The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-15
! GREAT JURET RETIREs.
The Country's Highest Court Loses
Its Oldest Member.
JUSTICE FIELD RESIGNS his OFFICE
And the President, M Well M His
Associates, Pay Him the Highest
Tributes OF Respect.

| -
Supreme Court of the United States,
Washington, ID. ca October 12, s97.-Dear
Mr. Chief Justice and Brethren: Near the
close OF last term, feeling that the duties
of my office had become too arduous for
my strength, transmitted my resignation
| to the president. to take effect on Decem-
Der next and this he has accepted. With
kindly expressions of regret, as Will be
seen from a copy Of his letter, which IL as
| follows:
| Hon. stephen ]. Field Associate Justice
| Of the Supreme Court of the United
| Suites. Washington, d. c.:
| Executive Mansion, Washington, Octc-
Der o. My Dear Sir: In April last, Chief
Justice Fuller. accompanied by Mr.. Jus
lice Erewer. handed me your resignation
as associate justice of the supreme coulh
OF the United States. to take effect De-
cesnber /, 1897. IN hereby accepting your
resignation, ] wish to express my deep
regret that YOU fee! compelled by advanc-
lug years to sever your active connection
with the court of which you have so long
been distinguished member.
Entering upon Your great office In May,
1865, you will. on the first Of next Deem
Der. have served upon this bench for
period of thirty-four years and seven
mon,hs-a term longer than that OF any
member of the court since its creation,
and throughout a period of special impor-
lance in the history of the country occu-
pied with as grave public questions as
have ever confronted that tribunal for
decision.
l congratulate you. therefore, most
han Ia ne n aan
tlonal duration, fidelity and distinction.
Neither can | overlook the fact that you
received your commission from Abraham
1dnccln, and, graccusiy spared by Kidd
Providence, have survived all the menu
bers of the court of his appointment
Uron Your retirement both the bench
ana TIE country will sustain u great loss.
of your work will live and long be re-
n,embered. not only by your colleagues,
but by your grateful fellow coiIntrymen
WITH personal esteem and sincere best
wishes for your oonteiament and happl-
ness during. the period of rest which you
nave 50 well earned, l am, my dear sir,
very truly yours
NV judicial career covers many years of
service. Having been elected a member
OF the supreme court of California, / as
s :, rec that office October 10, 1857, holding
a., aass, tne latter part of the time being |
tne chief justice. On March 10, 1863. / was |
ceoinm's stoned by President LINCOLN JUS |
zee oil the supreme court of the United |
States. taking the oath of office on the |
Spth OF the following May When nv res |
~ nation takes effect, my period OF ser |
" we no on tt,e bench will have exceeded that
~ ~. any or nv predecessors, while my en-
.ire JGolciai life will have embraced more
~, ,',, loiNy years. l may be pardoned for |
SNyinE mat, during all this period. long
in the retrospect II has vona
WIN IN the swftness of tale that h told
:, nave not Stunned to declare, in every
case coming before me for decision he
conclusion which my deliberate convinl
'iols compelled me to arnlve at bv the |
CONSCIENTIOUS exercise of such abilities and
'eIulrements as l possessed.
~ IS pleasant thing In my memory
~ ,r my appointment came from President
l.ihcoln, OF whose appo!ntees / am the
,e s, s np rs, Up TO that time there had
Ivas.' new empire had risen in tha
est WHOSE laws were those Of anathar
Sin apI IN, inc land titles were from Span
yere often overlaid by the cia,p os WhiSn
,onfus1 e,'ets. 10 bring order out of this
~ usoil, congress passed an act nrovid9
he inte niiosnsr seat on this bench. with
one one one familiar with those condictingg
naSt a.ta win the mining laws of The
FAMED the ,,,i no happened pc that had
vas. moreover, chief justice of Caiff,rn ,isu
: tor vas me wish, therefore, of rhe san
veil a a''a hep CONSERVATIVES of that State as
ucceed to th,. nom nom oregon, that | should
ennta MT Lincoln sent my name to TIC
on''.,i, anu the nomination was 49, a;e
h9usly confirmed was uham-
During my tncumhapo,. ,
~ go ain sixteen associate iustic,s JUS
ira noes ss leaving me precious reman
nd a.,.a % common laoors and ultirmat ~
"a asreeanle companionsbin' "'ifiiate
10, O. l look hack over tba moro
encb " y century that have sur o onan
With The ,n n,n more and more impsassn,1
curt "p N ,nmineasurable Importance Of thia
! as an arstocratic featnra ~ spoken
r Iii aI i"n1eni, but 1t is the most deI pupncan
re.enta ia.ors represent their State anS
curt stanjs se for rhetr constituents, but this
; snoh Is truly 'of tn ne eointry, ana :
e eo ana for the peop,et. by the
ra nG power to iegsate II oan n ,ni
either the q n,, uonar OF money. 1t carries
n n,i a., the power of dec,arinr put IL
a as IN That is found the safegnssrtdn S law
,ent f, r,r who're mighty fabric of en,,arn
egative powsr 4, ~, 10 destruction. This
me only safety OF a pon,,,a ,rsistahce.
hn, and II is an additionaI ne Govern govern
Nth n nre fpuwsr Is In such hands as yonrs
avs Yours sN' very sincerely and al, 7
The fSliowinp 10 ,no stephen J. Field. !
as prone Court of the JJnitad CO.. !
, aSaiineton. October 10. lsg7We n ra
-unuIy moved by the Letter in yrh IRE pro q
,nch nc ITO 70 us your retirement FROM you tS +
' a the termination OF n ipdi LJh tne i
r ~ ana OF such. length and '5, s.ino,,ea i
"a ny fatl 70 iaspire anon a's KIT $
'a,1nrym f and, indeed. whereva-s 9SSr a
'n n OF Jurisprudence oxt"nss eve the 9
/, s1,.s "a me loss which. 10 vo,,r Nrsh
areayemcnt. "Apeo' Oh personal I
rer the Intimacy necessari,,. 9
n III, r eendnct of work so constanr I
,rs ana OF such vitai .mn,rtan, 50 \
the nYivnahy draws us together hv ,,as 7
: s .ni closest character. which 90, ~ ues 9
,sS , wiWlout emotions Of lee, NO. ne I
70 , a'u regret. We feel That onr ~. rt1, c
sSvv,s net simply the eleprlvatianp arting
81 Afforded by your learn,pg ., ,me 4
'St experiences and your earnastrrsssss our
y ' n,ss OF your convictions. but tha 81, IN
I'M OF these relations which haa,e sew
S ors Of 80 20, much to tighten the hardest r
a !. ln NOT the time or place to dwe,, ~,
= reputation you have achieved asn
rist. The record is made nm ana as
ster,, DC committed to the Judgment Of
Sut we can not part with 49,,