The herald., 1893-12-11
JUDGE O'MELvENY.
4 CHICAGO PAPERS ACCOUNT OF
HIS EVENTFUL CAREER.
He Was An Active Politician in War
Times-A Circuit Court Judge aud
Member of a Constitutional
Convention.

Judge H. X. S. O'Melveny, who died in
that city on the previous day of apo
plexy, says the Chicago Herald;
also reports OF interviews with
judges and lawyers concerning the dead
jurist, all of which showed that he was
held in high esteem. Judge O'Melveny
was formerly of Illinois, but he had
been for 25 years s.resident of California.
The lawyers OF this state and the poll
ticians of the older class will not have
forgotten the man who succeeded Judge
Breese on the bench of the circuit court
under the constitution OF l84S, and who
took q prominent part in Democratic
politics in the stormy times just before
and after the outbreak of the civil war.
Judge O'Melveny was born in Ken
tucky and was partly educated in that
state, but his parents moving to Illinois
when he was still young he entered the
Jacksonville college and graduated with
honors at that institution. He read law
both under Governor Bisaell and Gem
eral Shields, and was admitted to the
bar of st. Clair county and began prsc-
tice OF the profession at Bellville. The
discovery OF gold in the Sacramento val
ley of California in 1S4S induced him to
migrate to that country, but, instead OF
going into the mines, he connected him
self with law firm in Sacramento city,
and, in short time, was appointed to
minor judicial Office in O department Of
one of the state courts. After two years
spent there he returned to Illinois and
resumed at Bellville the practice of the
law. He had fondness for politics,
was an ardent Democrat. and soon
made himself prominent and influential
in the party's councils, and in election
campaigns he was much in request as q
powerful speaker from the stump.
Mr.. O'Melveny was chosen to fill out
the vacancy in the circuit court bench
occasioned by the resignation OF Sidney
Breese, and he received his commission
March l, 1868. In this capacity he
served acceptably until 1851, when he
was elected a member of the constitu-
tional convention, which assembled in
January, 1862. The Democrats were in
a majority of more than two to one in
the convention, and the leading men of
the majority shared the views OF John
G. Crittenden of Kentucky, that the
war had been diverted to lines not
originally contemplated, and was be-
come q wsr merely to free the negroes
and that it could not be fought to sue
cessful termination. Judge O'Melveny
WAS one of the leaders. He was placed
on several of the more important COM
mittees and was chairman OF the COM
mittee-on resolutions.
The Democrats also had the legiala-
ture in 1862, and the first business upon
its assembling in January, 1868. was the
election of United States senator in
place of Stephen A. Douglas, deceased.
Judge O'Melveny was a candidate. He
went to Springfield and contested the
prize with 8. 6. Marshall, R. 7. Merrick,
Willism @. Goudy and W. A. Richard
son. Early, however, in the struggle he
drew out and gave his influence to
Richardson, who it was plain to be
efeSt hid hffai,E Enta tassepauGh 4rarn- thu -stsrt- tn
faction to the other aspirants when
O'Melveny announced that he would not
attend the oratorical pow-wow in AS
sembly hall and declare his sentiments
in rivslship with such hot-heads as
Marshall and Merrick. He was opposed
to what he thought to be the new OBJ
iects of the war, but he was in agree
ment with Richardson that to take
ground against the war absolutely
would be mistake.
He did not, however, lose stand
ing with his party. Indeed, he
favored the so-called peace resolutions
that passed the assembly, and only
failed of passing the senate by an acci-
dent; and he was named in the sixth
resolution that provided commissioners
.sto confer with congress and to other
wise aid in securing the results aimed
at-namely, the immediate cessation OF
the war and the preservation OF the
union.
In the June following he was mem
ber of the Peoria convention. In this
convention the anti-war feeling was
intense, and the declarations made were
extreme. OF course the party was beaten
overwhelmingly in the next elections,
and Judge O'Melveny, with many other
Democrats, southern born and eoucated,
or northern born and educated IN south
ern principles, who had found immense
difficulty in approving of war which,
II was foreeeen, must result in the abo-
lition OF slavery, finally became recon
ciled to the inevitable and ceased their
opposition.
In 1868 Judge O'Melvedy removed to
California and settled at Los Angeles.
He in g short time obtained a remuner-
ative law practice and earned reputa-
ton for ability and integrity. He did
not again take part in general politics,
but allowed himself to be known as a
Democrat. He WAS for several terms in
succession elected judge of the supe'
, rior court and served with satisfaction
to the bar and the people.
Upon his final retirement from the
bench he organized etrong law firm
and for wears, and up to the time of hil
death, his practice was extensive ant
: lucrative. He was concedly one of th'
/ most valued citizens OF Los Angeles
and his excellent reputation EXTENDED
/ throughout California.