Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1897-10-17
stephen J. TI.Id Retire..

'A-1ANJ .'N- OEl- -7.-1bE lDLIDI-
!ng lette: was given out this after
coon:
Supreme Cont Of the United
Statz. Washington. d. c. Oct. II,
l:y1. Dear Mr. Chief Justice and
Bre;hreu-Nsar tie close Of last term
feeling shat the duties o! my Office
had became too ardu0us Tor my
strength, + transmitted my reEigna-
ton 10 the Pre- fiIent. t o take elect
On the first day Of December peIt.
aid Ills he las accepted with kindly
expressions % reyarI. as will be seen
from a "OPy Of his letter. ahich is as
folICas.
Executive Mansion. Washington.
Oct.9, l151. Hon. Stephen J. Field,
hzsy:iate Justice Of the Supreme
CjGri 81 the United States. Washing
ton, d. C.--Ily Dear Sir: In ApriI
last Chief Justice Fuller accompanied
by Ar. justice Brewer handed ne
! Your resignation a. Associate Justice
u the Supreme Court Of the United
States ~ take effect December !,
l5y7.
In hereby accepting your resig-
nation. | wish 10 express mp deep
regret that you ZEE! compel u by ad.
TaDc.Ig ycars ~ sever your active
connection with the court Of which
yOu have - long been a distinguished
member.
Entering upon your great Office
II Nay. l7yJ, sou will. OIL the tirs, Of
v=Et December. hare served upon this
bench Tor q period II thirty four years
and seven month";. 4 term longer than
that .! any meuber Of the court
since it, creation. and throughout d
penJd Of special Importance III the
history Of tie country, occupied with
dis grave public questions as have eve.
confronted that tribunal for decls-
ion.
81 congratulate you therefore most
heartily upon Il service o; such excep-
uOpal duration, fidelity and dis,iuc-
ton. Nor can ! overlook that yOu
received your cOmBEsion from Abrs.
ham Lincoln. and graciOusly spared
by d kind Providence. have survived
ali the iAembrrz Of the cOur, Of his
appointment.
Upon your retirement both the
bench and the country will sustain
u great Inn, but the high character
and great ability Of yOur work will
live and long be remembered, not
only by yDur colleagues but by your
grateful cDuntrymen.
with personal esteem and Gin
cere best wishes for your con-
tentmcnt and happiness dining the
period 81 rest which you have 50 well
earned, ] am, dear cir, Very Truly
You're,
"'WILLiAY MCKIyLEY.'"
MY Judicial career covers many
years Of service. Having been elect
al a member Of the Supreme Court
0t California, J assumed that office
October -, 1871. holding it Tor five
year,, fcYen months and live day.
the latter part Of the time being
Chief Justice.
1On 'hc 10th Of March, 1863, ] was
commissioned by President Lincoln n
Justice 81 the Supreme Court Of the
United States. taking the oath Of
. Office on tic 30,h day Of The following
May r.
'Whcn ny resignation takes effect.
my period O' scTyicc on this bench
will have exceeded Tint Of nny % my
predecessors. while my entire judicial
life will have embraced moro than
forty years. may be pardoncd for
saying that during all this period,
long IN comparison with the brcvity
o. human lie, though in the retro.
spcct, IL hns gono with tho swiftncss
Of q tale tia. is told, have not shun.
ned 10 declare IN every case coming
before mo for decision the cOnclu.
sions which NY deliberate convictions
compelled INC 10 arrive ht, by the
conscientious exercise Of such abili.
ties mud requirements as ! possessed.
ut ~ u pleasant thing in my mcn.
Org that my appointment aunt from
President Lincoln. 81 whose appoint.
ccs ! am the last survivor. Up to
that timo there had been no repre-
sentative hero 81 the Pacific Coast. A
TO- empire Ind risen in tho west
whose laws were those 81 another
country. Tho land titles were from
Spanish mud Mexican grants both Of
which were often Ovcrlaid by tho
Chains 81 tho first settlers. TO bring
order out 81 this confusion Congress
pnasod ~ act providing for another
scat on this bench with the intention
that II should bc filed by solno ono
fawiliar with these conflicting titles
md with the INNING laws 81 tho coast
J and M il Ind ~ happened that I Ind