The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-11-29

marks Chief Justice Willie responded as fol
lcwS:
The court fully irdorSes the sentiment ex
pressed in the resolutions which have been
read, and also what has been so well said in
the remarks accompanying their presentation:
Perhaps no lawyer who practiced at the bar of
our state, or sat upon the highest judicial
bench, was more universally known and ad-
death We today eommemorate His iS Circuit ap OF
practice while at the bar extended perhaps
over larger extent of country than that of
any other member OF the Texas bar. His fame
as a talented and successful lawyer brought
him offers OF business from distant portions of
the state, which he the more readily accepted.
and exercise so much demanded by a feeble
constitution, likely to be undermined by sed-
entaTy life. BY this means he became person
ally known to all the leading lawyers of the
state, participated in their social gatherings,
and measured weapons with them in the
forensic arena. His warn-hearted, genial
nature and cheerful conversation endeared him
TO all his associates, and his learning, logical
powers and ability in the management of causes
insured HIM the respect of mis- professional
brethren. In the course OF few years OF
practice he accumulated large amount of
| property, which enabled him to leave the more
lucrative iaborS OF the bar for a position on
| by him was so great, that when vacancy oc-
Cured upon that bench in 1862, all eyes were
| turned on him as the proper person to I'LL it,
| and ne was Immediately chosen to the position.
| Much was expected OF him in his new posi-
| ion by his friends, and he did not disappoint
| hem. During the many years that he per
| enjoyed the full confidence Of the bar and of
| the people. His decisions were generally &C
eepted as true expositlons OF the law of the case
| In which they were rendered, and were re-
| garded " tn more than ordinary respect
When, from disease and failing eyeSight, he
| was partially untitled for the manual labor OF
Office, II was the general desire that he should
| continue in his position that we might have
| the benefit OF his great learning in cOnsulta-
lions with his brethren, and not until it became
in this respect, except at the hazard Of his
| life, were we willing to give him up and acqui.
esee in his retirement to private life
| 1t was my good fortune to be well acquainted
| with Judge Moore from the very beginning OF
my career as a lawyer, to the date of his death
to be socially intimate with him, to contend
with him at the bar and to sit with him as a
colleague upon this bench. To give my opin.
ion of his mental and moral character would
be to express in other and less descriptive
language, what has been SO well said by the
gentlemen who have presented the resOlu.
| tiOnS Whether at the bar or on the bench he
was always the great lawyer; in private life
| he was ever the true friend. There was one
quality, however, that he possessed In an emf
nent degree that may be pardoned for men
tioning, so rare IS 1t among the judges Of the
| land. allude to the faculty of yielding his
opinion TO the argument Of others, when con-
WINGED that he was in error. The secrets OF
the consultation room should not ordinarily be
| revealed, bU may go far enough to say that
there are cases in the Doth and 8Oth volumes Of
the Texas Reports, in which Judge Moore
yielded his own preconceived notions of the
law to what he considered the better sustained
views OF his colleagues. Ones in which, aftel
many days OF debate among the judges, he moi
only consented to decisions adverse to his orig
inal Judgment of what the law was, but in some
| OF them, delivered the opinions Of the court in
so deciding. them. This is an admirable trait
IN Judge OF any court. and more especially Of
| one OF last resort. SO prone are judges gener-
ally to adhere to prec0nceived opinions how
ever hastily formed,
Upon survey ing the lives of eminent lawyers
it be said that they have attained the FROM
rank OF their profession; have amassed a for
tune by their practice; have filled the highest
Judicial positions in the state; have enjoyed
/ the universal esteem of their contemporaries
as pure and honorable men; have retired int
private life regretted by all classes Of tneil
with the tears OF thousands Of friends. ant
cursed with the ill-will of not single enemy;
Yet all this can be truthfully said cf our dis
eeSSes achieve but an epheIeral fame. How
few OF the great and good. lawyers of former
times have had their names transmitted K
possefIty by reason Of such qualitie
position? The reputationsaof such men
eminent alone for talent, virtue and genuine
worth, generally fades with the flower
placed by loving hearts uponsheir tombs. Bu
so long as the bench and bar of Texas shall
reverence those decisions OF her supreme cour
which are founded upon correct principles Q
| law and equity, and enforced by unanSwerabl
llogic; decisions which have settled rights an,
titles according to the very truth and justice Q
the caSe-sO long will the name of Judge q.
| Moore be Venerated as one of the most learned
} able and eminent of those who have eXpounde
the laws of this state and given its judiciary a
honored rank amongst the courts Of the Amel
lean Union.
The resolution and the address which has az
cOmpanied their presentation will be Sprea
upon the minutes Of this court as a perpetua
J memorial of our regard and esteem for the d.
} parted ex-chief justice, and as a further toxic
| of such respect, the court will now adjourn.