Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-11-02
L, WEDNESDAY,, NOVEMBER 2. 1881.

surprised that he should have time TO recover
from one effort before being called upon TO make
another. lie regretted the absence OF the chief
justice-regretted It the more because probably
Judge Pierpoipts days Of service are over He
felt this more, he thought, than many others,
from the fact that he was on the bench with him
for eight years For the FIRST time since he closed
his sixteen years OF service on the bench there
was now no member OF the supreme court that
was on the bench when he retired from II. Many
OF the members Of the present court had prac-
ticed before him. These mournful reflections
were somewhat foreign to Judge Polands mer-
cural vein, and observing that sadness was not
his besettlDg sn that he endeavored to have as
little Of It compatible with other things, he
changed the drift Of his thoughts to other sub
jects lie had known something Of the evils Of
falling off into politics, and might have prayed
to be delivered from its temptations. lie left
the bench to go to congress. For this he might
not be able to plead a justification but could
plead an Offset; he had performed a greater,
higher and more beneficent service In the revision
OF the national statutes while a member OF con-
gress than he could have done on the bench.
The national laws had never been revised during
nearly one hundred years Of legislation From
seventeen large volumes Of statutes he had ex-
tracted the living law and put 1t into one volume
so II he had dropped out OF Law aud fallen into poll
tics he had something to pay back The Judge kept
his auditors in a roar OF laughter by character
istic account Of famous bar supper in Middle
bury in days aud lang syne," on which festive
occasion a judge, now long gone to his reward
was the unconscious victim Of merry joke He
concluded by challenging Mr.. Davenport's posi-
ton as to the manner Of electing the judiciary
but as the hour was too late to discuss the ques-
ton, said he would argue that matter with
Brother Davenport at the next meeting.
The premier Of Governor Farnham's cabinet "
Hon. James Barrett, was called up and received
with hearty applause. He referred in the warm
terms OF long comradeship to his twenty -three
years service by the side OF Chief Justice Pier
point He addressed himself particularly to the
young members Of the profession. He urged
upon those entering upon the study and practice
Of the law thorough work In mastering the science
and principles Of their profession. He dwet upon
the value Of association between the members Of
the bar OF the state and the judges OF an intimate
acquaintanceship with the court house, and the
serviceabty of the bar association. He advised
the discussion in these meetings of legal subjects,
shS piooohnhoh VI NieWs upDu HuDJtCIs TblAtlng
to the profession, and points in the application of
principles. He deprecated the hurry and pressure
under which knowledge Of law is obtained the
hurry to get into lawyers office, to be admitted
to the bar, to get money and office as the result Of
being lawyers. lie cited the history of Marsh Of
Woodstock, who obtained familiarity with legal
practices and principles such as the civil engineer,
surveying without the aid OF books has in his
profession, before he was admitted to the bar In
1889, by act of the legislature. He studied not to
make money but to be man The examples
Of Colamer, Prentiss, Story, Phelps, Royce and
| many others were CITED to show that their idea
was not how to make money, but how they could
make most OF themselves as men. master OF
the profession OF the science and practice Of law
then patronage will follow. II a young man does
not make himself good lawyer he Is not worthy
OF patronage. He must study, attend the courts,
get familiar with the routine OF the courts, then
he will be able to give his clients sound law and
relief This cannot be done by hurry in study
| in getting admission to the bar and into practice
He referred at length to the example OF Choate as
| an indefatgable worker, every one OF whose
numerous cases was tried with so much exhaustive
| thoroughness that he seemed to have made it q
| self, studying early and late, by day and night
| Important litigation did not happen to come to
| him.
By this time the meeting had entered the " wee
sma' hours" of the morning and President Dun
ton called upon Hon. Daniel Roberts to lead the
association with Aud Lang Syne," which was
| sung with fine effect. President Dunton distin-
guished himself by the ease with which he pre-
sided ard the skill and felicity with which he
hurled his shafts Of pleasantly at the various
gentlemen whom he sought out to edify and en-
terrain the festive company. The only instance
in which his action fell short of perfect felicity
was when, after Judge Poland's jovial speech
he transfixed the unsuspecting represen tativ,
OF the WATERMAN by a summons to speak fol
the press, his chief having ingloriousy fled tn,
field. For the courtesies extended, this journa
desires to present to the Vermont Bar Association
its hearty acknow Judgements and express thu
pleasure 1t has in telling the outside world how
beautifully the warning brotherhood dwells to
gether in love and unity when off duty