Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-02-01

and control the adjudication OF his cases.
He labored hard to settle the law of his
adopted state in accordance with the old
and well-deined rules of the common
law of England His great efforts at the
bar, as well as in the Senate, were uni
formly strengthened by references and
appeals to these principles.
With his learning and talent, progress
was most easy and rapid, and he was
soon an acknowledged leader at the bar,
alongside of the ablest lawyer in the
West. He not only loved the law and
studied it as student would study, but
he sought with eagerness that general
knowledge which is found in miscella-
neous reading Rare passages and choice
thoughts, beautifully expressed, were Sc
lected and committed to memory. until
his mind became store-house full OF lit
erary treasures, from which he could draw
at will.
With mind thus enriched he would
turn long and otherwise tedious trial
into one of life and interest. His persua-
sive power and easy flow of language,
his plain expression and simple style,
made him an advocate who carried con-
viction to all who heard him. In con-
flict he was like majestic lion in the
path of his adversary, but these he would
convince he approached with a golden
thread of truth and reason. On the trial
of cause he would concentrate all his
learning and ability, and with mastery
skill wrestle as though life depended up
on the result In bis client and his cause
he firmly believed, and, believing, he
turned not aside, but whatever of knowl-
edge or tact he possessed was summoned
to his aid and applied with marvellous
success.
When he died he owed nothing to the
bench or to the bar; he had not taken
from, but had added to, the law, always
aiding the court with his arguments and
reason, and all who heard him listened
with profit. His brief and labored argu-
ments enlarged upon and extended the
legacies of our ablest law-givers. When
commentaries, lectures, and codes were
exhausted; when neither the civil nor the
common law could reach the emergency
of his case, he would often appeal to the
divine teachings of Christ and the Apos-
ties as the true source of all that was
good and wise.
At the close of the war, new questions
arose, involving the condition of the
States which had attempted to go out of
the Union; also Of the rights of the people
residing therein. He was among the
first as my colleague has already said, to
devise and point out plan of reconstruc-
ton. He believed in a government by
the people, and he would remand the Cit
liens OF those States as soon as possible
to the forms of self-government according
to the letter and spirit of the Constitution.
His plans and views were adopted in the
main, and to him we are largely indebted
for the settlement of these questions
Before his connection with this subject
he was little identified with politics,
though he had always belonged to q party
and was ready when occasion required
to assert his belief When the war broke
out he arose above all parties and knew
only his country and It's safety When
ever and wherever the Government was
assaulted he was ready to defend, and
when the conflict ragged iercest his voice
rang out through the land from the east
TO the west in support of the party that
could best save the Union.
In 1868 he took a seat in the American
Senate.
As he had gained distinction at the bar
or upon the stump, so he acquired emil
nence. as a statesman in the Senate. He
found there new forum, and there he
met foemen worthy of his STEEL He could
there speak, not for a single client, but
for whole nation. He thus became pos
sessed of that which few enjoy, eminence
as a lawyer and statesman combined |
Mr.. Carpenter was noted ior his social |
qualities. Though possessed Of courage |
to do right, be was tender of the feelings
a.iu opIuIous CT even his adversary. HIS |
generous nature would not permit him to |
take undue advantage of the strong or |
turn a deaf ear to the weak. For the /
poor, his pity and sympathy were of easy
touch. His forgiving kindness would |
weli-nigh murder justice. Charity had |
strong abiding place in his great heart,
and If he erred at all it was in obedience
to her commands. His own comfort and
ease was his last thought. For year
before his death he must have known its
silent but sure approach. This, however,
detracted nothing from his wonted cheer
fulness, and those who knew him best |
scarcely discovered his failing health, GER
tainly not dangerous condition. His
kind treatment to all, and his merry !
laugh, continued the same up to few
days before his death. Each day he !
greeted his friends as he did in the morn
ing of life. He concealed his sufferings
and gradual dissolution until he met |
them no more. To the very last his MUD |
retained its vigor, never wavering, never
clouded. We cannot realize how death |
can hush to silence So much at one stroke.
In moment of time that great soul and
life took its fight, and henceforth will
abide with .us no more.
But [ must pause. The virtues of the
man need no attestation from me. They
are known where he was known They
cannot be disguised or hidden from sight,
but like the stars in cloudless night
they will continue to shine while time
shall last. If we would praise or eulo
gize him, if we would make for him robes
of pearl, we could do no better than re-
count his daily walk