, 1881-01-09

persons sat at the tables, which were graced
by the beauty and fashion Of Springfield and
the State. The Judges OF the Supreme,
!. Appellate. and Circuit Courts and many Of the
most prominent lawyers OF Illinois were
present. The Hon. E. B. Sherman, of Chi
cago, V1ce-President Of the Bar Association,
presided. Brief and happy responses were
made tosthe toas1s proposed by Judge Nc
Culloch, OF the Appellate Court, and Chief
Justice Dickey, OF the Supreme Court
!; Mr. Wasiburne, responding to the senti-
.ment, "'The Bench and Bar" proposed by
the President. said: ,
Iregret that our President has not called upon
some other gentleman 70 respond who Is more
identified with the profession than myself. /
tn political life to feel quite At home On an occa.
sion Hike this, and among so many distinguished
men % now ct tho Bar: The law. it is said, IS
When lawyer begins to coquet with politics be
bids adieu, tor time ut least, to his profession,
though We have among US many men who, after
fully resumed the practice OF the profession:
But that could not ba SO In case like my own. I
you'd not'now dare to appear before Justice Of
feace IN al assault and battery case. [LauKh-
teri have not, however, been SO long out of
my profession as to forget it. I cherish and
shall ever cherish the most agreeable souvenirs
specI for ths profession q the faw, and ny ID
m1ration for the great men who have illustrated
that profession IN all countries and In all tines
back IN our contemplation OF the English Bar
and Bench. Webegtn, perhaps, With the grabbed,
the learned the ingenious old Coke, and howgreat
transcendent abilities of Lord Bacon. .sthe
wtsest, brightest moanest Of mankind" and,
after lapse OF centurtes, with what pain We
We pause In the presence OF the greatest lawyer
and Judge that ever adorned the Bar and the
uon neneh OF any cgaa Ely nams s Is areaay
and the English Constitution VIII live 50 long
g. R,.t the English b., language shall be spoken
compliment paid to his great name by
Mr. Justice Bullen. in an opinion reported In the
only, for dave ~ not n road The % op,on % since 9as
a law student 10 speaking OF Lord Mansfield
he said, principles, we're by him stated, rpa-
admiration at the strength and stretch Of the !
human understanding" We may follow up the |
long list Of English lawyers and Judges, and pay
et2 g Vt cit aRaes
In our judicial annals. There is Lord Thurlow, !
SO .variously estimated, but whose reputation !
upon his RraT md sometimes 80 savage
manner on the bench, aud bis profanity OF the |
Lord Erskine, the latter so distinguished as an
advocate at the bar His defense Of Thomas |
Paine on the indictment found against bin for
ernment was one OF the most brilliant efforts of
his life. Great efforts were made in official cir
cles to prevent m Erakins taking brief In paine's
you must not take Patao's brief" IL.
aye4 At was tie e be dsa sas oanio s { Boe aog
replied. s. But hare been retained, and By G.
will take the briet!' The result Of that trial
how se f n ana
lcal excitement and popular commotion. Paine
was most intensely hated in England at this
lime. When Erskine had finished bis maenia-
cont Grafton for the defense, and the Attorney |
General rose to close the case for the Govern
nent, the jury coolly told him they did not want
% hear him, as they had made up their minds
Our own country is the child Of the common
NV, and great lawyers and great Judges have
he great names that have houored tho profess
'ion and adorned the Bench Of this country our
,earts as iawyers must swell With the emotions
Lord Mansfield. We have had bis counterpart
a the United States In Chief-Justice Marshall,
Fhose e1positdons Of our own Constitution are
singular thing that this great jurist
and great Judge was never called Judge Mar,
aoighboTs and friends in Farquier County. viz:
yinia- Holding to his old rank in the RevoIu-
ionary wnr: they never spoke Of him and never
o {he IS
he most imposing tribunals in the world and Is
he sheet anchor and trust Of the country. |
T n Aarch@2 1sso. No one who ever ever
,awe Catef-Justics Taney. preside on: the
NJ m dignity Of bis manner. Such vas lis delight
ul intercourse with the members Of the Bar
hat he made himself beloved BY all T can L
,earing on The Bench, and how he relieved me
run embarrassment when quite young man !
nd when appeared for the first time to argue
1have no time to speak OF the Bar and Bench Of
ur own state. but | cannot refrain from e1-
resslug az the pride T feel ia our profession
N allied by every tic which Gun bind man to
great and noble commonwealth 4 pure
judiciary Is the very rock of our sd lvauon. With
hat inexpressibe satisfaction we can say We
ave always had that In our State, and the peo-
le will SEC to it that we shall haveit always lap
lausel, so that we can paraphrasa the couplet /
! applied to th6 press: !,
1na1ea @ % ~ influence and aaoriSed s. sA' gain.
3heers,1
hen reflect upon the changes hat have oc- {
lrred among the Bar and Bench since was ,
United to practice. nearly forfy-oue years I
?ne BY. Nearly all Of those who were then Of :
iddIe age have gone to that undiscovered | {
,untry from whose bourne NO traveller re- i
lrns." A few SO houored and 80 respected hap !
ROWLING, Stuart, Treat, the Edwardses, Arnold, !
gurgite vasto."
Should the lawyers Of the present generation |
l the places OF those who have gone before |
tr noble profession will continue to challenge ! t
9 confidence and respect OF the people, and !
our great Commonwealth, which Is the pride, / c
ID the boast, and the glory Of all its loyal sons.
ireat cheering.l y
~1Ar ~@rYr1r~E4 Il