The record-union., 1897-10-15


Field will not resume his seat on the
bench during the interim.
FIELDS LETTER TO HIS ASSO-
GATES.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 14.-The follow
ing letter was given out this afternoon:
Supreme Court of the United States,
Washington, D. c., October II, 1897.
Dear Mr.. Chief Justice and Breth-
rem: Near the close of last term feel
ing that the duties of my office had be-
come too arduous for my strength,
transmitted my resignation to the Pres
ident, to take effect on the 1st day OF
December next, and this he has ac-
cepted, with kindly expressions of re-
gard, as can be seen from a copy OF
his letter, which is as follows:
Executive Mansion, Washington, Oct
9, 1891.
Hon Stephen j. Field, Associate JUS
tice of the Supreme Court of the United
States, Washington, d. C.-My Dear Sir
In April last Chief Justice Fuller, accom-
panied by Mr.. Justice Brewer, handed me
your resignation as Associate Justice OF
the Supreme Court of the United States
TO take effect December l, 1897.
I'm hereby accepting your resignation
/ wish to express my deep regret that
you feel compelled by advancing. years
to sever your active connection with the
court of which you have SO long been q
distinguished member.
Entering upon your great office III
May, 1863, you will, on the first of next
December, have served upon this bench
for a period of thirty-four years and
seven months, term longer than that OF
any member of the court since it's crea-
ton, and throughout a period of special
Importance in the history of the country
occupied with as grave public questions
as have ever confronted that tribunal
for decision.
Il congratulate you, therefore, most
heartily upon a service of such exception
al duration, fidelity and distinction. Nol
can | overlook that you received your
commission from Abraham Lincoln, ano
have survived all the members of the
court of his appointment.
Upon your retirement both the bench
and the country will sustain great loss
but the high character and great ability
OF your work will live and long be re-
membered, not only by your colleagues
but by your grateful fellow countrymen
with personal esteem and sincere best
wishes for your contentment and happi-
ness during the period of rest which you
have SO well earned, L am, dear sir, very
truly yours,
civilian MCKINLEY"
MY judicial career covers many years
of service. Having been elected a mem
Der of the Supreme Court of Califor-
MIA, / assumed that office October 13
1851, holding it for five years, seven
months and five days, the latter part OF
the time being Chief Justice On the
10th of March, 1863, l was commits
stoned by President Lincoln Justice
of the Supreme Court of the United
States, taking the oath of office on the
Of ha fN1I
When my resignation takes effect
my service on this bench will have ex-
ceeded that Of any of my predecessors
while my entire judicial life will have
embraced more than forty years
may be pardoned for saying that dur
ing all this period, long in comparison
with the brevity of human life. though
in the retrospect, it has gone with the
swiftness of the tale that is told. l have
not Stunned to declare in every case
coming before me for decision the con-
clusions which my deliberate convic-
tions compelled me to arrive at by the
conscientious exercise of such abilities
and requirements as possessed.
1T is a pleasant thing in my memory
that my appointment came from Pres
ident Lincoln, of whose appointees
am the last survivor. Up to the time
there had been no representative here
of the Pacific Coast. A new empire had
risen in the West, whose laws were
those of another country. The land IT,
ties were from Spanish and Mexican
grants. both of which were often over
laid by the claims of the first settlers
To bring order out of this confusion