Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-09-21
Action at the Superior Court In Relation
to the Death Of Presiden mt GARFIELD.

Immediately after the opening of court,
yesterday morning. Hon. Joseph Baker
arose and said
Nay it please Your Honor:
The sad intelligence has been received that
James A. Garfield. President of the United
States. died last evening at half past ten
o'clock, an event which has filled
the whole land with mourning and sad
ness. And it has occurred to members
of the bar. it undoubtedly has to
your Honor. that it would only be a suitable
tribute to the memory of great and good
man holding such high and honorable office,
that this court should adjourn; and in pursu-
ance of wishes of members Of the Bar | now
make that motion.
County Attorney Heath secondedthe motion
as follows:
Nay 1t please the Court
Representing here. in part. the State au-
thOrities, it seems fitting that | should second
the motion made by my brother Baker. But
simple official respect in aai,er of this kind
is too cold and too formal. ! second it as
representing the younger members of this
bar for the Young men of this country have
learned to love James A. Garfield and to rev.
erence his character. His life and noble
uedtT.uSIig WIFI SIT1StldIl iOTtluut as Te Has.
have furnished the grandest example in his
tory for young men to initiate. ] second the
motion that is now made
Judge Whitehouse then said:
The death of the chief magistrate of any
great nation is always an historical event of
great moment and an occasion OF profound
sensibility. But the death by the hand of an
assassin of chosen ruler of fifty millions Of
people in the midst of peace, happiness and
prosperity, of man who was himself one of
the highest and noblest types of American
citizenship. brave, just and generous, and
but the representative and executor of mild,
Just and equal laws, the ruler in a govern
ment which j, the best exemplfication of the
great idea of equal justice and equal oppor-
tunity to all men, brings with it something
of a sense of personal bereavement to all
citizens of the Republic As Macbeth said
of Duncan:
"He hath borne his faculties 80 meek, hath been
So clear in his great office, that his virtues
Will plead like angels trumpet tongued, against
The deep damnation of his taking on.
1t is true that his death has not resulted
from the commissions of warning parties--and
we should be glad to believe that it resulted
from the act of an irresponsible monomaniac.
1t is true that no citizen has any anxiety about
the stability and continuance of his govern
ment; it is true that the laws will still be en-
forced for the protection of life and property.
But the human heart is kinder than any law
or thought of government, and there will
still be tender and plying memory for the
man as he has lain upon his death bed,
with that unwearying patience and manly
fortitude during all these long days and nights
of suffering, sustained by that unfaltering
trust which characterized bis life.
Out of respect to the memory of the Pres
ident of the United States, it is ordered tina;
this court stand adjourned until Wednesday
morning at 10 o'clock. and that this be en-
tered upon the records of the court.