Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-03-21

/ taTnlshcu CnaraCtcT, anu hiS hVeo'>
practice will be long and pleasantly re
membered. He was q good thinker,
good speaker. He had logical skill IL
preparing and presenting legal argu
ment, and though of kindly heart an(
peaceable disposition yet, when occasion
called, he showed power OF satire ant
invectiye rarely equalled. But 1t is enough
to say OF him. when it can be said so truth
fully, that he was honest, independent
courageous, learned, and eloquent in The
/ eloquence of logic and truth, and he ha'
left to this Bar an example for us, In mos
things, TO follow.
need not say anything of our deceased
brother out Of our profession where he
made himself so honorsbly known. Imay
however. well say that he was good cit
iEen. He loved the truth: he abhorred
dishonesty; his whole life was pure and
blameless. lie filed but little space In
public life, for he belonged TO minority
party aud his political principles were fixed
and out-spoken, and, beside this, office
seeking and place-huntins were uncongen-
ial 10 his tastes and education. He served
IS Clerk Of the Courts for this county from
1856 70 1859, by election, and Afterwards
in the same place by appointment TO MI q
vacancy, and he was the Representative OF
his District one term in the State Legisla-
ture | believe these were the only two
public offices he ever held. At his death,
and for some years before, he was Presi-
dent of oxford Bar, who now unite to pay
this last tribute 10 his worth aud memory.
For over forty years, have been &C
quainted with him, and for a large portion
Of that time on terms Of great intimacy and
personal friendship. l can sincerely say
that these resolutions are not oyerdrawn,
and in behalf OF the Bar, move their &C
ceptance and record, as prayed for.
REMARKS OF \. II. wALKER.
Ny IL Please your Honor:
Human estimate Of character, especially
OF that Of one deceased, depends 50 largely
upon special circumstances as to render
the task by no means al easy one OF shad-
owing 10 others the exact character had
in mind by him who undertakes It, Cir
cumStsnces Of Hrst acquaintance aud sub
sequeut association, whether general or
special-broad as life itself or restricted
70 mere business or professional engage
meuts and relations, seriously affect and
modify the impressions and estimate OF
the value OF character Of one departed.
The correspondence or the unlikeneSs Of
our hfe-work may so materially enter IN, 10
tx our estimate OF character and its worth
as TO make sincerity OF speech and genu-
uenesS OF emotion in the one case appear
in the other but empty words and idle
mockery.
This seems TO me especially true in
speaking OF one whose life has been large
" private, aud entirely unOstentatious.
Bro. Blacks life, in view OF his life
work. WAS especially modest and quiet.
His very nature, the composition Of his
mind. made him inevitably so. Ever So
Der and solid thinker, working and operat-
ing by the principles OF things, his con-
cluslOns were accurate and logical. Apt al
learning. broad in his comprehension, dill
gent OF mind. he became a learned man
both in his profession and in general edu-
cation aud information. Right here he
found his chief happiness and pleasure.
No osteniaiion, no glittering show or eX-
hibitiou, no pomp of place, no mere exalt-
alton had the least significance or attrac-
ton or charm for him. Only the s,sbsiaHc,
OF things held within them any charms 10
his mind lie was purely real.
Whether he would have been more or
less, higher or lower, better or worse, had
this nature aud these qualities aud acqui-
sitions been different is not the question
OF the moment or the matter for our con-
sideration. What we wish 10 feel II,
trAdt ,-as tie fact ,-iu. him. l believe !;
was this-a man free from guile, OF hon
est nature, Of mAnful integrity, OF positive
character and convictions, experimenting
a strong nature and superior scholarship
and erudition; and 10 my mind these con-
stitute the type Of most desirable man
hood, and place the possessor in that rank
which entities him 10 enrolment high up
upon the tablet OF the memory OF those
who knew him and those who knew OF
him.
Gladly would wait and dwell upon the
many, many things might say more par
ticularly OF him upon my personal associa-
tions, now relating 10 the encounters OF
professional battle-pow 10 the intimacies
Of associate cOunsel-now 10 the connec-
tions OF snitor in the court where my
judgments, however unfsyorsble, became
his inevitable law, and again to the friend
ships Of long acquaintsnce-but all these |
leave for subjects of private meditation, so
pleasant, and yet so sacred as 10 be mine
quite alone. A member OF our Bar, OF
learning, OF professional reputation and
distinction has fallen, and that too ere the
time had come IS human Judgment would
determine. A good citizen, an honest and
honorable man has dropped out in the
march and tramp OF the worlds hosts.
De viii be missed by near and dear rela-
tives and friends. He will be missed by
& multitude OF associates. He will be
missed by society at large, however swift
the teeming caravan may be in hurrying
on from the spot where he has fallen.
REMARKS or JOHN T. swAsEY.
My 10 Please your Honor: