Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-02-11
the other side-the only way to make a
thoroughly good argument on ones

| lVhoioushiy Boou aTBumcuI oh oS
Town.
These qualities of mind no doubt at
tended upon his administration OF us.
tice in the United States courts. His
decisions are not yet reported, and
had never the honor but once OF being
present in his court. was then at the
bar and, with my brother Gordon as a
colleague, argued case before him In
beha ( of the Philadelphia, Wilmington
and Baltimore Railroad Company-the
opposite party, the United States, being
represented by our brother Higgins,
then District Attorney. His conduct
on this occasion, IN patient attention To
counsel, respectful consideration given
to their arguments, and easy, friendly,
but at the same time sufficiently digni-
fled. manner, made strong impression
upon me. He seemed to me to be all
that could be required az an attentive
listener and agreeable gentleman on
the bench. His career at the bar show
ed him to be possessed of ample learning,
At the biennial session of the Legis-
lature in l849 the subject of these re-
mar6s was one of the representatives
from this County, and I was one from
the County Of Keno. We were both Of
the same politics, but our views were at
Variance upon question that then
exercised the minds Of many people of
this State, and at one period OF the
session there was much excitement
about il. His determined course on the
minority side showed his sincerity and
Independence of character, for 1t was
not That which his party approved. All,
however, gave him credit for honesty
OF view and candor in the expression
OF 1t. He was very diligent, indus
trDus, valuable member of the House,
always seeking public and honorable
and not private and unworthy ends
| and by his frank ness and courtesy of
manner, and deferential respect for the
other meinb bers, he won the regard OF
all OF them. OF the entire legislature
there are but three Of us now left. The
ebblng tides Of humanity have swept
from our sight all of our colleagues. 1t
Is the order o; the Court that ali these
proceedings be entered upon our records.
Judge Houston aso spoke feelingly
of his relations and acquaintance with
the deceased, who was Deputy Attor-
ney- General while he was studying law
with the late Judge Gilpin, who at that
time was Attorney General.
William G. Spruance, Esq, then ah-
| dressed the court in reference to che
death of the late George b. Rodney, the
| Oldest member of the New Castle bar,
speaking of him as a man of refinement
| of feeling az well as in his department.
The speaker referred to his long and
intimate acquaintance, and exalted es-
| TEEN for the deceased, and said that
his was life without repreach." He
vividly pictured tie scene enacted in
that very court room when short time
before his death that grand old man,
over 30 years of age, had tried his last
case before jury, and the vigor and
| earnestness with which he entered into
1t in connection with his son as a col
league against himself, and Mr.. Higgins
on the other side. He closed by pre-
senting the resolutions adopted by the
bar at the time Of Mr.. Rohney's death
The Chief Justice replied, saying that
Mr.. Rodney was already q prominent
figure at Il Q bar when he entered the
office of the late John NJ. Clayton as n
student At law. In his preceptor's 4
office he often met him, and always
noted his remarkably easy and court.
eOus manners, indicating that he was
born gentleman. The Chief Justice
also recalled the picture of the last trial
in which the dead jurist was engaged,
and spoke of the wonderful power he
exercised over the jury in his address
on that occasion.
Judge Houston spoke with great feel
ing Of his relations with Mr.. Rodney
and of their c,ose intimacy from having
been born in the same county of Sussex.
As a mark of further respect the court
then adjourned.