The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-10-15
The Venerable Associate Justice Of the
Supreme Court Has Resigned.
LONG LIFE OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
Review of His Judicial Carccr-Labors
OF Great MaGnitude-Momen
Questions Decided By tho Court
Attorney General McKcnnu, xIis
Probable Successor on the Dcnch.

was ahHounced at the Supreme
Court to-day that Justice Stephen ].
Field, of California, had notified Presi-
dent Mckinley of his intention to re-
tire as member of the court, and had
informed his colleagues OF this fact. 1t
Is expected that his successor will be
nominated by the President Immediately
after the convening of Congress in De-
cember, and that Attorney General Nc
hehsla, also OF California, will be named
!or the office. Justice Field, It is
learned, notified the President last April
OF his intention to retire, but the Prcsi-
Gent did noteacknowlcdge it until Oc-
tober 9th.
In the letter of Justice Field TO his
associates, notifying them OF his re-
1irement, is IL copy OF the acceptance
OIL ms resignation by the president, in
winch Mr.. Mckinley speaks In the
hlshest terms of the services rendered
oy the distinguished Jurist. The letter
further says:
My Judicial career covers many Years
or service. On the 10Th of March, lSG3
was commissioned by President Lin
coma Justice Of the Supreme Court of
tne United States, taking the oath of
once ON the goth day OF the following
may. when my resignation takes ef-
1ect my period of service on this bench
VIII have exceeded that of any of nv
predecessors. while my entire judicial
lie VIII have embraced more than forty
years. l may be pardoned for saving
that during all this period, Ions, in com
parson with the brcv!ty of human life.
though in the retrospect It has gone
Win thc Swiftness of n tale that is told,
nave not Stunned to declare in every
case coming before me for decision the
conclusions which my deliberate con-
Nictions ,ftagmnpelled me to arrive at, by
Rile, GonsES Gn tStsouSz exercise, of such abili-
lies ana requirements as possessed
IT Is q pleasant thing In my memory
that my appointment came from Presi-
dent Lincoln. of whose appointees am
inc last survivor. Up to THAT time there
had been no representative here of the
Pacifc coast. AT the head of the court.
when became one OF its members. was
tho venerable Chief Justice Taney, and
among the Associates Justices was Mr.
Justice Wayne. who had sat with Chief
Justice Marshall, thus constituting a
INK between the past and the future,
and. as 1t were, binding into unity,
nearly an entire century of the life of
this court
During my incumbency three Chief
Jutices and sixteen Associate Justices
nave passed away, leaving me precious
IememDrances OF common In bOrs and in
inmate and agreeable companIonship.
When l came here the country was
an the midst of war. Washington was
ono great camp, and now, and then the
Doom OF cannon could be heard from
The other side of the Potomac But we
couid not say inter-arma. silent legcs
IhiS court met In regular session, never
cuce falling in time or place. and It's
work went on as though there were no
sound of battle Indeed, the war itself
simply added to the amount of lltiga-
tton here. as elsewhere But the war
ended In n couple or years. and then
came the great period OF recontruction
and the last amendments TO the Fcde-
raj constitution.
IN the efforts 10 rc-esta bliSh the ma
tion, 10 ADJUST all things TO the changed
political. social and economic condi-
t!ons, questions of far rea ching import
We're deVeloned-queStions of personal
alDertS, of constitutional right. which,
after ofttimes heated discussions be-
fore the people and in the hall OF Con-
gress, came to us for decision ] do
not eNagEerate when I say no more diff
cult and momentous questions were ever
presented to this or any other court
l look back with pride and JOY to the
fact that was permitted to take part
In the consideration OF all those import
ant questions. and that not mfrcquently
1 was called upon 10 express the judg-
ment OF This court thereon. And now
that those times of angry debate, deep
feeling and judicial decision have
passed, net simply of necessity as so
prescribed by the fundamental law, but
al the main as in themselves both cor
rect and wise.
AS we all know the period of the
war was followed by one continuing even
to the present time, Of marvellous ma
terlal development. Wealth accumulate
ed such as never before was dreamed
OF in this country. Gigantic enterprises
were undertaken and carried through.
Inventions have multiplied the convcn-
ienccS of life, as well as the Dossibili-
ties of achievements. Indeed, the condi
tions of life have essentially changed
from those that prevailed prior TO the
war Out OF this changed social ana
economic condition have sprung not
merely an Immense multitude of cases
but litigation of n character vitalIy ar
feotmg the future prosperity and safety
Of this country. TO this court have
come for final solution and decision
many of these questions and cases By
the blessings Of Almighty God my
health and life have been preserved. and
have been enabled 10 take part in
the consideration OF all these cases
Few appreciate the magnitude OF our
labors. The burden resting upon us
for the last fifteen or twenty years has
been enormous. The volumes of o,,r
reports show that | alone have written
620 opinions. If to these are added 81
opinions in the Circuit Court and 365
prepared while I was on the Supreme
Court of California. 1t Will he secrl that
have voiced the decision In .Oi2 cases.
"1f IL may he said that nj. Of our
decisions have not met with the univcr-
sal approval Of the American people, yet
1t II to the great glory Of that people