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 TJie Supreme Court of Georgia. stitution, supported by the three departments of government, legislative, judicial, and executive; the first having engraven on its base, Wisdom, the second Justice, and the third Moderation, and then on the right of the Executive column, a man standing with a drawn sword, and resembling most strikingly the figure and attitude of our most worthy and excellent Chief Magistrate. But I forbear.

"Illi robur et aes triplex. He would be a bold Judge, indeed, who would venture to decide an issue of law in the absence of this speaking device. There is a charm in that arch, — a spell in those pillars, — an inspiration in the eye of that fiercelooking swordsman, which guarantees a faith ful administration of jus tice, although simply and but very imperfectly im pressed on the foolscap paper on which the writ of error is printed, in stead ofwax or some other tenacious substance. "To whom we are in debted for the change in our seal, I am not anti quarian enough to state. The old devices I always venerated; to one side the scroll on which was engraved the Constitution HENRY L. of the State of Georgia and the motto, Pro bono publico. On the other side, an elegant house and other buildings, fields of corn, and meadows covered with sheep and cattle; a river running through the same with a ship under full sail, and the motto, Deus nobis hcuc otia fecit. The latinity as well as the piety of this seal commend themselves to my hearty admiration. They will challenge a comparison, even on the score of architectural taste too, with the arch resting on three pillars. But then the capital defect in the old seal — who does not anticipate me? — was the absence of that cocked-hat swordsman! Without this addendum it is difficult to decide that any public document can impart absolute ver-

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ity. This it is, I am sure, that has exerted such a controlling influence over the judgment of my dissenting brother, with his well-known military propensities. "The Act of 1845 authorizes this court to es tablish and procure a seal. My recollection does not serve me whether the State coat of arms was selected as the device. I take it for granted it was. If so, where, upon any seal attached to any writ of error or citation returnable to this court, are these three potent and cabalistic words, — wisdom, justice, and moderation? Do not these constitute a part of the seal just as much as the seal does a part of the writ of error? Is it the seal of this court without them? If so, how much, and what portions of it may be omitted and still leave a good seal? Would it be a seal without the arch, without the pillars, with out the motto? I forbear even whether to put the question whether it would be a seal without the military effigy, without that cocked-hat swords man? Of course it would be a nullity. As well talk about a man without a body! BENN1NG. "For myself, I am free to confess that I despise all forms having no sense or substance in them. And I can scarcely suppress a smile, I will not say ' grimace irresistible,' when I see so much impor tance attached to such trifles. I would cast away, at once and forever, all law not founded in some reason, natural, moral, or political. I scorn to be a ' cerf adscript ' to a thing obsolete, or thoroughly deserving to be so." Judge Lumpkin was on the Supreme Bench from 1845 to 1866. This period was twice as great as that of the continuous service of any other Judge. During the whole time such was the esteem inspired by his lofty