The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-26
GEORGIA LAWYERS.
Chief Justice L. E. Bleckley's Letter
to Posterity."
From the New York Tribune.


From the NeW York Tribune.
The Green Bag for February is largely
occupied with the sayings and doings Of one
OF the most picturesque figures in American
judicial life. Chief Justice L. E Bleckley
of Georgia contributes to the magazine an
autobiographical Letter to Posterity," and
a portrait of Judge Bleckley is prefxed to
the article. Walter B. Hill Of Macon, in the
second article on the supreme court OF Geor-
gia, in the same number, also devotes sew
eral pages to the wise and witty sayings of
Chief Justice BleckleY. Judge Bleckley's
portrait shows him to be broad-shouIdered
and vigorous elderly gentleman with a long
white beard, and equally long dark hair
resting on his shoulders. Over deep-set eyes
are shaggy eyebrows and a high expanse Of
forehead. He is 65 years old, and
has twice held the office of supreme court
justice. After serving from 1875 60 1880 as
justice of the supreme court he resigned
and remained in private life until January,
1887, when he was chosen chief justice. The
most interesting fact about Judge Bleckley
Is that he endeavorS to relieve his opinions
from the ordinary dullness by witty ex-
presstons, curious phrases and occasional
poetic quotations. He has a theory that
Judicial opinions might well be terse, crisp,
graceful, animated and entertaining; and
out his theory in practice. When he re-
signed his office Of justice of the supreme
court in 1880 he read from the bench as his
last act a short poem entitled, sin the Mat
ter Of hest" The last stanza beginning,
''Peace and rest, Are they best For mortals
here belowF is a model of terse aud thought
full poetic expression.
Judge Bleckley, in his Letter to Pos
terty," regrets that he never will meet those
whom he addresses, and, while claiming no
right to the notice Of posterity, proceeds to
inform future generations as to certain Of
his beliefs and facts of his history. Some of
his statements concerning the duty of a
judge are decidedly entertaining. He says:
ITO administer law, it is desirable, although
not always necessary. to know it. In Its
effect upon the deciding faculty, the appre-
hension of ignorance counts for as much as
ignorance itself. My mind is slow to en-
brace firm faith in It's supposed knowledge.
However ignorant a Judge may be, when
ever he thoroughly believes he understands
the law Of his case, he is ready to decide it
no less ready than if he had the
And he will often decide correctly, for the
law may be as he snpposes, whether he
knows it or not. But my faith in
the ultimate efficiency OF work is unbound
ed. The law is too often unknown, but
is never unknowable | finally settle down,
painful elaboration ceases, and doubt no
more, until am engaged in writing out
the opinion Of the court, when | discover,
perhaps, that the thing is all wrong. My
colleagues are called again to the consulta-
ton; we reconsider the case and decide it
the other way. Then l am satisfied: for
when know the law is not on one side, it
must be on the other" Judge Bleckley
disclaims any great learning. either lay or
legal, but Mr., Hill tells us that his attain
II. "a l.,
great. His chief defect seems to be that he
reasons so infinitely and consistently that
it is easier for him to question and doubt
than to decide.