The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-04-30
ADIEUX TO JUDGE ADAMS
TRIBUTE FROM TEE MEMBERS OF
THE SAVANNAH BAR

Expressions Of Regret Upon His
Retirement from the Benoh-Judge
Adams Acknowledgment OF the
Bars Action-Gen. Jackson's High
Tribute-Judge Adams Welcomed as
Practitioner Capt. FaIllgAnt
Appointment Looked FOR To Day.
In the superior cour5 yesterday afternoon,
after the closing work Of the term had been
passed upon, and before the ii al order Of
adjournme It for the term was made, Judge
Harden took a seat on the bench to the
right of Judge Adams, and c He'd the bar
meeting to order. ". G. Charlton, Esq.
presented the report of the committee upon
the retirement Of Judge A Jams from the
bench, which was unanimously adopted.
The adoption of the report was seconded
by Gen. Henry r. Jackson.
Mr. Charlt II, il presenting the report,
said that the committee had taken the
liberty Of departing from the ordinary
method of presenting resolutions, and bad
embodied the feelings of the bar in the
following report:
TRIBUTE FROM THE BAR.
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen Of the Bar.
A p Adams from the bench of the eastern
judicial circuit, the members of this bar have
determined 70 Civ enduring expression to the
grateful appreciate N in whicl his labors are
held by his professional brethren, and TO this
end your committee beg leave to submit the fol-
lowing report, with the request that the min
utes of this court, full as they are o the wi
dences of his energy, his fidelity, his fearless
ness, may bear upon the pages which contain
the record of these high attributes this recog-
milton of them
IA.
results, full of toll and sacrifice; representing
often in a few lines of technical language tbs
expenditure Of health and brain and life, leaves
behind it no record which appeals to the seuti-
ment Of the public. Within generation the
sound of his 70 c., even if he hal eloquence
will have been forgotten, and the unromantlc
recitals of declaration and demurrer tell no
story save to the professional eye and ear. In
the nature of thugs the advantage OF the bench
over the bar in this direction is but slight Tue
more abStruse the questi n. the more difficult
the task, the quicker passes It's solution from the
recollection OF those whose ayocations DO not
demand an acquaintance with judicial prece-
dent 1t is fitting act therefore, that we who |
know the value of the pubic services rendered |
by the distinguished judge who is about to lay |
aside the robes OF Office should SPEAK of it
Coming upon the bench When he mad barely
passed the age prescribed by the conStitutipa
of George. Jud &c Adams, from the first daY of |
his career displayed an aptitude for judicial |
life which impressed the bar as marvellous.
The intellectual partIsanShip of the lawyer was |
put aSlQ- on l6 lnSta j ana IN us stead W as
Sumed that calm, patient, TesOute ana Just |
temper which took account only OF the question |
prese ted, ABSOLUTELY uuviedng to the |
Influences OF party, OF locality or of circu n |
stance. Whilst tempering in tce with mercy. |
he administered the laws with a determination |
which less ned crime in all directions and de- |
stroyed it in some. Indeed, it may b. said that |
his lucid exposition Of the statutes Of his state |
made their prov suns 50 comprehensive and |
Gear that upon the criminal docket appear but |
few of the offensss whic spring from an imper. |
feet appreciation Of the law, and crime has well
nigh been restricted To those abandoned nat IreS
which condition of society affect, and no ap- |
pea of reason or punishmeI It change
Under such an administration there could be |
no uncert ainty to the result. 4 laval ding |
community. better lovers Of the law beclus of |
his efforts, Join in our regret at his retirement !
A body of officers upon whose time and intellt- |
gence his active nature made constant deman IS, |
look upon him as a helpful friend; and the bar, |
inspired to study and ca e and precision by the |
character Of the mind they were called on TO |
convince, remembering the numberiess evil |
dences Of friendly consideration exhibited to- |
ward them, regard his retire .nent from the pub
lie service as a personal loss.
Just and mere full, patient and energetic; |
so working that Zach day left its record of some |
useful, helpful deed, and bringing to his hard |
duties, by day ana by nig1J, mind full of |
learning and trained in app cation, his career |
justifes the pride We feel ia It,
Under lis administration, the best traditions |
of the wisdom aud attIinments of the bench of |
this circuit have appeared as facts enacted be- |
fore us from day TODAY. Law has been made |
certain; order prevails. and the ermine upon |
whose purity all the hopes of a free people |
must depend, has been kept as spotless as the |
snow.
Like Sir Thomas Moore he could hold the |
balance between friead ami foe / perfect equi-
pose; like Coke, he gave his rulings only upon |
an issue made. The innoce { came into the |
precincts of his court with q feeling o security:
the humble with sense of Independence be- |
gotten Of the fact that for rich and Door there !
but one law TIE sp.ctful attention |
vii waited upon the argument of the mot |
venerable of our number. greeted with sympa- |
thetic interest the timid utterauces OF the |
youngest
A great student of human nature has said |
that ''in the government of men great deal !
may b. done by severity, more by love, but most |
OF all by clear discerument and imp irtial JUS
tice, which pays no respect u persons TIE
record of his work is full of the spirit of this |
utterance-a work 50 gently done that whist |
its brilliant results call forth our pride the
manner OF its doing has drawn TO him an afac !
ton which viii follow with watchful, sympa.
thetc interest the new career which opens SO
brightly before him.
In bidding him adieu the bar OF Savannah
places on record the deliberate Judgment that
u is taking leave o. one OF the ablsst judges
that ever honored the nch
WALTER G. CHAsLIoN
GEoRGs A. MERcER
P ". MELDRlM
T. G. DUBI8NoN,
JAMES ATKINS,
Committee