Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-15
RECEIVING TIE PORTRAIT
INTERESTING CEREMONIES IN
THE UNITED STATES CoUH4


Presentation Address and Judge
Speer's Reply.
The Savannah bar was we'll represented
in the United States Court room yesterday
morning, when the Bar Association pre-
sented to the court portrait of the ven
cradle ex-Judge John Erskine. There
was little formality in the presentation,
but the esteem Of those present for Judge
Frskine was plainly apparent. Every
one was so impressed with a feeling OF
respect that il made the occasion one OF
especial interest. Besides the members
of the bar there was present number of
court officers and private citizens.
1t was almost 10 O'Clock when,upon mo-
ton of col. VIM. Garrard, Gen. Henry r.
Jackson was chosen Chairman, and M. A.
O'Bvrne. ESQ, was made Secretary.
In accordance with a motion nv Col.
Garrard, the Chairman appointed Col.
VIM. Garrard, Judge y. A. O'Bvrne, Capt.
G.. A. Mercer, Capt Robt. Falligant ana
Col. james Atkins a committee to draft
appropriate resolutions. The committee,
after a brief recess reported the follow
ing through Col WIN. Garrard:
The Hon. John Erskne, having attained
the age of 70 years. resigned the Office OF Unit
ed States District Judge for the southern
performed the duties thereof since January,
1866.
The services of Judge Erskine were inyalu-
He took his place on the bench just as the
smoke Of the late civil war was clearing
away, and when society was M chaotic
state.
A new-order of things was about 10 be es-
tablished: peculiar cons titutlOnal amend
ments and statutes incident to he times had
been and were being enacted; the people OF
Georgia were bleeding from their wounds
and this state, ravagcd by war, was pracu-
cally bankrupt.
in Georgia was necessarily most trying ana
delicate one. Firm as rock and entirely
fearless, Judge Erskluc so discharged the
functions of his trust that while the law was
administered, the people were not oppressed,
aud the prosperity of Georgia was advanced.
We are not here to praise him. nor to define
ate his entire career. Enough that he was a
Judge able. learned and impartial, who did
h fun duty, under all circumstances what
more can be saldP
HIS intercourse with the bar was marked
by uniform courtesy, ahabllity ana triendl~
ness.
sire to attest our regard for him as jurist
and a man.
To this end we have caused this portrait of
him to be painted, and we now present ii TO
the Federal Courts for the Southern District
of Georgia, 10 be hung on the walls OF the
court room in Savannah, there to remain for
all time, as memorial of our personal esteem
and of the profound respect entertained Tor
him by lis, in common with the people OF
Georgia.
l. Be IL resolged. That His Honor Judge
Speer Is requested to receive this portrait OF
Judge Erskine for the Courts of the United
States for This district, and to cause the same
to be placed upon the walls of the court room,
there to remain forever.
?. That His Honor is requested to direct
that this preamble and these resolutions be
spread upon the minutes Of the court ana TO
cause the clerk to send certified copy OF
these proceed Is to Judge Erskine.
GEN. JACKsON's ADDRESS.
The committee requested that if the
resolutions were adopted they should be
presented to the court by Gen. jackson.
The resolutions were unanimously
adopted, and the bar meeting adjourned.
Judge Speer then took his seat and the
court was called to order.
Gen. Jackson thereupOn arose and with
much elOquence addressed the court in
the following language:
Dag il please Your Honor: 1t has been
made my grateful duty to present to the court
this. the portrait Of the Hon. John Erskine.
and to pray that an order be granted which
shall fix 10 permanently in this hall ] am fur
Their instructed 10 submit the following pream-
bic and resolutions. unanimously adopted at a
meeting of the bar tins day held, and to pray
that they be placed upon the minutes of the
court.
The resolutions were presented at this
point, but the second reading was omit
ted. Continuing, Gen. jackson said:
BY these proceedings the members of the
bar whose willing representative am de-
sire To pay honOrt 10 whom they feel that honor
IS justly due-to the Judge who assembled the
bench in the darkest da = when the results
OF disastrous war had thickly populated the
dOckets OF the court with questions Of gravest
import, and who brought t. their solution
head so clear. q learning so large and "a labor so
f.aVv frna ha 20 10
To him the opportunity was gwen by harsh.
nay, by an incOnsiderate exercise OF Official
power. TO make the administration even of
Justice itself p tiufully oppressive in a court
room, whose very air was electric with voice.
less, because it might be regarded rs law
less, emotion; but he sOOthed the perturbed
elements by the emanatiCns OF a kindly heart,
and 10y bearing always gentle. ALWAYS patient
the hearing inspired by a gener ius nature,
and, therefore, the bearing of a courteous
gentleman. A distrustful community was
10th to receive him when he cnme. | venture
10 say that the anne community did not hold
solitary man who knew him at all who was
not 10th to part with HIM when ne left. And
to-day no spectacle can be more welcome to
its people than his venerable form revisting
our streets and our homes. So by being true
at one and the same time to the memorable
dictates Of official duty and the warm i'm
pulses OF brave. generous and ahectl nate
nature. he has won for himself triumph,
ana for his name q memory Of which any
man might he justly proud
Capt. Mercer followed with an elegant
tribute, and in the course Of his remarks
said
One Of the earliest and most important
questions which came before Judge Errkine
Tor decision involved the right of lawyers to
practice their profession without FIRST taking
an oath, which those ~ us who had been faith
tul 10 our state. and The dictates Of our con-
science, found II impossible 10 take, Judge
Erskine, m q well considered. learned amt
able opinion. held that the profession of a
lawyer was bis properly, and that uo man in
THIS free country could be deprived Of his
property without due process Of law. Had
Judge Ershinc made no other decision, the
bar OF Georgia became his lasting debtor for
this.
Col. Garrard and A. II. Lawton, Jr.,
added their expressions Of pleasure.
RECEIVING THE PORTRAIT.
Judge Speer, in receiving the portrait
as the representative of the court. said:
The court has listened with unaffected
qualification tOthe resolutions OF the bar and
% the graceful aud affecting ob crva ions
from the gentlemen who IA We SPOKEN IN
furtherance of their scope OF purpose.
surely no Occas on could 81 appropriately
enkindle On enthusiasm or suggest lhe clp-
quent urerance Of the members Of "a profc--
sion whose generous admiration for disc
unguished ability and puulc services is one
OF li- best known and most valuable tra.l
tons. Nor could int admir- ion possibly
hnd 20 adi quate and lclic.tou. expression as
IN this speaking canvass. Nor has 10 been
no