Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 07.pdf/550

 The Supreme Court of Maine.

509

delivered in the House, upon the question the same conscientious carefulness, the same of a contested seat, which was decisive of accurate thought and painstaking labor that was devoted to all his duties. The style of the case. In October, 1841, he was appoint his composition was not always lucid, his ed an Associate Justice of the Supreme Judi sentences

were occasionally involved and cial Court, succeeding Judge Nicholas Em ery, an appointment entirely unsolicited sometimes heavy, — but the thought was always well digested, the logic clear, strong on his part, — a voluntary offering to his fit and conclusive. His opinions bore the marks ness for the place. of much labor, and To employ the were never hastily words of Judge Danthrown off, nor laid forth again, and we know of none more aside until the sub authoritative : " Into ject matter was ex hausted." this position he car ried the same ster His opinions may ling, unflinching in be found extending tegrity, the same nice from volume twenty sense of honor that to volume fifty-two of had characterized his the Maine Reports, professional life. and treating a wide Here, too, was exhi variety of subjects, bited that same selfthey extend through possession, the same a space of time much patience under trying in excess of the aver and difficult duties, age judicial life. He by which he had been was reappointed in hitherto distinguish 1848 and in 1855 suc ed. His courtesy ceeded Ether Sheptoward the members ley as Chief-Justice. of the barneverfailed. In 1862, he closed In his courtesy, how his judicial career of ever, he never forgot twenty-one years full his dignity, or rather of honors, with the JOHN SEARLE TENNKY. ermine unsullied and that never forgot it self. His dignity enjoying the respect needed no continual watching lest it might of his associates, the members of the bar, become soiled unawares. It was natural to and the people of the State. the man, — a part of his very being, existing He served as a State Senator in 1863 and within him, the result of native force, and 1 864 and then retired from public life to en an innate sense of the right and proper, joy that social ease and comfort which he had ever present, regulating and controlling all so richly earned. In private life he was genial his conduct without effort, and almost and affable to all. His conversational pow unconsciously to himself. This true dignity ers were great, while, at the same time, he had Judge Tenney possessed, or rather it pos the happy faculty of drawing from others sessed him in an eminent degree as was whatever stores of knowledge they possessed. manifest on all occasions. ... In his opin He never under-rated his interlocutor. While ions upon questions of law, he manifested easy in his intercourse with all men, recog