| Show the tho late justice uell NelL itelson son sou samuel nelson was one of the most moat illustrious jurists of an era which ia la fast departing he was wag raised to the bench at an early age cage not in reward for partisan service nor through the bargaining and scheming of a political caucus 3 but because his fitness for the dignity was universally recognized by the bar bay and the public during twenty two years he presided over the courts of this state first as circuit judge then as associate and finally chief justice of the supreme court he brought to the duties of his high calling thorough know knowledge led me of ille the law a clear and comprehensive minda wonderful memory a sturdy common sense and a scrupulous conscience it would be but a faint praise to say that he lie was impartial those qualities were not 0 eo o rare in aho dho those C former days as they afterwards after waid became but he bestowed upon upon the causes which came before him an amount of patient study which very few of his associates thought it necessary to expend upon the thel duties hence his learning every day grew richer and more varied his decisions commanded universal respect and the supreme court of new kew vork york was quoted as high authority not only all over tile the united states but also nis in great britain he was vas one of the last of tile the great M magistrates gi braf s who adorned the bench of th tho the eState state the convention of 1646 1846 which introduced the tho experiment of an elective judiciary ciary clary struck a blow at tile the character of the supreme court from which it may never recover for more than a quarter of acen aced tury the bench and the bar have been becil going down in comp company any until we ha have seen been our supreme court the scandal of the E english speaking world and our ablest lawyers shun an office which can hardly be attained without deg dev degradation meation it was wash just before the decline in dar our state tribunals began that judge nolson was promoted to the supreme se preme premo court of the united states the honorable position which ho he maintained for twenty seven years 8 in ili that distinguished place whelo where story was for a short time timo one of ills his associates and taney Tane yand and chase caaso were successively his chiefs will long be a precious memory to his bis countrymen ko no judge in our time has left a brighter records record of integrity and strict judicial uprightness or a finer reputation for prudence and scholarship when ho he retired in full vigor of his his bis intellect to the enjoyment repose which lie had so well earned the bar of his hh native state united a remarkable tribute of spontaneous respect to one who combined all the virtues that adorn the ermine wise impartial incorruptible industrious dust dusti rious lous experienced dignified and invariably courteous ho he was a model for his profession as well as an honor to als his count country ry As the retirement of judge nelson from the supreme bench of new york marks the era of decline in the judiciary of the state so we fear if it may come to be thought hereafter ter that his resignation of the of the court of or the united states corresponded with the beginning of a si millar decay in the highest tribunal of or the nation iid rid tion there are illustrious lawyers now who reflect as much glory upon the judicial dignity as samuel nelson did durin duning during his ills last half cantu century ry of service but it ignot is not from among them that judges nowadays now a days are selected petty politicians are thought good enough for the seat to which the best men of the pation nation were ivere once proud to aspire and a partisan and friend of the president wl with th little repute in his profession without the respect of the bar or the confidence of odthe the public is deemed worthy to succeed chase and marshall ian lan lar shall shail and jay let us show all the honor we can tan to the memory of samuel nelson kelson we shall not be much troubled to honor the new tribe of judges vew york tribune i |
