The times., 1897-08-15


oath case and the ifon-clad oath case. In
which he cast the deciding vote against its
oonstitutiona.tty; thetew orlean Ms slauehtef-
house case, In which Justice Field held
dissenting opinion; the confiscation cases,
In which the court held that the war
closed August 20, 1868; and the legal tender
(ereentack, cases He oissented from the
two decisions, holding that greenbacks are
legui tender for debts contracted before
the greenbacks were created He always
held TO the original decision given by the
court. namely, that they were not legal
tender at any time.
In connection with this opinion, held and
enunciated froin the bench by an assoclate
justice of the most august court OF this
land, 1t may be said that Republican polIti
clans OF that day insinuated that Justice
Field did not care for the ..honor and In
tegrity'' OF the country or he would not
have adhered to his opinion that green
backs were not legal tenders 1t will be
noticed, therefore, that the campaign Of
last fall was not the first time politicians
of that party impugned the motives Of
those who honestly disagreed with them
There Is abundant evidence to warrant
the conclusion that the Supreme Court Of
that day was packed for the purpose OF
securing decision favorable to the legal
tender character of the greenback and
the independent and fearless attitude of
Justice Field stands out all the bolder by
reason OF his surroundings and the prodi
gious pressure brought to bear upon the
court to uphold the fiscal policy of the
Republicans of that day
Justice Field Was one of central fig
ures OF the stirring days when the coun-
try was on the eve of civil war grow
Ing cut of tie election of 1876. He was
member of the electoral commission
with the late Henry E. Payne, and voted
at all times to seat Samuel j. Tiltlen.
Twice has the life OF the Justice been
pat in jeopardy by the hand of an assassin.
The first attempt Co encompass his death
was in 1860. when he received an in
fefnal machine through the mail For
tunately he did not open 1t, but when 1t
| was opened on the lid OF the box was
| found an abstract OF his decision In a case
| which had deprived squatters of much val
| liable land in San Francisco.
| Six or seven years ago Judge Terry.
whom Field had succeeded as chief ms
| tIce o. California, attempted to kin him.
but United States deputy marshal shot
Terry and killed him before he could com.
init the assault The deputy had been
detailed to guard the Justice, and the
result shows how Well that officer per-
| formed his duty. The encounter occurred
! in railway eating-house. The enyntty
| OF Judge Terry toward the Justice grew
| out or tue riyalries OF two vigilance com
| mittees, way back In the gold excite
| nuent days. Subsequent rivalries sustained
| the feud. and formed lasting and mortal
| taIed.
| Students OF the influence OF heredity may
| well study the Field family. 1t is traced
| back to, Habertus de la Field, who came to
| England In tie train OF William the Nor
| man Conquerer- The name indicates the
German origin of the family, field being
the German for field. When Huiertus'
ancestors settled In Normandy they merely
put the French proposition de and article
la before the German name. After the
] English laneua Ee became fixed the French
| part OF the name was dropped and the Field
| OF the old Saxon became the Field Of the
modern English.
Tie family in this country has been
more distinguished probably than in Eng
| land. Timothy Field was a CAPTAIN in
| the Revolution army, and his son, David
| Dudley was a Congregations minis ter,
and David Dudleyss sons, David Dudley
| Field, jr.. stephen johnson, CYRUS West,
| aud Henry Aartyn, have added additional
luster TO the name. The Justice. had
TO particular advantages as youth He
worked for his education, and when he
was reading law he was teacher in a
siris school at albany. His life in sia
Minor and Greece was probably OF more
benefit to him than all his book learning
born in an age and in section where
| he WIS enyironed with the narrow views
| OF the Puritan, his association with the
Greek Christian, the Armenian and the
| Mahomtfan removed whatever OF straight.
| laced Puntanicai sentiment he may have
| imbibed and hToadened him into liberal
man and Christian, toierant OF the be-
liefs OF Others and r<ady to grant to others
what he took unto himself He returned
to the land of his birth with enlarged
ideas and better prepared for the serious
struggle OF life that was soon before him.