Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-01-18
Chief Justice Royce.

justice of Vermont, is native of Berkshire, in
Franklin county, and was born in the year 1919.
IL we mistake not, his parents died while he was
quite young and he was left in the care of his
uncle of honored memory, the Honorable Stephen
Royce. His early years were spent upon the
Royce farm, in the district school and in the acad
envy He read law and entered upon its practice
in his native village OF East Berkshire.
Though reserved in character and general bear
ing, Judge Royce has always had the confidence
masses. Iu 1876 and 1S47 he was chosen by his
towns people to represent them in the state leg
stature and again in 1861. In 1S49, 1850 and
1851 he was chosen to represent Franklin county
in the state senate where he was early recognized
as a man Of ability. Twice was he chosen states
attorney, to wit in 1876 and 1S47 In 1856 and
1858 he was chosen to represent the third Yer
mont district in congress. In 1870 he was elected
one OF the judges Of the supreme court and has
received continuous elections since.
Judge Royce's course judge has been an
honorable one, though his experience has not al
ways been pleasant. From the force OF locality
and surroundings it has fallen to his lot to pass
upon the various complications involved in the
interminabe points at issue between the Vermont
ana Canada railroad and other parties; and his
rulings and decisions have subjected him to sharp
criticism in some quarters. Notably has he been
maligned and his acts called in question by one F.
A. Brooks OF Boston, who has never let an occasion
pass when he might reproach the honcred judge
without dealing him a blow. But in Vermont
among the people where Judge Royce's judicial
field is located and upon whose cases he has from
time to time passed, neither his integrity nor his
ability is questioned; and we doubt not but that
his excellency Governor Farnham has expressed
the universal sentiment of the state in his recent
appointment OF a chief Justice.
Judge Royce has an honored ancestry. His
grandfather, Stephen Royce, Senior was one Of
the foremost men of Eastern Franklin county, and
the name of his uncle, the late chief justice, is a
household word, and is the synonym for all
that is honorable pure intelligenta and noble. The
present Chief Justice Royce though living at St.
Adams is still the owner of the fine farm where his
grandfather bugun some ninety years ago. The
farm is bounded on the east by Mississquoi
river, and displays as fine meadow as can be
found in the county.
There are one or two incidents which show Judge
Royce's abilities as speaker, which we do not
remember to have seen in print but which show
his power and ability to influence men and sway
them. We venture to tell them here. The first
instance occurred at Ilydepark, in the nominating
convention OF 1858, 1--WE may be wrong In the
date, but the story is all the same). Judge Royce
was candidate for another nomination. Hon.
Portus Baxter was also q candidate. Mr.. Baxter
was a great manager and was able to develop
much strength in Orleans county where he re-
sided, as well in other parts of the district.
The convention was mass meeting and brought
out an immense attendance. As the late Judge
Steele said, who told us the story, Everybody
from Orleans county was there. Members came
by four and six horse teams, by bugges, by wag-
ons and by carts-anythng and everything that
had wheels" OF course the Baxter element in
the convention was far in the ascendant. Royce
was present, but in such a crowd had but a feeble
following. The vote was taken and Baxter OF
course was nominated by an overwhelming ma
jority. Upon the result being declared, Mr.. Bax-
ter was called upon for speech. He came for
ward, and, as an informant said, made very
poor and a very excited speech Sharing the ex-
elements of the throng and flushed by his great
success, he harangued his audience in a most dis
iointed and ungrammatical manner, gesticulating
the while in a violent and undignifed style To
quote our informant further, the air all full
Of fists. | have heard Portus Baxter make a
good speech" continued Judge Steele, but this
was one OF his worst ones" When Baxter had
done speaking, there was a call for Royce, Ac-
cepting gracefully the situation, he stepped for
ward, congratulated the convention on what they
had done, and then proceeded at some length to
discuss national issues in a mastery manner,
making, to quote our informant again, "one OF
the best speeches | ever did hear
The other Instance il related by Hon. 4. p.
Walton, and refers to what took place in the house
Of representatives at Washington the last night
of Mr. Royces last term in congress Judge
Royce, though an exceptionally fine speaker has
never seemed to have a fondness for the sound of
his own voice; hence 1t is that at the bar suppers
and on other occasions when 1t Is natural to ex-
pect him to be heard from, he does not appear
So it was in congress. lie sat in the national
house of representatives four years and seldom
II ever mingled In debate during the whole time.
But to the incident. II was during the last hours
OF the session. Many members had already left
the house, and others were packing their kits,
preparatory to leaving, when the Vermont mem
Der rose at the request Of his colleague, Walton,
to make his maiden speech in presentation OF the
merits OF private claim bill which Mr. Walton
had introduced. lie had proceeded but little
way before members, attracted by his fine tenor
voice, his clear enunciation and his elegant die
ton, began To flock about him and listen TO his
remarks. And when he had finished his speech,
members from other states gathered around Yer
mont members and exclaimed, "Do tell us who
this man is, and where he has been these four
nan ra that va have mot heard hin, haforafp Mr.
Walton continues, saying that Royce accom-
plished what venture to say no other congress-
Inan ever did--commanded complete and
respectful silence while he spoke upon private
claim bill"
TnE state OF Pennsy lyania has just placed So.
nOO oOO of four peF cent bonds IN nm thirty Years