Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 06.pdf/149

 126

But few citizens of Vermont have been called to so many positions of trust and honor as was Judge Collamer, and few have performed such varied duties with stricter fidelity or greater ability. As a judge, he was noted for his impartial bearing, his quick apprehension of the merits of a case and for the clearness, vigor and learning of his opinions. His student life and the first years of his Jacob COLLAMER was taken when a practice were distracted and his work inter child with his father's family to Burlington, rupted by his services in the army, so that Vt., where he passed his early life, graduat he did not give his exclusive attention to ing at the university in that place at the age of law till he located in Royalton. It was said nineteen. He studied law at St. Albans and of him by Charles Marsh that, at that time, was admitted to the Bar in 1813. In the his knowledge of the law was about as war, -at that time, he was drafted into the meagre and inadequate as that of any man militia service, and served as lieutenant of of his age whom he had known at the Bar; artillery in the frontier campaign; was with but by his industry and application, he was the army in 18 14 as aide to General French. soon regarded as one of the most promising During the war, he began his professional of the younger members. One who knew life at Randolph, but soon removed to Royal- him thoroughly writes: "The professional ton, where he remained until April, 1836, and the public judgment of the State con when he located in Woodstock, to reside curs in assigning to Judge Collamer an ex cellency of merit as a nisi prizes judge not during the remainder of his life. He rose rapidly at the Bar, and in 1833, exceeded, and rarely, if at all, attained by upon the retirement of Judge Hutchinson, any other. With the disposition to accord was elected his successor and served until full justice to all of the many judges whom 1842, when he voluntarily retired. In the I have known within and without the State of Vermont, I frankly say that I never saw following year he was elected a representa any other who, in so many respects, came tive in Congress, was twice re-elected, de clining further service. He was selected by up to my idea of a perfect nisi prins judge General Taylor as Postmaster-General, and as did Judge Collamer." At his death, a fellow senator wrote: held the position until the death of the "Judge Collamer was the Nestor of the President in July, 1850. He returned home Senate. We think that if his colleagues and in October following was elected cir had been called to designate the wisest of cuit judge under the remodeled judiciary the body, the general suffrage would have system, then just going into operation. It is said that he was given to understand fallen upon him. On every occasion his that he could have his choice to be either opinion had great weight, whether in the Supreme Court or circuit judge, and he open Senate or in the informal deliberations expressed a preference for the service of which often preceded the settlement of im portant measures." presiding in the county courts. He con His senatorial life covered the most ex tinued as circuit judge until his election as senator in Congress, in October, 1854. He citing period in American history, from represented the State in the Senate until his 1854 to 1866. Mr. Sumner, in his remarks in the Senate on the announcement of Judge death in 1865.

term, though many distinguished counsel were present in that case alone. He was about seven years on the Bench; had he remained there, he would have had a high judicial reputation. The late Chief Judge Redfield pronounced him the most gifted man ever in the State, and since his time certainly none have appeared who equalled him.