Sacramento daily record-union., 1882-12-19
JUDGE DEMON REr1REs.
Bon. 7. B. Mcfarland Els successor-A
Handsome Present = The Presentation
Speech and the Recipients Reply.


Yesterday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock the
Superior Court of Sacramento county was
called to order. 1t was generally known that
, Hon. I. B Mcfarland had received the sp'
pointment as Superior Judge, to succeed Hon.
S. G. benson, and nearly all the attorneys
who practice in the Court were present, be.
sides number OF spectators. Judge benson
introduced Mr.. Mcfarland to The members Of
the Bas, and bespoke for his successor the
game kindneas and courtesy which had always
been shown to him. Judge Mcfarland then
officially announced that Hon. S. G. benson
had resigned his Office % Judge Of that Court,
and that he had been appointed and commits
stoned by the Governor of the State TO fill
the vacancy occssioned by the resignation,
and stated that he would now assume the du-
ties of the office. At this point Hon. Grove
Il. johnson arose, and on behalf of the mem
bers of the Bar of Sacramento county pre-
sented the retiring Judge with very haud-
some table set of solid silver. It consisted OF
a dozen each of knives, forks, tablespoons
and soup lsdle lined with gold, the whole
encased by a beautiful sstin-liRed plush case.
Oa making the presentation, Mr.. johnson
spike as follows:
May it please the Court To speak well Of per-
son is pleasant alike to the utterer and hearer of
the words. To speak well of officer is pleasant
to those who have been under his control and con-
soling to him tired from faithful labor. To be able
TO speak well OF private servant graf es employer
and employe both. To be able truthfully to speak
well OF and to public servant is exceedingly pleas
ant to the people, cheering to the recipient of the
language and inspiring to other officers of ths gov
ern nent. When to deserved words of conmepdali n
for personal service can be added those of merited
praise for official conduct, the pleasure becomes a
Joy seldom equaled. And when to these ingredi-
ents can be added the warmth of friendship for the
man and genuine admiration for his qualities Of
head and heart, the occasion becomes a red letter
day indeed in the history vi our lives. Such time
is this
Judge benson, my brethren of the Bar have
given me the proud and pleasant though difficult
privilege OF yOicing their feelings towards you sir
at this hour OF your voluntary retirement from the
Bench, and have Commissioned me 10 present to Won
in their name atoken OF their regard
1t is years since the voters OF the Sixth
Judicial District of the State Of California, COM
prsing the counties of Yolo and Sacramento called
you, Samuel G. benson, to act the District Judge
Of that Judicial District. 1t is now three wears
since, under the provisions of new Constitution
the voters OF Sacramento county repeated their cali
and made you one OF the Superior Judges Of this
county, For seven years the properties the persons
and the lives OF our peope have been daily brought
before your Court fer djudicaticn by you upon
their diverse aud conflicting interests For that
period tf time our profession Of the law the most
exaetipg and critical Of all known to man. has
watched your course and reviewed your decisions
For that period the whole people OF Sacrament
city and county rave known you almost intimately
because the prominence of your station has served
to direct the of all upon you and your actions
and speech. For these long years we LAWYERS have
met you IN frequent converse in daily trials of trivial
and important cases. In talk and action as a man
as lawyer and as Judge have we known and
viewed you, and our unanimous verdict OF seven
years acquaintance now express in saying that we
FlQFa nj .itFsrA and
these relations of life.
The exalted position of Judge inevitably brings
into prominence all the qualities of man-those of
evil, if he has them, US well those of gocd-and
proves crucial test OF the inner fbers of hil men.
tai and moral nature. The practically unrestraned
power invested in Judge, his full control of mat.
tiers submitted to him and Of persons appearing and
attorneys practicing in his Court all tend to foster
in weak man exaggerated and disagree BILE ideas
oi his own Importance, and IN unprincipled man
corrupt notions of self aggrandizs He who
can serve in high judicial position without feeling
the strrlngs Of passion and ambition must be either
lie or greater thaa man, while he who in that
place rules and controls himself and his passions
writes his name in the hearts OF his countryman as
one to be initiated, loved and revered
OF you, sir, we can and do most truly say that
you have borne rs an honest man should the cleo
tric and searching light of a peoples vision as wen
as the inward outsurning of your effice and its
power AID that yoGr career as Judge has
out eXsnplifed in a higher degree those Gifts
OF integrity and industry, those requirements OF
study aud learning, and those pure principles of
heart and practices Of life that made you respected
as man, honored as citizen, faithful as friend
and renowned as lawyer, assuming the ermine
OF the Bench. Uniform courtesy towards the bar
uniform kindness towards the suilors in your Court
unvarylng adherence to the right you understood
1t, and unwGvering fidelity to the teachings of the
great matters of Jurisprudence have characterized
your entire term Of official service. Clear in the
Of your rulings and decisions without
PRIDE yet preserving due dignity, You have adorned
10 AFpN Tf fFNa ,1+nI Al
proved yourself most worthy successor of these
Judges who occupied that seat before you and
bright example to those who may follow you. OF
you and your service as Judge the whole people of
Sacramento connty are proud. The younger mem
ner5 Of eur profession will miss you, for to them
you have ever been more a friend and adviser than
a Judge smoothing with able anil unerring hand
that most difficult of all undertakings the trial by
q lawyer of his first case, and aiding though not
unduy, the efforts CT those whose years of practice
were yet TO be numbered, and whose strength was
an unknown quantity even to themselves
While no doubt in your successor they will meet
the same kindness, yet your memory wIll ever be
green in the traditions of the law students of Sac
rsmento as a Judge always helpful to young law
yer. The older men-the Ulysses and Nestors OF
our fraternity-wlll remember with pleasure the
days passed in illegal combat" before you, for you
have treated all with great polteness and that
Difference due age and experience, and have never
increased but always sought to tighten their cares
Physicians tell US that the hupan body changes
itself entirely in the of seven years and wlule
1t is the same person. yet that it s in all ply steal
respects man. You, sir have passed seven
years in the service of the people of Sacramento
county ss Judge of their highest local Court, and
those seven years, while rehabilitating your body
have not changed YOU either in mind or helrt, save
to increase your capacity foT good to enlarge your
learning, viii elevatiug your character man
and a Judge
To-day, in 1882, Samuel C. Dsas,n-a rev man
physicaly-iS the same morally in 1875, with
his reputation as man uutarnished and as a Judge
most brilliant; his heart beating responsive to
truth, his mind richer and stronger than ever
while his win and power for good greater than
at any time in his life, and give promise Of a
G jlaen harvest OF good deeds in the future.
We rejoice in your successful administration Of
your great trust; We congratulate you and yours
upon the bright history you have made a priceless
legacy to those dear children that greet you at your
home: we sorrow at losing you from your long
accustomed post OF duty and beg you to accept this
silver Get as faint but loving expression Of our
affection and esteem May your days be long in
the land; may you prosper in private station
may you ever be with us as our counselor and friend
il not as our Judge
We receive you again into the ranks" and one
and all, pray that the happy consciousness that
now so truly fills your heart, of haviog during the
past seven years done your duty to your manhood,
your profession, your office and your country may
ever attend you through life, making your days
happy and your dreams peaceful
Farewell, Judee benson. Welcome, lawyer Den
son. Accept, friend benson, this testimonial from
the Bar of Sacramento all Of whom your friends
and well-wishers.
In reply Mr.. benson said:
May it please the Court and Gentlemen Of the
Bar: / scarcely know what l can say in response to
the very hlttering remarks that have been made by
Mr.. Johnson on behalf OF the Bar, and do not
know how to thank you for the high compliment
you have paid and the beautiful present you
have rendered me. | am not well to-day. / am
suffering frcm nervous prostration succeeding long
and continued exertion to close up my official iabors
] have just been notified that something was to be
done knew not what-and that has tended
was informed that my presence would be desired
here, somethil was to be done. l suspected
sorething, but not of any definite character that
am not prepared to make any remarks that will
be at all fitting suitable on this occasion. To say
thst feel flttered, to say that feel proud, say
that ! feel honore5, sounds tame Such words
entirey inadequate 10 express the
feelings that well up in my heart Ii
l have deserved half the creuit that your
kind and hItteriag address a5cribes to me, then
indeed am happy. have triei to setvc you III
fully. That have committed errors frequently /
know, and you know, and would not have been
human i. | bad not But | must say this: That
wi h the many short comings which attendant
common humanity, this Bar has teel kind and
courteous TO for years, and it he's ever done me
the honor and credit TO ascri0e them to mistakes
made from human weakness rather than from apy
desire 20 do wrong. | believe that the warmest
friendship exists between Upon my part know
it exists There is set Of men ia the world
towards whom | entertain warmer and kindliet
feelings than | DO towards the Bar of Sacramento,