The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-06-06
THE LATE SAMUEL NJ. WILSON.

1t is perhaps fitting that something should
be added to the newspaper biographies of
Mr.. Wilson which have appeared in print.
California has produced or developed some
of the really great men Of the last half OF
the nineteenth century, and lie was one Of
them. His career was twof0ld-lawyer and
politician; in the former capacity he at
tanned an eminerce which has rarely been
surpassed at the East.
He was an Ohio man, but grew to man.
hood at time when Ohio was Democratic
pro-Slavery State. lie naturally imbbed
political opinions from his Surroundings.
Those opinions he brought here with him
when he came TO the coast in company with
his partner, the late Judge Hoge, and he
always acted with the Democratic party.
But be occupied peculiar position, being
neither a S0utheTner nor member OF the
Democratic ring which trained with
Gwin and Latham Hence lie not in
frequently found himself at variance
with a majority of the leaders Of his
party, and was visited by a dspleas-
ure which was none the less bitter because
it was felt that he was intellectually the
superior Of those who overb0re him in the
party councils. Being naturally tolerant
and rather timd, he shTank from party
strife; and being conscientious, he refused
to be led by party dictation into courses
which his conscience disappToved. Thus
he voluntarily relinquished the leadership
which was easily within mis- reach. An in
stance Of his severe ConscientiOusnesS was
witnessed when he refused to sign the new
constitution which had been mainly drawn
by committee of which he was chairman.
lie vas always resolved that come what
might, he would keep his sovereignty under
his own hat
When is fell to the lot OF Democratic
Legislature 20 elect United States Senator
in 1857 many Democrats thought that Call
f0ruia would honor herself by choosing him
for tie post He would certainly have done
the State credit in the Senate, and his
means and tastes we're such that The honor
would have been welcome. But lie utterly
refused to make bargains OF promises, and
was thus pronounced impTacticable.
Mr. Wilson was one Of tie sOundest
members If the bar. be organized victory
10y deYotDg to his cases an exhaustive
study which rendered it impossible to sur
prise him. lie appeared to have taken as
his model in this matter the late Charles
O'ConOr Of New \ ork, OF whom it was said
that no witness ever appeared en- the stand
before him whose life and career habits,
principles and tastes were not al bis fingers
ends. The whole history of the cOntro-
yeTsy in which he was engaged he knew by
heart, with the biography Of every one who
had taken part in it. and after he had mas
tered the facts, lie studied the law bearing
on the case, first from the standpoint Of his
own case, and next from the standpoint Of
lis adversary, so that whatever point was
raised OF objection made he was prepared
to meet it with book, volume and page.
Such was Charles O'Conor, and such was
Samuel Wilson. Il need hardly be added
that such thor0ughness brought its proper
reward 10 the shape of an array of trusting
and liberal clients. 1t is said by those who
knew that be made more money in actual
fees than any other lawyer in the city ever
harvested in the same period of time.
His bead was so clear and his capacity Of
expressing his thoughts in lucid language so
marked that it was a pleasure to listen
to lis expeditions Of absJruse doctrine
Laymen who heard him came away
with a better estimate Of their own under
standing, because they had followed him
with such ease and Judges were slow to
oVeTrule one who possessed such Oyerpower-
ing resources Of learning and logic. Tie
place he occupied at the San Francisco bar
will not be easily filed.