Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-10-21
VENERABLE JUSTICE REVIEWS
HIS LONG SERVICE.
40 YEARS ON THE BENCH
He Has Written Opinions in 1,042
Cases During His Service as a
Judge-Touching Reply from His
Associates Who Laud the Retiring
Jurist's Work.

day that Justice Stephen j. Field Of
California had notified President Nc
Ainley Of his intention to retire as
member Of the court, and had in
formed his colleagues Of this fact.
he members of the court, after ad-
journment at 4 o'clock, called in
body on the retiring justice to pay
him their respects. 1t is expected
that his successor will be named by
the president Immediately after the
converting of congress in December,
and that Attorney General McKenna,
also Of California, will be named
for the office. Justice Field, it is
learned, notified the president last
April of his intention to retire, but the
president did not acknowledge it I'M
til Oct. 8.
The following letter was given out
Thursday afternoon:
Supreme Court of the United
States, Washington, D. c., Oct. Il,
1897. Dear Mr.. Chief Justice and
Brethren: Near the close of last
term, feeling that the duties of my
Office had become too arduous for my
strength, 1 transmitted my resigna-
ton to the president, to take effect on
the first day Of December next and
this he has accepted, with kindly ex-
pl essions Of regard, as will be seen
from a copy of his letter which is as
follows:
" Executive Mansion, Washington,
ID. c., Oct. 9, 1S97.-Hon. Stephen J
Field, associate justice of the supreme
court of the United States, Washing
ton, D. C.-My Dear Sir: In April
asst 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 effect Dec. 1, 1897.
In hereby accepting your resig-
nation, l wish to express my deep re-
greet that you feel compelled by ad-
Vancing years to sever your active
connection with the court of which
you have been so long a distinguished
member.
Entering upon your great office in
May, 1868, you will, on the first of
next December, have served upon this
bench for period of thirty-four years
and seven months, term longer than
that Of any member of the court since
its creation, and throughout period
OF special Importance in the history
Of the country, occupied with as
grave public questions as have ever
confronted that tribunal for decision
most hear tily upon a service of such
exceptional duration, fidelity and dis
til ction. Nor can overlook
that you received your COM
mission from Abraham Lin
coin, and graciously spared by a kind
Providence have survived all the
members Of the court of his appoint
ment.
Upon your retirement both the
bench and the country will sustain a
great loss, but the high character
and great ability of your work will
live and long be Remembered, not only
by your colleagues, but by your CRATE
tul fellow countrymen.
with personal esteem and sincere
best wishes for your contentment and
happiness during the period of rest
which you have so well earned, l am,
dear sir, very truly yours,
William Mckinney
My judicial career covers many
cnruion HAVING hnnn a1o
ed a member of the supreme court of
California, L assumed that Office Oct.
Is, 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, 1863, l was
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
nave exceeded that OF any Of my pre-
decesSOrs, while my entire judicial life
VIII have embraced more than forty
years. L may be pardoned for saying
that during ali this Ieriod, long in
comparison with the brevity OF hu-
man life, though in the retrospect it
has gone with the sWiftness of a tale
that is told, have not summed to de-
clare in every case coming before NE
for decision the conclusion which my
deliberate convictions compelled me
to arrive at, by the conscientious eX-
ercise Of such abilities and require
ments as L possessed.
1T is a pleasant thing in my mem
DRY that my appointment came from
President Lincoln, Of whose appoin-
tees l am the last survivor. ~ to
that time there had been no repre- |
sentative here Of the Pacific coast. A |
new empire had risen in the west |
whose laws were those Of another |
country. The land titles were from |
Spanish and Mexican grants, both OF |
which were often oVerlaid by claims
of first settlers. To bring order out |
Of confusion, congress passed an act
providing for another seat on this
bench with the intention that it
should be filed by someone familiar
with these conflicting titles and with
the mining laws of the coast, and as
it so happened that framed the prin-
,ipal of these laws, and was, more
oTer, chief justice of California, it
was the wish of the senators and
representatives. of that state, as well
Is those Of Oregon, that l succeed
% the new position. At their re-