got 10
hang him iN
80 Richard skinner. Of Manchester. our native
town was the father OF Hon. Mark skinner, %! this
city. En-. LEGAL News