Year: 1879

important cases. and though he had
not been long in practice when they
came up for hearing, yet he acquitted
himself in them SO as to challenge the
respect of the Court, as we'll as that OF
his brethren at the Bar.


The promise of his early life was full
filled in his more mature years. His
was not a fame OF mere brillianey,
which, except in very rare instances, is
not sustained beyond the period Of
youth; but was lasting possession,
augmented, and not impaired by the
lapse Of time. Bright as his youth at
the bar was, and surprisingly success
full in the requirements of business, his
qualities constantly received aid from
age and experience. until he finally at
tanned as high standing in his pro-
fession as the most ambitious could de-
sire, and those qualities .eminently
fitted him to be counsellor.


Though he had most persuasive
eloquence with those who could appre-
ciate the difference between logic, clear
ly and elegantly presented, and that
noisy defamation Of big words, and
strong gestures, SO often mistaken
for oratorical excellence, yet his
strength lay in calm, unimpulsive,
sedate, presentation of his views, which
compelled attention, by the earnest
ness which shone from his countenance
and attested his sincerity. How feeble,
soever the voice and gesticluation were,
his words had all the power, to minds
of an intellectual cast, that could have
been given to them by any orator.


While his influence with juries, ia
ken from the body Of the people, may
not have been equal to that ofothers;
yet, with special jures, and with the
Court, he had few, if any rivals. What
ever research, an intelligent appropria.
tion and use Of its fruits could secure,
he was sure to be possessed ot-his in
dustry and intelligence in that respect
being equal to the occasion that requir.
ed their exercise-and he never failed
to give the Court the advantage in
making up their judgemen! of all the
wealth of knowledge he possessed. In
other words, he had the ability to make
the Court understand, perfectly, what
he had himself learned in his ex-
animation of the law of his cases. and
what construction he put upon it. He
felt this to be, as it unquestionably
is, of great service to the Judges.


As Chancellor of the State, am sure
encounter no dissent from any quarter,
in saying that more appreciative mind
than his, of the high duties that devol-
we'd upon him in his exalted post and OF
the spirit which pervades the system oi
equity, never existed in our country.
His nature was SO eminently equitable
in all its composition, that to thinkana
decide conscientiously in high tech
nical sense was necessity. What fair,
ness and patience characterized all his
actions and his conduct, when hearing
causes and how important was every
decision he made And he never madt
any until counsel, how feeble or tedious
soever, had declared that they had
urged all they could think of, nor with
ont thoroughly examining the evidence
as we'll as the authorities on both sides
All things considered, believe thai
but few men anywhere have ever beer
better qualified for the place of Chan
cellor than he.


During the long acquaintance | held
with the distinguished dead there new
pr occurred anything to make our rela'
tions other than most agreeable. We
cherished for each other uushaken ties
of friendship for more than forty years.
| mourn his loss as deeply as one not a
relative can. He is another one of my
true friends whom | have lost. The
feeling of mere separation which his
death occasions for me would OF itsell
be enough to make me mourn sadly


but when reflect how much he was
attached to, me, as our whole inter.
course proved, feel that have suffer
ed beyond the reach of any mere form
of expression.


offer my tribute of affection to the
memory OF this gentle and loving
friend, and feel justified in saying tc
you, his brethern, that you have lost
as bright an ornament of our profession
as has adorned it for many long years
Others among you may have been his
equals, but venture to say that none
of you were his superiors. Let us all
cherish with grateful pride and afec
ton the memory of one who shed sc
much honor upon our profession, and
endeared us to him by the amiable
qualities Of his gentle heart.


Judge Wootten then spoke as follows


remember the time Of Mr.. Bates
admission to the Bar. knew hin
many years before, and can very cor
daily assent to all that has been said


| knew his father. Although he was {
boy it is true, and l remember mucl


that was said of him as of the Late
Chancellor, which is not on record. HI


was very remarkable for the same char
! acteristics as We're peculiar to the lat
!; Chancellor Indeed iuwas remarkable
family. | can remember his grand
: father. was then a very small boy
His grandfather resided in the commu


nifty Of my birth, and have heard al
my life great deal of the family, ant
| can truthfully say, what everybody
. said: They were truly remarkable


family. Icannot add anything more tt
! what has been said, and | most cheer
: fully approve and assent to all.


, There has not been word too much
nor could too much well have beer
f said.


} Judge Houston then spoke substanti


ally as follows:


My brethren of the bench and the
, members of the bar have left me abso
! lutely nothing to say except to concu'
, with and heartily endorse all that ha;
been said. There was much in hi
al n .ta M II, a II Ire asnprfs that ron u