The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1888-04-12

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~ On the 2eth ultimo there Wa numsr-
sas meeting Of the bar Of Detroit in the
! Uaited States Couss room in thas city,
sslled 70 pay tribuss to the memory Of
To late Chief Justios Waite, aud appoint
. delegation to attend his funeral Res
olutious were offered aud q number Of
leading lawyers spoke to them, but none
80 admirably. nor At such length, As ex-
Senator Charles w. Jones. We find
the proceedings of the meeting. including
all the speeches, in the Detroit Free Rress
from which We extract:
from ex-United States Senator Charles w. Jones.
Ii was q mastery speech, eloquently delivered
and brought to the gigantic Fioridian congratu-
iations f1,m all sides
at 10 NOT FROM any desire, 1 assure you. to ap-
pear prominent on this sad occasion that wish
10 pay my tribute OF respect to the great magis-
tra,e who has been stricken down, ripe in years
and covered with houOrs, honestly Won In the
service Of his country. As me mber of the bar
of the great court over which he presided, l feel
that would suffer long from self reproach were
10 absent myself from this hall on this occa-
sion. There cannot b. found in any country in
the world judicial office that can be compared
in dignity and power with that left vacant by
The death of Justice Waite. In all the coun-
tries of Europe the courts of justice have juris-
diclOn only uf personal rights and wrongs and
uffenses against public authority. They are
not permitted To question or ohstruct the powers
Of the executive or legislative departments Of
the government however oppressively they are
exercised upon, the rights and Liberties OF The
people. The legislative powers are omnipoent
and the JUICES OF the courts are compelled to
eufOrce all laws no mailer how unjust and arbi
trary they may be. Under our system the great
tribunal over which Justice Waite presided
stands rs great rampant TO protect our Con-
s,iiutinn from invasion and violation by the
everlasting ocean Of arbitrary power
The man who 10 the high position OF presi,i
ing officer of that court has discharged his public
duty faithfully deserves 10 be honored by all
CLASSES OF the people, but especially by that class
whose professional training and knowledge rem
ders them emnently competent TO form correct
judgments Of the labOrs Of the bench We are
assembled for that purpose to-day. The greatest
judge Of the greatest nation in the world has
been summoned TO APPEAR at the bar of eternal
justice. This great spirit has gone and his life
less body and the record Of his public services
are left to tn stimulate pride and call
forth testimonials of honor to his character, his
talents and his fame There are those near me
who witnessed. as did, for years the perform
appear before him IA counsel in many import ant
Cases l can sneak from experience of his treat
ment and bearing wards the bar. He was ever
kind, patient and accommodating The benign
cheeriulness and humanity oi his grand intellect
ua face dispelled the fears of the tinid and gave
confidence and courage to the inexperienced adj
vocaie, 10 whom he would listen with even
greater attention and interest than to the most
distinguished counsel. No man of refinement
could he near him long without discovering that
he was in the presence o. gentleman OF the
highest honor and attainments. And oh how
rtcrea,nC il is in these days when public places
are full of hIle iricksters Ia ini 10 the high
Offices of the republic men upon whose sincerity
and integrity implicit reliance Can be placed
And while his reported opinions do not exhibit
the great analytic power of Marshall or the
luminous expostions and deep researches of
fancy, in clearness of style, pure diction. and
sound and satisfactory reasoning, they will com
pare with the iu igments of any jnlge on this or
the other side of the Atlantic.
"The record. of the court will show that the
late Chief Justice was always ut the front in the
abors of the tribunal and his opinions are mod
els of pure English style and not overburdcned
by citations at aul horiiies which too often dis
figure similar productions. 1t was nv fortune
to bring before the court n gu 'stiOn which gave
to it, 1 think, more anxiety and difficulty than
any case Of recent days The Gaze involved the
power Of Congress under the commercial power
OF the Constitution to regulate or control the
telegraph system. II was held under advisement
think for six months. The Chief Justice lie
livered the opinion of the court and 1t was
against me- But a grand and valuable principle
was established against the power of monopoly.
l made the decision the foundation Of a bill
which created wha: was known as the railroad
telegraph system, which was lately absorbed by
its great rival. have said much more than
intended to say on this occasion subscribe
with cir hoorf IN cfo cd fho
resolutions OF the bar, and in the death Of Chief
Justice Waite the country has lost a patriotic
and accomplished citizen, learned and upright
Judge, and his family father and husband
loss which even the Almighty cannot repair
to them. Let US profit by the warning of his
sudden departure from the scene OF his labors
and his fame and fulfill all the duties Of life ere
we are overtaken by that night wherein no man
can labor"