Cases Argued and Adjudged in the Supreme Court of the United States

any traces of its advance. It was in the seven years, from 1824 to 1881, before he entered political life, and when his great powers and forensic abilities were all in full play, that Mr. EWING was to be seen to the greatest advantage. I confess I missed something of that fire when he left the bar for political life. I shall never forget him as he was from the age of thirtyAve to forty-two, though from that day to this we must regard him as one of the greatest men of the nation. I may say that with one exception, and that is WEBSTER, I have seen none in whom I could recognize more ability and forensic power than in EWING. Among his chief qualities was his ability in discussing questions of fact before a jury. Though able to discuss any question before a court, it seems to me that his grandest efforts were as an advocate before a jury. Of all the men I have ever listened to, he was the greatest in the handling of facts. When he entered political life, our relations, though not so close, continued. He was often engaged in the Supreme Court, where I met him frequently, with Wirt, Lee, Webster, Choate, Davis, and the two Johnsons, and our own Doddridge and Ham. mond, among the greatest lawyers that we ever had. Among these he took his place in the foremost rank, second to none, as a great lawyer, save Webster alone. How these two names are associated in my recollection! Nothing could be more delightful than to hear their ordinary conversation, when the lawyers sat around, a listening and attentive audience.

"There are many that did not understand EWING in his character as a man. Great as he was as a lawyer, his private, domestic, friendly traits, his moral nature, attracted me even more. Never was there a more affectionate son, never a more devoted husband, never a more loving father. Some have supposed, seeing him at particular times, and when abstracted, that he was forbidding and repulsive. There never was a more loving nature than his. I have seen his manly face time and again suffused with tears. He was liberal, all-embracing in his friendship, never deserting a friend. That was the character of the man, and no one feels or can feel his loss more as a friend than I do; for, Mr. Chairman, if I have at all learned what must go to make up a lawyer, if I have attained to any success at the bar, whatever it may be, I owe more to the teaching and example of THOMAS EWING than to any man living or dead.”

On the 28th of October, after the intelligence of his death reached Washington, a meeting of the bar of this court was held, when, on motion of Mr. Carlisle, the Hon. B. H. BRISTOW, Solicitor-General, was called to the chair, and Mr. D. W. Middleton appointed secretary. The resolutions set out below were unanimously passed. On the opening of the court, on Monday, the 30th, Mr. Attorney-General AKERMAN in appropriate terms announced the melancholy event which had led to them, and laid them before the court, as follows:

"Resolved, That the members of the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States have received with profound sensibility the announcement of the death of the late THOMAS EWING, of Ohio, long and eminently distinguished as a jurist and statesman.

“Resolved, That we hold in high estimation the memory of the deceased as one of the great men of the country, illustrious for public services ir the councils of the nation, and eminence and ability in the profession of the law.

"Resolved, That the Attorney-General of the United States be requested to communicate these resolutions to the court, with the request that they may be entered on the record; and, further, that they be communicated to the family of the deceased, with the expression of the sympathies of the meeting."

The CHIEF JUSTICE made the following reply:

"The court share with the bar the sentiments expressed by their resolutions, which will be entered upon the records, in accordance with their request.

"We all feel that whatever honors can be paid to the memory of Mr. EWING are properly paid.

"His is the record of a youth patient of toil and full of aspiration; of a manhood worthily employed in various and honorable public trusts, and in forensic labors, which gave as frequent occasion to note the remarkable grasp and vigor of his intellect, and the great variety and extent of his attainments; of a protracted and serene old age, and of a calm and peaceful death, surrounded by children worthy of their father.

"To family and friends, the death of a relative and friend, so honored and beloved, however long deferred, comes always too soon. Counting ourselves as not the least affectionate among the friends of Mr. EWING, we yet find, and doubt not that all near to him in friendship or relationship will ever find, consolation in reflecting upon the brightness of the example he has left for the imitation of his countrymen.”