The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-02-25
judge eills Aaars.. Accepting Springer sasmorlal.

outset of my response to call your attention 70 ono thing
IL Judge Sprngers last, among his last requests
that he be buried IN the cemetery at Springfield Illinois
one Of the most beautiful natural burial places that there
is the face Of earth lie desired but short lnscrp
ton upon the stone that should mark his last resting
place. the date Of his BIRTH the fact that he had been
member Of congress from the old Twelfth Illinois district
and the fact that he had been Judge of the Northern dis
trict q Indian Territory.
IL is no simple honor to have presided the vast
domain and the varied interests and the various societies
that made up that great old Northern district, of which
Judge Springer the first Judge He recognized that
this had been of his chief honors and he desired that
IL should be known That he had received and enjoyed
that honor
Life Is strange thing, Asa boy grew up IN the old
Twelfth Illinois district and In going to and from my
scho In the town Of Springfield had each day TO pass
Judge Sprngers home IN that city Twice each day for
many years passed his home beautiful place lying
West Jefferson street. and that home lost and passed
away from Judge Springer in fight for principle
At the close Of the war, Judge Springer, as ! under
stood IT, had accumulated Of this worlds goods and
was considered quite well to do. Lying West Jeifer
street he had this beautiful home tcomprised some
four or five acres Of hills covered with oak wood that
grew common TO that counyand was made up Of hills
aud valleys and In the midst OF trees he had beautiful
residence His wife was an elegant lady and possessed
Of literary attanments that Of ordinary degree
presume Of you have read her book called Beech
s8od." She lad In Of the descriptions IN Beech
wood her own beautiful home IN mind, In It's descrip
tons OF landscapes "Beechwood was In contest IN the
courts for many years. Judge Springer democrat
opposed the income tax that grew out of the unhappy
war conditions and the government sequestered that
home and compelled him to pay that income tax. lie
fought the to the supreme of the United States
and you will find that decision quoted in full think In
the lo2nd C. $ Supreme Court Reports whereby the ex-
ecutIon that finally levied agalnt that home up.
held and the sale that was made OF that home 10 the
United States upheld IN the enforcement Of the in
come tax law
aude 10 this to show to you that Judge Springer
was man who would sacrifice IN order 70 maintain
principle II would have been easy matter for him to
have paid what was i comparatively small income tax
And yet to defend principle which was rghtin his udg
ment he sacrificed and lost not only that beautiful home
but much OF his other acclmulatious.
lie served the old twelfth Illinois district well and
faithfully In congress Tor many years aud while OF
course, grew up n the opposite party 70 him and
always politically opposed TO him, | you
that during almost that entire time heard more Of
Judge Springer almost than Of the president, and
during his congressional did hear hts honor aud
integrity questioned He was a forcble speaker lie
was a witty speaker ! do not know whether he eIaa
manifested that disposition when he was presiding =
this district not, but J do know that away back
about ISIS possibly little earlier when they were at.
tempting % revive the consulate bill Judge Springer
made speech IN congress that respendont with
sparkling of wit and pOetcal illusions and that
the speech obtained great circuaon aud the time
was considered OF the wltest production that em-
anated from that OF many congresses that had pre-
ceded Il.
Personally, my acquaintance with Judge Springer was
very limited. | remember Of meeting him but tNo of
three times in my life. frequently saw him but to
meet him aud To know him, never had the pleasure
In 1877 IN the month Of February came 10 this town
on sort Of prospecting tour. At that time Judge
Springer was holding court n brick building n
back room upstairs oyer what Is uoW tile Stephenson
Hardware Company store possibly two or three rooms
Joined together. met him on that occasion as also
did his old clerk Major Winston, whom have known
from my boyhood, aud had very pleasant conversation
with him. Judge Springer was friend ol humanity
lie was O noble, honorable and upright gentleman.
When contemplates the vast amount Of work that
these courts continually doing and when one looks
back 10 the time that Judge Springer occupied This
bench, and sees that IN addition 10 the work We have
he had the citizenship question decide and when ole
considers the many written decisions at he made In
the citizenship and the careful and panstaking
investigation Of the rights involved as 10 each claimant
You can understand how vast his work vas aud YOU can
understand WIS i Was that the ordinary court work ac.
culminate IS t did.
think that Ills memory * cherished as friend ~ the
Cherokee Indian. think his memory In like manner
cherished as the friend of the Greek Indian and th
friend Of the Seminole Indian lie recognized their
rights lie attempted to support and maintain them
and while with Justice It has been said that sometimes
his legislative powers manifest III lis judicial de-
csons you must recognize that he had to carve his way
through an unknown mass and the wonder Is that he
could do u 80 we'll Aud the wonder IS that he could
leave few spots IN the hearts Of men In the Indian
country De did doing the vast work which he had 10
do There can be no higher econum placed upona Judge
than the oeonum that has been offered by each Of thq
speakers here that tie Judge who only tile right and
without respect of persons docs The right has fulfilled