The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-04-18

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then went to New York, where he en-.
tered the law Cfice of his brother.
David Dudley Field. He was admitted
to the bar and became q partner IN the
firm, remaining as such for seven
years. In 1948 he went TO Europe and
spent some time there travelling. In
November, 1849, he sailed for San
Fran cisco around Cape Horn, and en-
tered upon the practice Of the law in
the Occidental metropolis. After a.
short time he moved to M4rysville, a
small mining camp, and became one OF
the founders of what after ward grew
into a thriving town. When the little
city was organized Justice Field was
elected the alcalde of the place. This
Office carried with it the dignity OF
mayor and at the same time imposed
all the duties of the bench Here the
future jurist dispensed justice and
made his name widely known through
out the length and breadth Of the
growing commonwealth. He was fond
of talking of his early days in Callfor-
MIA, and often said that the happiesG
days of his life were when he dealt out
justice in Marysville behind a dry
goods box
Justice Field. in a sketch prepared
by himself for this Congressional direc.
tory, CAV this brief outline of the
duties of his Office Of alcaIde: "Under
M-xican law the alcalde was an off 'er
of limited jurisdiction, but in the
anomalous condition of affairs he was
called to administer justice, punish
crime and to enforce police regulations
until relieved by officers under the new
constitution"
He was elected a member of the first
legislature of the State and was made
a member of the Judiciary committee
of that body, He was il huential in
securing Legislation favorable to the
miners and aided in the passage of
laws regulating the civil and criminal
procedure of the State. at the close
of the session he returned to Narys-
vile and devoted six years to the prac'
tice of his profession. He was elected
a Judge of the Supreme Court of Cali
fornia in 1857. President Lincoln Rp-
pointed him Associate Justice of the
Supreme Court of the United States,
and he held that position until his re
tirement on December 1st, 1892.
During the latter years OF his service
on the bench he was in very feeble
health. His term was the longest in
the history of that tribunal. The great
Chief Justice, John Marshall, wore
the ermine for a period extending over
"a years. It was the ambition of the
late Justice Field TO eurpass this rec
ord, and he succeeded in doing so by a
few months. His friends, fearing that
the strain of hard work would shorten
bis useful life, advised him to retire
from his arduous duties But with in
defatigable perseverance, he chung to
his task until the latter part of 1897,
when he had the satisfaction Of having
fulfilled the ambition of his life.
During that term of than q
third of a century he vas concerned in
some of the most important cases ever
passed upon by the Supreme Court.
Among the prominent decisions was
the famous test oath case, in which he
gave the casting vote, and wrote the
opinion of the court annulling the val
idity of the Iron clad oath. His dis,
senting opinions in the c~onfscation
cases, the legal tender cases, and in
the New Orleans slaughter house case,
attracted the widest attention.
During this long service On the bench
he also was before the public eye in
other ways than as a judge of the
United States Supreme Court. He was
a member Of the Hayes TIlden electO
raj commission in 1877, and voted with
the D mocratic minority.
In 1869 one of the most sensational
events Of a remarkably active and Wig
orous career, largely passed in a new
country in process of development
from a pioneer State to a highly civ
nszsd community, brought his person
ally vividly before the public. Sarah
!, Althea Hill Terry had brought 1
!, famous suit against ex Senator Sharon
q California multi millionaire. JustiCt
Field was on the bench. The OUTCOME
!! of the case was unGsvorable to tn,
plaintiff and engendered in her feeling
of hatred of the jurist. This culmi
mated in her attempt to chestise tn,
aged justice in the DINING hall or depo
eating house at Lathrop, Cal a rail
way junction Judge Terry, who hat