New-York tribune., 1909-12-19
PECKHAM HONORED
Er-Judge Parker addresses
Supreme Court Bar.

Washington, Dec 1s.-The members of the
bar of the Supreme Court OF the United
States met in the courtroom at the Capitol
to-day and adopted resolutions in memory
Of Associate Justice Rufus w. Peckham.
The assemblage was called TO order by the
solicitor general, Lloyd W. Bowers. who
moved the selection of ex-Judge Alton B.
Parker to preside. On assuming the chair
Mr. Parker delivered an address on the
character and accomplishments of Justice
Peckham. speaking in part as follows;
We are here to-day TO commemorate a
public career embOdytng the highest devel-
opment of our democratic institutions. as
manifested in our judicial system, and at
the same time to recall man sturdy. in
dependent. kindly. modest, well poised ana
manySIded.
The devotion of Rufus Wheeler Peckham
to the law was akin to his heritage of life
itself He came from an ancestry distinctly
legal. There have been families whose
members have Illustrated. in one genera
tion after another. the best human quail
ties, but our history does not reveal an
other in which the public career OF a son
has touched that of father at more, II
50 many, points.
He loved Justice with all his heart. and
his highest, indeed his only. ambition was
70 devote his life TO its administration.
Therefore he welcomed the opportunity
which his nodesty and dignity prevented
him from seeking, of service to all the
people of the United States in their court
OF last resort.
And so. i'm a process of evolution as or
dery. | had almost said as any of the
processes of nature, Rufus w. Peckham
came to be "A constituent of the tribunal
which occupies this modest courtroom.
And what a tribunal! II is at once the
eminence and the base of the most tmpos-
ing, the most benefCent, the most firmly
planted Of the governments the world has
ever known.
Into this court. the very crown OF our ~
diCial system, Judge Peckham entered With
his ripe experience buttresSed by a strong
mental equipment
II was his privilege, although he could
not fOresee IL at the beginning, TO be a
member of the court during a period when
more questions OF farreaching national inn
ing any like period in the history of the
court, as IL was also TO be his pleasure 10
be associated with justices whose useful
ness To the court and the country has not
been surpassed i'm the history OF the court.
Ex-Judge Parker then announced the ap-
pointment of a committee of twelve mem
bers of the bar with Senator Elihu Root
as chairman. 10 draw up suitable resolu-
tions OF respect The resolutions paid
high compliment to Justice Peckham. de-
ciaring that for a full half century he
served the cause OF justice without fear and
without reproach." II was added that Ibis
learning and strong powers of reasoning
preserved the standards OF the law" and
that his knowledge of affairs and the
breadth and vigor OF his sympathies with
the life and men of his time saved his
judgments from pedantry and made them
effective instruments for the application OF
old principles to new conditions.
The influence of his life." the resolutions
said, In conclusion. and the effect of his
work have contributed powerfully to pro-
mote that respect for Law and for the courts
OF our country which underies all Of our
institutions"