The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-05-27
". B. 0CH|L1REE'S picture
1T WAS PRESENTED TO THE sU--
PREME COURT YESTERDAY
| MORNING.
REAGAN MIKES THE PRESENTATION
The Honorable Chief Justice Gaines
Responds, Accepting the Gift-It
VIII Re Added to the Picture
Gallery.

| Yesterday morning Judge Reagan pre-
Ochiltree to the supreme court. In doing
so he spoke as follows:
ITO the Honorable Justices of the Su-
preme Court:
MAY it please this honorable court:
Pursuant to a request made by Maj,
Thomas 2. Ochiltree, l present 10 the
supreme court of the state of Texas q
portrait of his distinguished father the
late Hon. William b. Ochiltree, who was
in former years one of the justices of the
supreme court of the late republic OF
| Texas.
~ suppose this request has been made
of me because of the long acquaintance
and friendly relations which existed be-
tween Judge Ochiltree and myself.
knew him from the time he came to Tex
as in 1870 He was appointed as one of
the judges of the district court of the re-
public of Texas in 1912. At that time
the judges of the district courts were as
sembled in bank annually in the capacity
! of n supreme court. In 1874 he was ap-.
pointed secretary of the treasury of the
republic of Texas by President Arson.
Jones and was transferred to the Office
of attorney general in 1915. In the year
1916 Judge Ochiltree was elected from
the county of Nacogdoches, rs member
of the convention which formed the first,
constitution of the state of Texas, as ~
colleague of Gen. Thomas j. Rusk and
Gen. Joseph L. Hogg. In that conventions
he was associated with the most distin-
guished galaxy of men, considering intel
lectual capacity and character, probably
ever assembled in Texas. 1t embraced
such men as Thomas j. Rusk, John
| D.
Baylor, j. B. Miller. Isaac Van Zandt,.
James s. MayGeld, ]. Pinckney Hender-
son, Volney Il. Howard, Joseph l.. Hogg,
George w. Smyth, George Z. Wood, Lem
uel ID. Evans, G. A. Eyerts and num-
Der of others scarcely less distinguished.
I'm 1916 he was appointed as one of
the judges of the district court of Texas
by Governor ]. Pinckney Henderson,.
which position he resigned in 1S4T. In,
1853 and 1856 he was q leading member
in the house Of representatives of the
Texas legislature. In 1861 he was elect
ed as q member of the state c0nstitu-
tional convention, sometimes called the
secession convention, and he was by that
convention elected as member of the.
provisional congress of the confederate
States of America. with Senators Hemp
hill and Wigfall, Representative Reagan,
Gen. Wau and Judge Gregg us his col
leagues. At the close of his service in the
provisional congress of the confederacy
he raised an infantry regiment and went
into the military service of the confed-.
eracy as colonel, which position he re-
signed on account of his i'll health in 1868.
In all these highly responsible official
positions he acquitted himself with ability
and honor, and to the satisfaction of the
public. He gave himself to the success.
full practice of the law when not with
drawn from it by his public official duties.
As indicative of his character and stand
| ing with the people of Texas, his friends
brought him before the public at one time
rs q candidate for the office OF governors
of the state, and at another time as
candidate for Il seat in congress, and he
took an active interest in everything
which related to the growth, improvement
and welfare of the state. As indicated
by his name, he was of Scotch descent
He. was splendid specimen of man;
both physically and intellectually; Of an.
ardent temperament and generous disposi-
ton, and died in December, 1867 at the
age, of 90, as he had lived, without stain
on his good name, honored and respected
by all who knew him.
IT is lifting and proper that his portrait
shall adorn the room of the supreme.
court. Of the state he loved and served so
WELL"
In behalf of the court, Chief Justice,
| Gaines responded: %
Judge Ochiltree came to the republic
OF Texas after its independence was es-
tablished, but before foundations of its
| jurisprudence were laid. Upon the foun-
dations subsequently laid the structure of
our judicial system has beer reared and
enlarged and has been adapted to the
wants of our increased population aud
wealth and to the complicated conditions
of modern civilization. 1t can not be
said that i is without its defects, but its
excellence is attested by the fact that Il
has been substantially adopted by most
of the states of this Union and by the.
comparatively recent establishment of n
similar system by that most conservative.
| nation from whom we borrowed the COM
mon law. Among the pioneers of the re-
public were many of the most remarkable.
statesmen and jurists whom this country
has produced Among them Judge Ochii-
tree was prominent figure. As a sound
| lawyer, and as an advocate unsurpassed
for force and brilliancy, he stood In the
| foremost ranks.
Having been one of the district judges
and as such ex-officio a judge of the s,r-
preme court of the republic, and having
been also a member of the convention
| that framed the first constitution Of the
state, it is proper that his portrait should
have place among those of other emf
nent jurists whose labors have reflected
credit upon our judiciary.
The gift now rendered is therefore ac-
cepted, and it is ordered that it be given
an appropriate place upon the walls of the
room of this court"