The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1900-05-26
ELOQUENT WHITFIELD.
Good Words and True From One of
Mississippi's Greatest Jurists.

-
AT Jackson last Saturday night Il
banquet was given in honor OF Justice
s. S. Calhoon, who was recently
indicted ints his Office. Around the
board were gathered the brightest
minds of the state, and the unloosed
eloquence, wit and repartee was OF a
high character The piece de resist
ance of the evening, however, was the
response of Chief Justice Whitfield to
the toast, "The Supreme Court" which
we take pleasure in publishing for the
edifcation Of his Grenada friends and
admirers, made during the days when
he lived among Us. The Chief Justice
said:
The Supreme Court is the great
conservative force of the state. 1t sits
between contending litigants, the calm,
final arbiter of life. liberty and
property. The supremacy Of its
authority binds it, by the highest and
most solemn obligation. to patiently,
faithfully and fearlessly ascertain the
very right Of every cause, and n the
beautiful and noble language of the
Episcopal liturgy. to execute Justice
and maintain the truth. Absolutely
impartial, it has no friends to reward
and no enemies to punish. Whatever
distinctions, social or political, may
elsewhere obtain, it knows, 1T can
know, nor race, o color, nor sex, nor
rank, nor condition. At its bar the
humblest stands the unchallenged peer
of the mightiest, and the most defense
less is clothed with the same measure
OF right, and receives the same equal
justice that is meted out to the proud
est in the state. The supreme court
must be fearlessly Independent. Meth
er the prerogative of the crowd, nor
the o~mnipotence of parliament could
move Coke from his immortal stand for
English liberties, and the splendor OF
that really %grandly great achievement
fills the judicial sky of Britain still
with fadelesslight.
Here, at least. are anchored the
confidence and faith OF the people in
the protection of equal laws. However
passion and prejudice may kindle into
flames in other arenas, the interests
and sympathies Of stormy partisans,
here, at least, serene amid tumults,
far removed from the reach of angry
strife, unmoved by power, unmoved by
public clamor, stands the Judge, the
high priest at the altar of ~passionless
justice, administering the delegated
functions of him OF whom alone it can
be said, "A God without iniquity, just
and right is he.' The supreme court
must not be fearlessly Independent as
between the defense,ess and the OPP
pressOr alone. 1t must exercise indep~
endent though. 1t is difficult to tell
which would be the more dangerous
iGdge, ne who adheres slavishly to the
presidents OF a cent? y since, or he
who, with the busy J. nd OF reformation,
aud with reactiolary spirit disturbs
settled rights and overturns laws,
c~rystallized in me customs and i~nstitu-
lions of the people. Law u%ndergoes
revolution, along with the changing |
and advancing civilizations
of which il grows, and he is, there
fore, the wisest Judge who, walking in
the golden way, aids 10 developing, !
establishing and maintaining a juris-
prudence adapted to, harmonious with
and pr~eservative of, the highest and
best interests of the people over whom
It extends. But the browning glory OF
the supreme court is the sure refuge OF
the weak, the vindicator Of the
defenseless.
mo one can read the terrible
d~euunciations OF the later prophets
against the false judges of Israel-false
their duty, to stand in the breach
between the oppressor and the defense
less-without trembling at the soiem-
nifty OF the trust aud the awful sanctions
secure it's faithful enforcement.
1t should excite our pride, but, at
the same time, quicken our sense OF re-
sponsibillity when we realize that we
occupy
The throne of righteousness within the
shrine
on the basic pillars of the state
The throne that stands mistaken mid
the surge
or rival greeds and party insolence
And the wild clamors Of the frenzicd
hour"
May the judge of all the earth give
Mississlppi's supreme court
Large knowledge of the shifting battle
And captured s~trongholds in the ancient
fight
OF right and wrong; keen vision to
discern
Amid lie tangled forest of the law
t~h[ead-like path Of justice; skin to
stiIke
The subtle line Of cleavage 'twixt the
And chat which masks and apes the
Truth: supreme
Intent 70 See and do the right, and
weight
Out judgement With an even hand"
In addition TO It's other new indus