Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-15
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he was or not learned in the law above
his fellows they believed him to be. and
thus inspired he had to sustain him that
most potential Of all the forces of civili-
zation public opinion. That conf
dence was not misplaced. and as
the executive officer of that immense
force It was intelligently and ablv
directed. He presided over a court In
which the people believed was founed the
embodiment Of that principle of judicial
administration formulated In the words
prescribed for the crier who opened the first
court organised In the Northwestern Ter
rltory, on the frst Tuesday in September,
lleo-"O! yesl court is opened for the
administration of eyen-handed Justice, to
the poor and the rich, to the guilty and
the innocent, without respect of persons;
none TO be punished without trial BY their
peers, and then only In pursnance of the
laws and the evidence in the ase.r This
people furthermore believed, and not
without cause, that he administered JUS
tice in the spirit that sctuated Mr.. Justice
Story when, on memorable occasion,
nearly fifty years ago, he was during
great excitement and clamor, trying the
officers and crew ola Spanish brig for
robbery on the high seas. In overruling
the motion for a new trial and sentencing
the prisoners--a dozen in number-to be
hanged by the neck, that great Judge
used these solemn words
81 trust have due and deep sense of
the responsibility thrown upon the Court
upon this occasion. No person could
have desired more anxiously than myself
that | might have been spared this painful
duty. With the private opinions of other
men, not sitting in judgment under oath,
or called upon to express opinions upon
judicial survey of the whole evidence
(which the learned counsel for the pris-
oners has thought ft to bring into this
easel, we have nothing to do. As little
have we to do with the appeals made
through the press during the tendency of
this cause, or the supposed popular excite
ments which have been alluded TO in the
argument. trust that this Court is inca
pable Of being influenced by any such con-
siderations or of being betrayed by them
into an abandonment of its own
proper duty. trust that, while
/ shall never be insensible to human
life or human sufferings, | shall always
possess the firmness to follow out with
unshrinking fidelity the dictates of my
own conscience and the high commands
of the law. may err in my Judgment,
for | have not the slightest pretensions to
infallibility; but if do err it shall not be
an error forced upon me by private
opinions promulgated through the press
or otherwise. My present judgment l
cheerfully submit to the sober considera-
ton of my country. 1t is my conscien-
tious judgment, for which l am ready to
assume the full responsibility belonging
to my station, it having been the result Of
the best exercise of the powers Of my I'M
derstanding."
So It was with Horrlgan. He assumed
the full responsibility belonging to his
station" On every hand the question is
asked, "Who can take his placer Any
of us may who, equipped with his knowl-
edge of the law, inspired by his spirit and
armed with his courage will undertake
the task and assume the responsibility
belonging to that station, "a responsibility
which, under the circumstances. his emil
hence has made more difficult. This
community will uphold such q successor
as they upheld him.
THE honored gods
Keep Rome in safety, and the chairs Of justice
Supply with worthy men,"
The meeting was held in the Cir.
cult Court room and was called to
order by Judge W. W. Mcdowell,
whose nomination Of Judge Hammond
was conferred by reclamation, after
which Judge Hammond delivered the
above address. f. T. Edmondson was
Secretary, and the following commit
tees appointed,
Committee on Resolutions-L. p.
Cooper, Judge j. W. Olapp, Judge S.
P. Walker, Judge Wright, Attorney
General G, P. NJ. Turner.
Committee on Arrangements
Judge Carmaok, Judge T. W. Brown,
Judge Taylor:
A committee of eight was also sp-
pointed to attend upon the corpse. OF
to act as a guard Of honor, on motion
Of Walter Gregory. The committee
is as follows: Walter Gregory, H. s.
CAN'T, +, 7, RdmOndsOn, Lucas
Olapp, 8. d. Weakley, John T. Moss,
Watt Strong, j. NJ. Greer.
The meeting then adjourned subject
to the call Of the chairman.
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