Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-10-29
The Supreme Court and Bar Association.

week, owing to the session of the general
term of the supreme court and the annual
meeting of the Vermont bar association.
1t is due TO the limbs of the law" to
observe that finer body of men are rare
ly seen together, and the state certainly
has reason TO be proud of the attainmentS
and standing Of both its bench and bar.
Among the more distinguished members
of the bar visiting us, arc Hon. Luke p,
Poland, f. j. Phelps, Esq, Hon. George
n. Dale, Hon. Walter c. Dunton, Hon.
John l.. Edwards, Hon. II. C. Belden OF
St. Johnsbury; Hon. l.. II. Thompson of
Irasburgh; Hon. Charles L. Benton oil
Guildhall; Hon. Daniel Roberts of Bur-
lington; Hon. g. w. Hartman of Ben
nington; Col. Aldace F. Walker of Rut-
land; Messrs. A. P. Gross, Park Davis,
Guy G. Noble and w. d. Wilson Of St.
Adams; General w. w. Grout and +.
w. Baldwin, Esq, OF Barton; John
Young, Esq, of Derby Line; II. c. Ide,
Esq, aud Col. A. w. D ckey of St. Johns
bury; Hon. L. l., Lawrence of Burling-
ton and George Howe, Esq, of Brattle-
horo.
Colonel Whcelock G. Veazey, who was
appointed to fill the vacancy on the SUI
preme bencch caused by the resignation Of
Judge Dunton, qualified yesterday morn
ing, and took his seat upon the bench at
the coming in Of court. Colonel Veazey
is man of talent, integrity and learning
in the law lie is comparatively young,
and he will undoubtedly make a good
judge. Ills appointment was eminently
fitting.
The docket of the general term contains
one hundred and three cases; some OF
which, as James r. Langdon ct ais VS..
| Vermont & Canada Il. Il. Co. ct ais
Joseph |. Bicknel vs.. Vermont Copper
Mine, the Bennington QHo Vtrra''to cases
B. F. Merrill and the Central Il. Il. VS..
the Wells River II. r., Ira Melendy VS.
Bradford and the cases involving the va
lidily of the state insolvency law, are O
great importance and length. The term
will probably last about four weeks.
The annual meeting of the Vermont bal
association was held last evening in the
Court House The business meeting took
place in the grand jury room at ten this
forenoon, and the annual banquet of tho
association will take place in the Pavilion
this evening. The events OF the annua
meeting last evening were the annual ad
dress by the president, Z. J..Phelps, Esq.
the reading of memoir of Hon. Luclus 3
Peck, by Hon B. +. Flield of Chief Justice
and United States Senator Jonathan Rob
bins, by G. w. Hartman, Esq of Benning
ton, and of Judge Royal Tyler, (preparet
by his son, Rev. DR.. Tyler, of BrattleboroI
by Hon. Luke Z. Poland.
1t is almost needless to say that Mr.
Phelps address WAS feast Of anecdotes
wit. illustration, wisdom and Information
His subject, being Observations on The
English Bar" was congenial both to the
speaker and his audience, since everything
relating to the bar of England is interest
ing to US, who initiate and humbly hope
to equal in ability, dignity and character
Mr.. Phelps began by abiding to the bene
| fetal influence which the association haC
already exercised upon the profession ant
he predicted for it u grand career. He
| then alluded to the fund raised by the rs
ISOLATION towards the support of the An
derson orphans, Of Memphis, and read two
letters of thanks from members Of thu
Tennessee bar. Returning then to Iii
theme, he said that lawyers had Il goot
professional pedigree, for their ancestor!
we're the Roman clergy. In the time 0
William Rufus the proverb was auliu
clcrtcuS niSj cdNSidicuS, and the practice
of the law was confined to the clergy unit
the time of Edward |. The stability and
much of the influence OF the bar of Eng
land were derived from the inns of court
Their origin is buried in obscurily, but i
is supposed to be contemporary witt
the establishment of the court of common
pleas in London by Magma Churta
Mr.. Phelps gave graphic description
of life in the inns, and said that thcil
architecture and construction was mos
attractive to an American lawyer. Coming
down to our own time he explained the
customs and etiquette Of the English bal
and explained the distinctions of rank ant
practice which exist there. lie gave the
English bar and bench the highest charac
ter for learning and integrity, and sale
that the hest M IN and no other was pro
noted to the bench when vacancy
occurred. But he said that in oratorical
ability the American bar far exceeded
them, and that the best jury lawyer il
England merely talked to the Jury in ;
conversational tone. He believed that the
time was soon coming in England whet
the distinction between attorneys and bar
risters would be done away, and til,
American custom would prevail. lie
concluded with II glowing culogy on the
high tendencies of the profession and An
exhortation to his hearers to live up le
them.
The papers by Messrs. Eiield, Harmar
and Poland were very interesting; Mr.
Fifeld's especially so 10 the residents o
Montpelier, where Mr.. Peck lived ant
practical for SO many years. 1t was /;
graceful tribute to friend and teacher
and did honor to both speaker and sub
ect
AT the term Of the supreme court 70
Washington county, which sat last week
the following cases were decided: Bek
nap, Ely Il Co vs.. John II. Paddock
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