St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-05-08
because person was liable to get mixed up
In II and be non est inyentus.
THE FIRST RESPONSE.

a suggestion in the GLOBE yesterday
morning:
To the Editor Of the Globe.
In your issue OF to-day, under the
heading "Wayside Notes" read:
In closing up the construction and decorat-
Ing the new court house grounds how would
it do to place two pieces Of statuary, one at
each front corner? Two leading citizens OF
st. Paul might be thus appropriately honored
plete. Who can suggest names Of deceased
great men of st. Paul who should thus be
hOnored?
The above, Mr.. Editor, I consider
very timely, and with your permission
1 would like, through the columns Of
your paper, to make a suggestion. 1t
appears to me that this city land the
county of Ramsey would do itself
honor by placing in the court house
grounds a statue of the first chief justice
of the supreme court of the territory of
Minnesota. ! have reference to the
late Judge Aaron Goodrich, who was ap-
Taylor, in 1919. Judge Goodrich was a
citizen of this city for period Of more
than thirty-eight years; was man Of
honor and integrity, and he had the
implicit confidence of four of
the presidents of these United
States. He. was twice honored with
an appointment abroad by two
of these presidents, Mr.. Lincoln and
Mr.. johnson. Judge Goodrich was for
tunate in having for his most intimate
friend for period of more than sixty
years the late Gov. Seward, of New
York, and during the four years Of civil
war he was medium between the adj
ministratiOn and some of the mOnarchS
of Europe, doing work the value of
which can never be estimated.
In the spring of 1849 he was appointed to
the supreme bench of Minnesota territory ;
arrived here in May of that year, and served
three years, showing by his ability as jurist
the fitness of the presidents selection. He
took a prominent part in the new organiza-
tion. Having been close student and sue
perform the labors of his new position. His
personal and official integrity was never ques-
toned. In 1858, when Minnesota became q
state,Judge Goodrich, with majority of the
legislature opposed to him in politics, was ap-
pointed a member of commission to revise
the laws and prepare system Of pleadings
and practice for the state courts.
Two years later, by legislature OF the
same political complexion, he was made
chairman Of a commission for the prepare repair
Judge Goodrich was member Of the Ten
nessee legislature in l847 and 1S4S, and was
also at one time mayor of the city OF Dover,
Tennessee.
He was presidential elector in 1648, and
was in the convention in 1860 that noml-
mated Mr.. Lincoln, Judge Goodrich voting
for William H. Seward. He was delegate
to the Liberal Republican convention at Gin
cinnati, in 1872, which nominated Horace
Greeley. he voting for Judge DAVID Davis.
Judge Goodrich was one OF the cor
porate members of the Minnesota His
torical society, of the Grand Lodge of Mime
sofa, and Of the Old Settlers Association Of
Minnesota, and up to his death Dune "a,
1880 was the first ana only secretary of the
latter society. Among the pioneers OF this
state few have made a more commendable
record. United States Biographical Die
tionary of Eminent and Self-Made Men. Min
nesota vol: Chicago aud New York. 1879.
Whether the statue of Judge Good
rich shall ever be placed in the court
house grounds or not, there is one thing
l am sure of; that in the days to come
in the near future, hOpe-the scholars
and the historians Of this country will
build monument of enduring stone
that shall reach far towards the clouds,
on whose sides shall be cut, in letters
: that can be read from the East to the
Nv est, and from the lakes to the gulf,
othis inscriptions:
C ITO the memory of the jurist, scholar,
patriot historian, Aaron Goodrich, who,
after labOring for nearly sixty years, was en-
abled to give to the world the true history of
the early discoveries of America, this monu-
:, ment is dedicated
~ Then, and not till then, will justice be
done to Judge Goodrich for the valuable
Z service he has rendered to the future
historian and scholar of this country.
Is - IA