Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-07

At a meeting Of the Judge the MEM
bers OF the bar. and the officers Of the
Circuit Court of the United States for
the Eastern District of Virginia, held
in the courtroom, in the city Of Rich
mond, on the 23d of November 1895.
The Hon. Philip Pendleton Barbour
was called TO the chair, and Mr.. Henry
Gibson, Clerk of the Circuit Court, was
appointed secretary TO the meeting.
The following preamble and resolu-
tions were proposed by b. w. Leigh,
ESQ, and were unanimously adopted:
John Marshall late Chief Justice OF
the United States, having departed this
life since the last term of the Federal
Circuit Court for this district, the
bench. bar, and officers Of the court
assembled at the present term embrace
the first opportunity 10 express their
profound and heartfelt respect for the
memory of the venerable Judge, who
presided in this court for thirty-five
years with such remarkable diligence in
office that, until he was disabled by
the disease which removed him from
life, he was never known to be absent
from the bench during term-time, even
for a day; with such Indulgence to
counsel and suitors that everybody's
convenience was consulted but his own;
with a dignity sustained without effort;
and apparently without care to sus-
tain it, to which all men were solictous
to pay due respect; with such profound
sagacity, such quick penetration, such
acuteness, clearness, strength, and COM
prehension of mind that in his
hands the most complicated causes were
plain, the weghtiest and most difficult
easy and light; with such striking i'm
and fngfipp and judgement
so sure as TO inspire universal conf
dence, so that few appeals were ever
taken from his decisions during his long
administration of justice in this court,
and those only in cases where he HIM
self expressed doubt with such modesty
that he seemed wholly unconscious Of
his own gigantic powers; with such
equanimity. such benignity of temper,
such amenty of manners, that not only
none Of the Judges who sat with him on
the bench. but no member Of the bar, no
officer of the court, no juror, no witness,
no sutton I'm a single instance, ever found
or imagined in anything said or done
or omitted by him the slightest cause OF
offence.
His private life was worthy of the ex-
allied character he sustained in public
station. The unaffected simplicity OF
his manners; the spotless purity Of his
morals; his social. gentle. cheerful dis
position; his habitJal self-denial and
boundless generosity towards others; the
strength and constancy of his attach
ments: his kindness TO his friends and
neighbors; his exemplary conduct in the
relations OF son, brother, husband, ard
father; his numerous charities; his be-
nevolence towards all men. and his ever
active benefcence-these amiable quail
ties shone so conspicuously in him
throughout his life that, highly as he
was respected. he had the rare happiness
TO be yet more beloved.
He was. indeed, a bright example Of
that true wisdom which consists I'm the
union Of the greatest ability and the
greatest virtue.
Resolved, That, I'm addition 10 the rea-
sons common to us with the whole peo-
ple of the United States, we have pc
cullar cause TO reeret the loss of this
wise and just magistrate and great and
good man;
Resolved, That Tor the purpose OF
rendering merited honor TO his memory,
and of perpetuating, as far as 1t IS pos
sible to perpetuate, this expression OF
our sentiments OF love and veneration for
the Judge and the man, the Circuit
Court be requested 70 enter these pro-
ceedings on it's records;
And that the chairman and secretary
OF this meeting be requested to COM
municate the same 10 his family.
p. p. BARBOUR. Chairman.
Henry Gibson. Secretary.