Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-06-22
MEMORIAL EXERCISES
or THE LATE CHIEF JUSTICE
JOHN A. PETERS
,,rrp IN BANGOR LAST wEEK-DIs-
rIsauIsHED SPEAKERS PRESENT
THE SPEECHES.

last Tuesday afternoon memorial eX-
s,cises In honor of the late ex-Chief JUS
.,.e John A. Peters were held at the
cour, house in Bangor. Prominent law
xsrs from all over the State were present.
Eloquent enlogies were pronounced, aud
rssolutions were presented to the court
and accepted indicative OF the respect
end love in which the late chief justice
was held.
The exercises occupied the time from
go tin 4.35 at which time court adj
iaurned. Prominent among the
sneakers were Senator Eugene Hale and
Judge l.. A. Emery, OF Ellsworth; orville
d. Baker, OF Augusta; Charles h. Libby,
O, Portland, and John +. Lynch, of
Machlas.
Judge Emery in behalf OF the supreme
court OF Maize, spoke as follows:
Gentlemen Of the Bar;
We have listened with deep interest and sym
pa.hy 10 your resolutions and addresses CON-
memorauve Of the life and lsbors Of our
lAmeuled chief justice. His successor, our
present chief justice. was so nearly connected
with him In name and family that he dis,rusts
eAlmpess and impartialty. and hence has re
auestea me. the senior associate justice, TO en-
deavor to express our appreciation Of him
whom we mourn In common with you and the
whole people of the State.
can add nolhing TO what has been 30 elo-
qusntiy said of the man, tbs friend. the neigh,
bor the citizen. tho lawyer. the Legislator. His
ability aud learning. his wis a9d humor. his
nd kaza
called 70 Us in language which precludes any
words from me
Again. hts characteristics and services as q
Judge at nisi prius are 80 much better known
and portrayed by the members OF the bar who
have oftea observed him there Is would be
appropriation for me to speak Of them here. I
mus, therefore. portarce. conhue myself TO
thosg qualities perhaps beat Known TO Us, hta
associates, his qualities a law Judge. shall
Dot, sven here. -peak 50 much 10 euiogy In
recital, for believe II he could now speak 10
w0aN say with his favorite aud OF, quoted poet.
after my death wish no other herald,
No other speaker Of my living actions
Te Keep mine honor from corruption,
Save an honest ehroniclcr"
Chief Justice Peters did no. come upon the
btneh a mere lawyer. however learned In law
and skilled 10 procedure Starting with ine
Harvard, he superadded large experience in
Affairs and outside of libraries. He mingled
with men and shared their interest In business,
politics and all the activities OF life that attract
able and vigorous tntsleets. He came TO know
men well as books, human nature ~ well a.
logic, present day life as well history.
Bat, after all. his chief deli ght aud his most
effective work were In the law. He retired feom
Cong oss. body which has broad legislative
jurisdiction over great states, wide domains and
many millions Of people lie willingly
eepted seat upon the beach OF court having
judicial Jurisdiction only over limited te RI.
tory and a sparse population. Had he con
tinued IN Congress his fame would have ,pread
from ocean TO ocean and beyond the ocean. lis
fame a. a judge may be coahned to one state
one profession, but II Will be none the less
brilliant and enduring. We needed him for the
state: we could NOT ,pare him to the whole
nation.
He came TO the Maine bench with "A mind en-
riched by the learning of the past. and qaick-
ensd by n wide knowledge of the present He
also brought with him the profound conviction
shht thu liberty and security OF the citizen in his
person. family and property, rested In the last
resors upon the integrity. courage and learning
OF the courts. He believed that ignorance,
cowardice. and even corruption might be en-
dured to some extent In other departments and
the republic still i've but II these Sins tainted
the Judiciary. republican government was