The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1912-05-10
JUDGE M'LEAN HONORED
Retiring Member Of Supreme Bench
Given Vote of Thanks.
(From the jackson Daily News.)

Before the supreme court, Monday,
the following resolutions were pre-
sented to the court and spread upon the
minutes upon the retirement of Asso-
ciate Justice VIM. C. Mclean, and the
following response was made by Judge
Mclean to these resolutions. Remarks
were also made by each of the judges
and also by members of the bar:
whereas, today's session marks the
retirement from the bench of Associate
Justice VIM. c. Mclean, and the men,
bers of the bar and of the supreme
court are unwilling that he leave with
out some expression of the esteem in
which he is held as man and Judge
and their appreciation of his services to
the profession and the state; therefore,
be it
Resolved, That the judicial career
Of Judge Mclean, though brief. has
been such as to cause general and sin
cere regret that it has not been longer.
Coming to the bench from splendid
and varied practice and in the full ma
turity of vigorous intellect supported
by untiring zeal and research, he could
hardly have failed to be a great Judge,
and so in truth he was. His opinions,
lucid and luminous, will enrich our re-
ports and serve not only as authority.
b1t as beacon lights along the way of
the bar and til. bench.
His well trained intellec. moved un-
hindered among the mazes and intrica-
cies of the law. Strong and unwaver-
ing in his moral convictions, his love
for truth carried him unerringly to the
very right of controversies. Jealous of
the ethical standards of the profession,
he has sacredly guarded the proprieties
that hedge court. In these days of
political unrest when the iconoclast of
high as we'll as low degree does not
shrink from undermining the people g
confidence and trust in their judiciary,
and when, like Uzzah, some who pass
as statesmen would with impious hands
seek to steady the ark of our safety,
there is demand for judges whose
learning, patriotism and broad sympa.
thies will command for himself and his
judicial utterances the enduring respect
of all thinking men. A type of such a
judge we believe we find in him who's,
brief judicial career is now closing
We wish him unbounded success at the
bar to which he voluntarily retires."
Response of Associate Justice VIM
C. Mclean to the resolutions presented
to the court upon his retirement from
the bench:
"There doubtless comes a time in the
life of every individual when he keenly
feels the poverty of his own language
This is one of the times in my life. Ii
response to your resolutions, am com
pelled to content myself in returning tt
you the simple expression of my graft
tude, but l assure you that am deeply
profoundly grateful for your action.
do not know what else to say.
Il have never had any desire to oc
cupy any official position except th'
one which now fill. For many year.
the acme of my ambition was to be 1
member of the supreme court of m!
native state. That ambition has beer
gratified, and to be frank must adm
that l am pleased that my term of of
flee is about to expire. l accepted thi
position with full realization of it
responsibility, and at the same tim'
with much apprehension of my inabilit!
to assist in solving properly and cor
rectly the intricate legal question
which l knew would be presented
Whether have measured up to th'
standard; whether have been instru
mental in the PRONUNCIATION of correc
principles, and whether have been O.
any service to the state and her people
l do not know. These are question:
which must be answered by others
One thing know, and that is, hav'
done my very best in the discharge O
my duties. l have not sought tn
praise of men, neither have l shirket
their criticism. The court has beel
governed and influenced mainly b.
precedents, yet we have not hesitated
when necessary, to overrule the forme
decisions of this court, preferring II
follow the dictates of our own con
science in order to preserve our own in
tellectual integrity.
"Only those who are members O.
this court have any conception of it
labors. The volume Of business stead
lily pouring into it taxes the resources
of the judges beyond human endurance
Before l became member of thi
court, had the greatest respect for i
and for each of its members. Since
have had an opportunity of ascertain
ing the absolute fairness, impartiality
and fearlessness with which each ant
every question is approached, discussed