National Republican., 1883-03-01
RUFUS CHOATE.
Graphic Sketch Of the Great New England
Advocate.
Eloquent Lecture by Ex-senator boutwell,
at the Congregational Church.

Hon. George S. Boutwell, ieciuTed at the Con-
gregational church last night upon Rufus
Choate before II very large and distinguished
audience. Mr.. Boutwell, began by giving
personal description of the great iurist. He
was an attractive person to both sexes, and he
was rs gentle as a woman. To the young he
was always kind and afectionate, respectful
to age, and to those In authority showed def
erenco devoid Of sycophancy. To the charms
of his nature was added u voice that in con-
vcrsation, oratory, or debate, responded like
music 20 every change of thought; and its
variety of tone and sweep of accent and
| emphasis touched and influenced the judg-
ments and sentiments Of men,
| His vocabulary knew no limits save those
| set by the language ITSELF and such was his
facility in its use that the chief justice of
Massachusetts, remarked when he heard that
| Wcbsters new dictionary contained many ad-
ditional words, "1 beg of you not to let
| Choatc have It."
His gestures seemed sometimes extraOrdi-
nary, but were justified by his wonderful
rhetoric. Mr. Boutwell, gave numerous incl
dents, showing Choatcs wonderful power to
express contempt without wOunding visby
his subject. Tho lecturer gave q specimen of
| Choatcs happy Use Of phrases. When he re-
turned from the senate in 1879, speaking TO
u Massachusetts multitude in defense of the
| bankrupt law enacted by the wings, he made
attractive the restoration To active business
of the body of bankrupts by cNclaiming:
"In an instant we created 100000 full grown,
able bodied men,.
Mr.. Choatc lived and laborcd under the In
fluenco of that dainty aud dangerous gift of
nature which finds relief only in physical cN-
ccsscs or in unrcmittug intellectual wOrk-a
sensitive, nervous organization. He seldom
INDUCED in amuScmrnts, and, except when
| compelled by Illness, he had no relaxation
/ from hn tnla nf nuAlip mud uf,i lifp
When warned by an associate that his CON
slant work was imperiling his health he re-
piled: 81 have no alternative but the insane
asylum" Again, when asked how his CON
stitution held out, he said that was gone
long ago; | am now living on the bylaws"
In Mr.. Choatc's nature there was singular
mixture of timdity aud courage in consul
tation he was often doubtful OF success, but in
the excitement of the trial he showed 10 in-
dicatiOns of fear He was then the advocate
accustomed 10 victory and confident in his
own powers. In politics, however, lie showed
timidity. This was unfortunately conspicuous
in his controversy with Mr.. Clay, and in his
acceptance in 1856 of tho candidacy of Mr..
Buchanan mani Gestly through fear of u rup-
turc with the SOUTH He believed IL better to
endure slavery than suffer tho horrors of u
civil war, aud in his opinion then we had
only u choice of evils
Genius in oratOry and capacity in states
manship are seldom combined in the same
man. The hard side of government demands
u quality Of harshncss. Mr. thUltcs courtesy
was uniailing. He avoided personal con-
trovcrsics with his brethren at the bar. and
treated witnesses on the stand, whether
friendly or hostile, with kindly cOnsidoru-
tion. 1t was only in argument that witnesses
felt the weight of his keen satire. His pres
cncc of mind was unhilng, and his ready
resources in law contests were not less re-
markablc than the brilliancy of his argu-
mcnts.
} Mr.. Boutwell, rectrd many episodes which
occurred during Alr. Choatc'S legal career, his
bouts with witnesses and readiness Of rctOrt.
His successful defense of Albert j. Terrili for
} the murder Of Maria BckiUrd was the basis
of Wendell Pwillipss keen Grafton called
"The Boston Idols" The idols were Webster,
Everett, and Choate He said of Choatc,
made it safe TO murder, and for whose health
thieves ask before they begin TO steal'" Ma
better tribute than this could be offered
by friendly or hostile voice to the
learning, skill, and genius of an advocate but
beneath these words turks the suggestion that
such power should not be exercised TO shield
the guilty. The line of professional duty is
clear The attorney is 10 obey the law, and
in his advice to u client he Is always TO direct
him in the line of obedience TO the law
Otherwise he becomes Il participator III their
. guilt.
| hi' bOutNNli AlNhNSh iNhS w lHt HublNCl
, OF professional ethics. lie said Mr.
, Choatc's successful defense of Terrill was
) severely criticised, and he lost pnb lie esteem
) among those narrow minded pcrs ons who
could not comprehend that il was the duty oi
the government TO convict, if possible, those
who broke its laws. The witnesses for the
a government were persons of i'll rcpute, The
$ jury found the prisoner not guilty; the pub
7 lie found him guilty, and held Mr.
, Choate responsible. Mr.. Choatc, while
/ being destitute OF many qualities
of stntesmanship, was in his views
] of public questions u statesman. He
! was follower of Hamilton and an associate
of Webster lie was devoted To the constitu
tion, but he was terrified at the thought that
1t was baud ofiron which might be broken
: but never be changed. The civil war he
dreaded but did not live to see wrought
} changes in the constitution he would hay,
welcomed. Mr.. Boutwell, gave his persona
associations with Mr.. Choate, and told in
- Vulnerable anecdotes in which the MaSsachu
sets giant was the central figure. The lee
ture was fit tribute TO the great man OF tn,
law. and was frequently interrupted by ap