The record-union., 1892-11-05

His method of transacting business has
been such as to simplify the work and
aid the bar in carrying on the arduous
duties incumbent upon them and incum-
bent on this department of the Superior
Court. He has a record of which he may
well be proud-a record equaled by lew
and excelled by none. In the new city,
or rather the new field of his labors, to
which he will soon journey to enter upon
the discharge of the duties necessarily in
VOWED upon any active man as he Is,
wish nm personal success in every par
ticular. / wish him comfort, happiness,
health and pleasure, and ifthe time comes
IL the future, as 1t may come, that the
people of the State of California have
cause to ask the services of Judge Van
Fleet IN any capacity | know of no per-
son who viii more readily unite in an
swerlng that appeal and in the endeavor
to obtain for the State the services that
have been given to us in this county so
long and so well. l, myself, and | feel
that the members of the bar Will unite in
that as they did in the past. If l was
physically able | would say more, for it
is matter that have thought about con-
siderably. Personal feeling, OF course,
enters into the composition of every one.
l have felt at times hurt at remarks, at
criticisms and at decisions, but will look
back to the eight years that your honor
has been on the bench, at your cool, care
ful, devoid of the feeling necessarily at
tendant upon the strife al the bar-de-
void of the animosities engendered al
ways by desire on the part of lawyer
to succeed in his cause. | might cOnscien-
tiously say it is the verdict OF every man,
myself included, as laid down in the
Bible, We'll done. thou good and faithful
servant f"
LOSING AN ABLE JUDGE.
Hon. Charles T. Jones next addressed
the court. He said: "If your honor
please, 1 am suffering from cold this
morning, so | do not feel in good condi-
ton to make any extended remarks. But
l would not feel that L was doing my
duty as a member of the bar and as a
citizen of Sacramento County if l failed
to let this opportunity pass without say
ing something. l feel that l can truth
fully say that every member of the bar
and every citizen of the county of Sac
ramento, regardless of politics, feel that
in the loss of Judge Van Fleet they are
losing an able, upright and honest Judge.
l do not know OF anything that is to be
taken as more of a compliment to a man
occupying judicial position than TO say
that he is honest. During the eight years
that Judge Van Fleet has occupied this
bench, in all his rulings, all his actions,
no matter how hotly the case is contested,
either by client or lawyer, | never heard
LIS lIb68IllJ OHCG NutSllOuGu. IGCOll6CI
well when he came to the city of Sacra-
mento to reside amongst us-a young
man-and commenced the practice of the
law, and when he aspired to the position
he now occupies a difference of opinion
arose among the members OF the bar as
to whether at that time he should aspire
to the Office. He received the nomina-
ton and was elected. No better
compliment can be paid to man than to
say that after he had been elected for one
term he came up for re- election and there
was no man TO be found as candidate
against him. There were two offices to
til at the time and there were many to
aspire to the other place, but there was
none to be found as candidate against
Judge Van Fleet. lie received the nomi-
nation and the opposite party indorsed it,
so that when he went before the people
the second time there was no one to run
against him. l say that was cOmpli-
ment. 1t is a compliment that any one
ought to feel proud of. And ! trust as he
now sewers his connection with US, that
when he enters the new community,
he will receive from them the same COM
pliment he received here. | hoped
that when Judge Van Fleet left the bench
here he should occupy position on the
Supreme Court bench. l believed that
was his aspiration. l believe there are
members OF the bar peculiarly titted for
best for the community. best for the
State and best for himself that he should
have retained the position he now occu-
pies until such time as we could elevate
him to more elevated position. L trust,
though he leaves the bench now, that it
will De temporary, and that the time will
not be long before we elevate him to that
position which [ believe he is fitted aud
should occupy"
THE COURTS THANKS.
Judge Van Fleet thanked the gentle
men tervently for their kind expressions.
1T would be impossible for me to find
words to express my appreciation for
the kindly sentiment that has been given
voice to this morning." he said. 81 can
only add to what | have already stated,
And l trust 1 shall always be worthy of
the same degree of respect and sincere
friendship which has been expressed this
morning. Certainly, in any new field of
labor which l shall seek, it will always
be my endeavor to retain the good will
and esteem of my fellow-men. And I
trust when l return to the bar and meet
gentlemen who have practiced before me
during my term of otnce as l shall hope
to at the bar, that we may meet upon the
same kindly plane and pleasant senti-
ment that we part with on this occasion.
l. of course, am as well aware as any one
in administering an Office of this charac-
ter criticism is bound to come at times
and no man can expect to escape it.
Differences of opinion will arise in hotly
contested cases involving the most import
ant rights of people and are bound to be
followed by adverse criticism from those
thinking they are right having lost. 1t is
not entirely to my mind thing to be re-
GREETED that those occupying public posi-
tions are subjected to it which tends to
make them more careful, more con-
siderate of the rights of others
and to endeavor to steer a course
which will be as nearly in accord with
the principles of right and justice as is
possible to be attained by the human
mind. OF course the law is not an exact
science. 1t is the framework of the hu-
man mind. And it must, of course, and
does, have its defects. The administra-
ton of the law may liken to the course of
the locomotive upon its iron track keep
ing within the lines of its infiexible
rails, and it carries us to prosperity and
happiness; but an attempt to defect it
from its course a single inch in the inter-
est of an individual or a particular in
stance, and you will meet with disaster
and ruin. So it is with the law The
principles of the law are immovable and
fixed in the very nature of things, and
cannot always be DETECTED or bent to ad-
just itself TO the countless circumstances
which go to make up the sum of human
transaction, but is even-handed, fair and
impartial. The adjustment of legal prin-
ciples, as near to the circumstances of
each case as they can be brought, that
makes up the sum and substance of the
administration of the law. And it is in
that regard the Judge so essentially needs
and must rely upon honest, faithful and