Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1897-10-22
CHIEF JUSTICE F|ELDRES|GNS
--------
Served Forty Years on the
Judicial Bench.
LETTER TO HIS COLLEAGUES
His Period OF Service Longer Than That
of Any Former Chief Justice--A Sue.
cessor Has Not Yet Been Named.


Washington, Oct. 18.--Associate JUS
tice Stephen j. Field today formally
retired from the supreme court Of the
United States, after 81 years OF service
In that tribunal. The correspondence
between Justice Field and the president
which was made public today, shows
that his resignation was rendered in
April last. President Mckinley, how
ever, did not respond until October 0.
While Justice Fields resignation
does not take effect until December |,
he will not again sit on the supreme
court.
His colleagues Of the supreme court
today called upon him and expressed
regret at his retirement and extended
their congratulations upon his long
service as associate justice-the longest
on record.
The following letter was given out
this afternoon:
Washington, Oct. 16.--Dear Mr..
Chief Justice and Brethren--Near the
close Of the last term, feeling that the
duties OF my long Office had become 200
arduous for my strength. ] transmitted
my resignation to the president to take
effect on the first day Of December
next, and this he has accepted with
kindly expressions Of regard. My ju-
dicial experience covers many years Of
service. Having been elected mem
ber of the supreme court Of California,
/ assumed that Office October 13, 1857,
holding it for five years, seven months
and five days, the latter part OF the time
being chief justice. On the 10th of
March, 1868, was commissioned by
President Lincoln justice of the supreme
court of the United States, taking the
oath of Office on the 10th 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 prede-
cessors. while my entire judicial life
will have embraced more than 40 years.
may be pardoned for saying that dur
ing all this period, long in compai son
with the brevity of human life, though
in retrospect it has gone with the swift
ness of tale that is told, / have not
Stunned to declare in every case com
ing before me for decision conclusions
which my deliberate convictions exer-
else of such abilities and requirements
as | possessed.
"It is pleasant thing in my memory
that my appointment came from Presi-
dent Lincoln, of whose appointees am
the last survivor. Up to that time.
there had been no representative here
from the Pacific coast. A new empire
had risen in the West, whose laws we're
those of another country. The land
titles were from Spanish and Mexican
grants, both of which were often over
laid by the claims OF first settlers. To
bring order out OF this confusion, con-
gress passed an act providing for an
other seat on this bench, with the in
tention that it should be filled by some
one familiar with these conflicting
titles and with the mining laws OF the
coast, and it so happened that, as had
framed the principal of these laws, and
was, moreover, chief justice of Califor-
MIA, it was the wish of senators and
representatives OF this state, as well a;
those from Oregon, that | should sue
ceed to the new position.
Few appreciate the magnitude o.
our labors. The burden resting upon
us for the last i5 or 30 years has beer
enormous. The volumes OF our report;
show that | alone have written 62C
opinions. II to these are added 81 opin-
ons in the circuit court and S65 pre-.
pared while was on the supreme court
OF California, it will be seen have
voiced the decision in / ,042 cases. II
may be said that all of our decision:
have not met with the universal ap
proval of the American people, yet it i:
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
institutions, and demonstrates that the
people OF the United States are capable
of self-government.
"As look back over the more thar
third of century that have sat or
this bench, am more and more i'm
pressed with the immeasnrable import
ance OF this court. Now and then VIZ
hear it spoken of as an aristocratic fea
ture OF republican government, But
it is the most democratic OF all. Sen
ators represent their states, and repre-
sentatives their constituencies, but thi;
court stands for the whole country, and
as such, it is truly Of the people, by the
people, and for the people.
1t has indeed no power to legislate.
It cannot appropriate dollar of money
1t carries neither the purse nor the
sword. But it does possess the power
OF declaring the law, and in that il
founded the safeguard which keeps the
whole mighty fabric of government
from rushing to destruction. Thii
negative power, the power Of resist
anoe, is the only safety of a popular
government, and it is an additional as
surance when the power is in sucl
hands as yours.