The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-15
JUSTICE FIELD WILL RETIRE.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT MADE IN THE,
SUPREME COURT YESTERDAY.


ciates Notifying Them of HIS Re-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS by PreSi-
dent Lincoln in 1SG3-JudIcIaI Ca
reer of Forty Ycnrs-VOiced De-
cisions in over Thousand Cases.
Washington Oct. lit was announced
at the supreme court to-day that Justice
stephen J. Field of California had notified
President Mckinley of his intention to re-
tire as a member of the court and had
informed his colleagu of this fact. 1t is
expected that his successor win be nomi-
mated by the President Immediately after
the convening Of congress in December,
and that Attorney General McKenna, also
of California, will be named for the Office.
Justice Field, 1t is learned, notified the
President last April of his intention to re-
tire but the President did not acknowledge
1t until Oct o.
In the letter of Justice Field to his asso-
ciates, notifying them of his retirement,
is a copy of the acceptance of his resigna-
ton by the President, in which Mr.. Nc
Kinley speaks in the highest terms of the
services rendered by the distinguished
my judicial career covers many years
of service. On March TO- 1868, 1 was COM
missoned by President Lincoln a justice
of the supreme court of the United States,
taking the oath of Office on the twentieth
day of the following May.
when my resignation takes effect my
period of service on this bench will have
I,t .
while my entire judicial life will have
embraced more than forty years. I may
be pardoned for saying that during all
this period, long in comparison with the
brevity of human life, though in the ret
respect it has gone with the swiftness of
a tale that is told, l have not summed
to declare in every case coming before me
for decision the conclusions which my de-
liberate convictions compelled me to ar
rive at, by the conscientious exercise of
such abilities and requirements as l pos
sessed.
1T is a pleasant thing in my memory
that my appointment came from President
Lincoln, of whose appontees | am the last
survivor. Up to that time there had been
no representa- tive here of the Pacific coast.
At the head of the court. when | became
one of its members, was the venerable
sociate Justices was Mr.. Justice Wayne,
who had sat with Chief Justice Marshall,
thus constituting a link between the past
and the future and, as IL were, binding
into unity nearly an entire century of the
life of this court.
During my ncumbency three chief JUS
tices and sixteen associate judges have
passed away, leaving me precious remem-
brances of common labors and intimate
and agreeable CompanlonShip.
"When l came here the country was In
the midst of war. Washington was one
great camp, and now and then the boom
of cannon could be heard from the other
side Of the Potomac. But we could not
say inter arma silent leges. This court
met in regular session, never once failing
in time or place, and it's work went on as
though there were no sound of battle. In
deed, the war itself simply added to the
amount of litigation here as elsewhere.
But the war ended In a couple of years,
and then came the great period of re-
construction, and the last amendments to
the federal constitution.
I'm the effort to re-establish the nation,
to adjust all things to the changed politi-
cal social and economic conditions, ques-
tions of far reaching import were develop
ed-questions of personal liberty, of con-
stltutional right, which, after oft times
heated discussions before the people and
in the halls of congress, came to us for
decision. / do not exaggerate when ] say
that no more difficult and momentouS
questions were ever presented to this or
any other court l look back with pride
and joy to the fact that l was permitted
to take part in the consideration of all
those important questions, and that not
infrequently / was called upon TO express
the judgment of this court thereon. And
now that those times of angry debate,
deep feeling and judicial decision have
passed, It Is pleasant TO realize that the
conclusions announced by this court have
been accepted, not simply of necessity as
so prescribed by the fundamental law, but
i'm the main as i'm themselves, both correct
and wise
LAS we all know, the period of the war
was followed by one continuing even to
the present time of marvellous material
development. Wealth accumulated SUCH
as never before was dreamed of in this
country Gigantic enterprises were un-
dertaken and carried through. Inventions
have multiplied the conveniences Of life,
az well as the possibilities of achievement.
Indeed the conditions Of life have essen
TALLY changed from those that prevailed
prior to the war. out OF this changed So
cial and economic condition have sprung
not merely an immense multitude of cases,
but litigation of a character vitality affect
ing the future prosperity and safety of
this country. To this court have como
for final settlement and decision many of
these questions and cases By the bless
ings of Almighty God my health and life
have been preserved, and ! have been en-
abled to take part in the consideration of
all these cases. Few appreciate the MAJ
nitude of our labors. The burden rest
ing upon us for the last fifteen or twenty
years has been enormous. The volumes
of our reports show that l alone have
written $40 opinions. If 10 these are add
ed fifty-seven opinions in the circuit court
and 365 prepared while ! was on the SUI
preme court Of California 1t will be seen
that / have voiced the decision in 1,042
cases.
"'If it may be said that all of our de-
cisions have not met with the universal
approval Of the American people, yet II
Is to the great glory of that people that
always and everywhere has been yielded
a willing obedience to them That fact is
eloquent Of the stability Of popular in
stitutions. and demonstrates that the peo-
pie of these United States are capable of
government.
"As I look back over the more than a
third of a century that have sat on this
bench, / am more and more impressed
with the i'm m Qa Ell "a bIp iu1nOrtaucq of this