The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-15
JUSTICE FIELD TO RETIRE.
MS RESIGNATT0N, sENT IN LAsT
1PRIL, TO TAKE EFFECT DEC. J.

with EHnres,lons or Deep RsErrt-The Retlr-
ting Justices Farewell letter to Els As-
aocintes and Their Reply-rhe Succession.
u ~ oaic;.i confirmation
,ho rosicn,tion NJ Mr..
'1po,s' r0k"'u''s 49,, - 80 ,ho s,nron,o
SusVioo riclu iroi' u
SourI was gwen to-uHS, Nv
inc subject being mauo puo''" u Nv
the Clork OF thc supreme COURT ltopouou va
tho formal announcement by the 'us'ieo u
President Mckinley, in April last, OF MS ihton-
ton to resign, and his desire that his rosigna-
tion might be accepted, to take effect on Dec. i.
There the matter rested until Saturday OF last
reet whom film President addressed tho follow
inp lottcr In resnonse.
~, n ,eo,
49,. wi, ,.,no,,,. .,,,,io, M m. Su.
y-,ps court Of the United states. Washington.
DC.
Ny DEAR SIR; In April last Chief Justice Fuller.
accompanied by Mr.. Justice Brewer, handed me your
resignation as Associate Justice OF the supreme
Court of the United States. to take enect Dec l.
1897. In hereby accepting your resi!na'lon' l wish
to express my deep regret that you te'' 'onpeneu'
oy advancing years. 10 sever your u " AZ
WIN tne court OF wn'n you " 81 '"s
"nRuisneu member ,so, ror
.'r'aS upon !on' ,e on. 80 ,ryc, nnnn
w.. "" in - ~ -, ,ni.,.r,,r voor, and seven
ms Deneh 0 q p't'o' ., ~ go :" ,"anSar -,
tho court since It's creation, and throughout a period
of specIal Importance in the history OF the country.
occupied WIN as grave puo"s questions Us '''se
confronted that tribunal for decision.
service of such , exceptional duration. adell,y. and
distinction. Nor can / overlook the fac. that you re.
EracIou.ly spared by a kind Providence, have sur.
vired all the members OF the court OF his appoint.
ment' Upon your retirement oo'h the bench anu 'he
country will sustain a great loss Out the hlsh Snar'
acter and great ability Of your work will live and
ion, II. remembered NOT onlv by your colleagues but
a,.r-a,a,nt ,,i,,yv ,o,n,.yr,.r
by your grateful fellow ronn'ryheh'
With personal esteem and sincere best wishes Tor
your contentincnt aud happiness during the period
Of rcst whirI, vou have 40 well earned. I am. dear
h''o's ""' 'o"' ""-N
The venerable Justice appeared in court on
Monday at tho opening OF the pFeseh. term
with She other members, which was his last APP
po@F1nee on the OenG IT, ana on .no ao.iowins
u"'' l., e"en Vi us = ,e.o,Su"
copy OF a farewell letter. addressed 10 Dear
,;,o r,ioL, ra,;o,,oI n, length his ird;c;,, o.-o.r
Uce reS'eweu " fonsIn nnS uuiei '"ree'
Near the close of last term feeling that tho
..n.uaaso ri hooo,,o - ..s,o,, ).
uu''es W. INV i" wv "fuuoue
M strength, l transmitted my resignation to
the President, to take effect on the LIST day OF
Derrmhern rSt. and this he has accented with
ttndiv exnressions Of regard. Havfno been
elected a member OF the Supreme Court OF Cali
fornia, | assumed that office on Oct. 10, 1857,
holding il for i've years seven months and five
days, the latter part OF the time being Chief
Justice, On March 10, 1863, 1 was Commits
sioned nv President lincoln a Justice Of the Sin
preme Court of the United States. taxing
he ostb Of Office on the SSth lag
~ ,ho fnIlo,,ipy Nnr yyh,n W. ras;rnn,
10, Iokes efyect NV nsr;oS of serS;,o an the
tion taht1S, 1n.ot ~ pSrtSu sSrsleo ~ ING
predecessors. whiie my entire Judicial life will
have embraced more than forty years. ! may
De paruOned Tor saying InaI during all THIS pc
riod, long in comparison with the brevity of
human life, though in the retrospect 1t has gone
with the swiftness of a tale that il told, l have
moi stunned TO declare. In every case coming he.
fore me for decision. the conclusions which my
oeitoethte 'on nnu He u artite
tles as l. possessed.
MT. Field sald tnetlt Wasa pleasant thing In
his memory that his appointment came from
President Lincoln, of whose appointees he is the
AT the head OF tho court" he says. when I
became one Of ira members WAS the venerab,e
Chief Justice fancy, and among the Associate
w;th Ehio, Inst,ce STarSbaiI 3hns constitmt;nn
" iii, ~, &c nast ani ~ t,tOna ~ ins
nm oetween !he pas i" II iu.ure, anu, as
IL we're. pindinG INTO unity hearl! an entire cen
fury OF the life OF this court. During my incum.
Justices have passed away. leaving me precious
remembrances OF common labors and intimate
and a.reeablc companionships.
midst of war. W"shington was one great camp.
and now and then the boom OF cannon could be
heard from the DINER slde OF the Potomac. But
we could not say inter drntd siiem tsges. This
court met IN regular session. never once failing
In time or place. and lis WORK went on as though
there were no sound OF battle. Indeed. the war
itselr simply, added TO the amount OF litigation
here as elsewhere.
10 this the other members or the court re-
piled:
nx,n pno-uvn Err, r. WxsHNoroS, oct; ~, lseL
prAh shorHER fiEip; We are profoundly moved
Ten ~ ROW he ZEN, ~ The inImInstio Us =, N ,,S Stnte
caIeer ~ sucb Iennth and di.ttnctIon canpo, SsI ~ a.
spire among ali YOUR countryIneu, and. indeed wher.