The state chronicle., 1893-06-28
Remarks of Hon. G. #. Warren Upon
Judge Rodman at the Bar Meeting.
WASHINGTON Gazette.

Judge Rodman at the Bar Meeting.
Washington Gazette.
MIR. Chairman:-We, his profess
sional brethren, have assembled to
pay the last tribute to one who de-
serves to be remembered. In the
death of Judge Rodman has passed
away the last member of the old
bar which shed so much luster upon
their profession and State. Stanly,
Donnell, Satterthwaite, Warren,
Carter, Sparrow and Rodman have
all gone over to the silent majority.
It was conspicously able and
brilliant bar. They were not mere
lawyers, trained and skilled in the
pleading and technical terms of the
profession. They brought to the
practice Of the law every source of
liberal education and cultivated
and disciplined faculties. History,
science, philosophy and the litera-
ture of the living and dead langua-
ges were at their command. The
attrition of mind, like the spark
from the flint, drew forth their best
powers. They entered the arena
like the Greek athlete, stripped and
oiled for the decisive wrestle, and,
if in the contest they touched
mother earth, like Antaeus they
arose strengthened By the contact
There was courtesy and esprit de
corps among them which added
much to the dignity and konor of
the profession. With them the
practice of the law had higher aims
than the acquisition of money.
| Judge Rodman loved the law for
its own sake and devoted his life to
its service. In the maturity Of his
intellect and physical powers his
capacity for labor was immense He
considered nothing done while any
thing remained to be done. To him
the law was progressive science,
and he did not hesitate to discard
. the useless and obsolete He be-.
lieved
That man the best conservative
Who lops the mouldered branch away.
With his associates he prepared
the Revised Code, which is regarded
by the profession as q most thor
ough and accurate compilation of
the statute law OF the State. The
7 articles of the Constit of 1868
upon the Judiciary and revenue and
: taxation were mainly drawn by him
J. The changes and alterations in the
l New York Code of Civil Procedure
: necessary to adapt it to our judi
; cial system, were made by him. The
acts on criminal procedure, drain.
: ing lowlands, landlord end tenant
8 and marriage were drawn by him
j; and stand upon the statute books
o substantially as he drew them. Al
l a law-maker he was exact, pains
q taking and conscientious. Lore
| Chatham deprecated the presence
OF the mere lawyer in Parliament
r and he said you might shake tht
+ Constitution and the lawyer woule
: remain silent, but # you touched s
Il cobweb in Westminster Hall she ex
# asperated spider wopld sally out il
+ its defense. Judge Rodman had NJ
Il reverence for rubbish.
q The ten years service of Judg,
i Rodman upon the bench was a pc
y riod of transition. The State hae
6 Ijust emerged from a desperate civi
" war and old forms had vanished i,
# the conflict. The foundations Q
n society were shaken. Perplexint
l. questions arose which needed to b,
solved by the courts While W.
g may not have agreed politically will
II the Supreme Court of which Judg
y Rodman was member, no one Cal
'r deny it's great ability. The opinion
'r OF Judge Rodman are we'll consid
of cred and expressed. His style,
g. less terse and perspicuous than tha
ss Of the great Chief Justice who pre-
or sided over the court, was more O,
7e nate and scholarly. He was apt i
L. illustration and was fine classics
" scholar. His knowledge of the la
t. was profound. He was gree
a judge. Soon those who have hear
him will pass away and time wi
ID obliterate the monument whic
er marks his last resting place, but b
~ voice will still speak from th
lie printed page.
u Returning to the practice of tt
re, law at the expiration of his jud;ci
D. term, Judge Rodman found his ol
ly associates gone and younger me-
on contesting for the emoluments 81
n honors of the profession. I wis
u here and now to bear testimony
= his uniform courtesy and kindnes
So, to his absolute fairness to
on professional brethren, and to Il
tar modesty and amiability of his cha
IN acter. What there was in his ca
his Judge Rodman developed. He lac
1t ed the fire and intensity of the OF
ger tor. In his estimate Of men he "
OF not always accurate, and, by ress
5he Of this in the trial of cases, he SON
times lost when he ought to ha
it's won. In legal argument he was 9
nd mirable, and he unfolded and {
int veloped the equities Of his case W;
is rare judgment and power. No ST
ept ject was 80 subtitle and intricate tt
yer be could not elucidate it. When
'ise presented some nice question
ad- law or drew some fine distincti
to& la1