Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1897-10-19

latter part of the time being chief justice.
ION the 10th Of March, 1868, was COM
missioned by President Lincoln, O justice
of the supreme court Of the United States.
taking the oath of Office on the Goth day Of
the following May.
when my resignation takes effect my
period of service on this bench will have
exceeded that of any Of my predecessors.
braced more than 40 years. I may be par
doned for saying that during all this
period, long In comparison with the brev1ty
Of human life, though in the retrospect it
has gone with the swiftness Of a tale that
is told, I have not Stunned to declare in
every case coming before me for decision
the conclusions which my deliberate con-
victtons compelled me to arrive at, by the
conscientious exercise of such abilities and
requirements as possessed.
Linc0ln's Last Surviving Appointec.
1T is pleasant thing in my memory,
that my appointment came from President
Lincoln. Of whose appointees am the last
survivor. Up to that 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 titles were from Spanish and Mex
lean grants, both Of which were often over
laid by the claims Of the first settlers. To
bring order out Of this confusion. congress
passed an act providing for another seat
on this bench, with the intention that it
these conflicting titles and with the mining
laws Of the coast, and 1t so happened that
I had framed the principal of these laws
and was, moreover, chief justice Of Cali
fornia. it was the wish Of the senators and
representatives of that state, as well as
those from Oregon, that l succeed to the
new position. At their request Mr.. Lincoln
sent my namo to the senate, and the NOM
1nation was unanimously confirmed.
AT the head Of the court. when l became
10 hAN I
Chief Justice fancy, and among the ASSOC
ciate Justices was Mr.. Justice Waite, who
had sat with Chief Justice Marshall. thus
constituting link between the past and
the future, and. as it were. binding into
unity nearly an entire century Of the life
OF this court. During my tncumbency three
chief justices and 16 associate justices
have passed away, leaving me precious re-
membranes Of common labors and init
mate and agreeable companionship.
Justice Field refers at length to the work
Of the court during the war Of the rebel
lion and the reconstruction period, and
says that in the effort to reestabl!s the
nation, to adjust all things to the changed
political, social and economic conditions
questions were presented to the court
which were among the most difficult and
momentous Of any which have ever been
brought to its consideration. He says it
is at this time pleasant to realize that the
conclusions announced by the court on
simply Of necessity. as SO prescribed by the
fundamental law. but in the main as in
themselves correct and wise. He continues:
''As we all know, the period Of the war
was followed by one. continuing even to the
present time Of marvellous material de-
velopment. Wealth accumulated such as
never before was dreamed of in this coun-
try. Gigantic enterprises were UNDER
taken and carried through. Inventions
have multiplied the conveniences of life.
81 80
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 come for
final solution and decision many of those
questions and cases. BY the blessings Of
Almighty God, my health and life have
been preserved. and have been enabled to
take part in the consideration Of all these
cases. Few appreciate the magnitude of
our labors. The burden resting upon us
for the last Is or 20 years has been enor-
nous. The volume of our reports show
that I alone have written $40 opinions. If
to these are added 81 opinions in the cir
cult court, and 365 prepared while was on
the supreme court of California. it will be
seen that have voiced the decision in l,042
cases. If it may be said that all Of our de-
cislons have not met with the universal ap-
prevail Of the American people, yet it is to
the great glory Of that people that always
and everywhere has been yielded willing
obedience to them. That fact is eloquent
Of the stability Of popular institutions, and
demonstrates that the people OF these
United States are capable Of self govern-
ment. j5,'.@% s'=7, - :s3 -I7s> <4J
with this give place to my successor
But l can never cease to linger on the mem
cries Of the past. Among the compen-
sations for all the hard work that a seat
on this bench imposes have been the in
timactes and friendships that have been
formed between its members. Though we
have often differed In our opinions. It has
always been an honest difference. which
did not affect our mutual regard and re-:
spect These many years have indeed been