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 A Century of Federal Judicature.

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A CENTURY OF FEDERAL JUDICATURE. VIII. BY VAN VECHTEN VEEDER. IN extent and variety of learning, both enabled him to participate fully in the varied ! within and beyond the limits of jurispru work of the court, but there were some sub dence in its widest sense, Justice Bradley jects in which he took especial interests, and easily surpassed all his colleagues. His vast as to which his legal equipment and habits acquirements were valuable not alone in en of mind gave his efforts especial value. Con abling him to participate with distinction in spicuous among these branches were consti those branches of the court's work which lie tutional law, patent law and admiralty, in all outside the limits of ordinary experience, but of which he rendered services of permanent also in giving breadth to all his judicial work. value. Constitutional questions enlisted his For, with all 1rs learning, his mind was essen feelings as well as his intellect. He held strong convictions with respect to the con tially practical: he was master, not the ser vant, of his learning; he combined with it struction and application of Federal powers, strong convictions, great energy and busi and the principle of nationality found in him ness capacity. In their specific application at all times a sturdy champion. In patent to judicial work his intellectual grasp and law it is said by those whose opinions are unusual mental resources manifested them entitled to weight that he has never been selves in those essential characteristics of surpassed. By reason of his eminent scien tific attainments and his habits of patient in judicial excellence: keenness of apprehen sion, acute analysis, thorough-going logic vestigation, he comprehended the true phil and power of lucid exposition. Coming to osophy of patent law and mastered every the bench without previous judicial experi branch of the arts to which he was called ence, his powers had nevertheless been fully upon to apply it. The maritime law was par developed by wide experience at the bar, and ticularly congenial to his tastes; its broad he was well equipped for his great task. and liberal rules and freedom from tech Within three months after his confirmation nicalities appealed to his mental tempera he delivered his great opinion in the Slaugh ment, and its historical associations with terhouse Case, i Woods 21. And through foreign systems of jurisprudence brought out his whole judicial service his opinions, into play his store of legal learning. nearly five hundred in number (from Bischoff Justice Bradley's merits as a judge are ob v. Wetherell, 9 Wall. 812, to Butler v. Eas- vious to all students of the law. He had some ton, 141 U. S. 240), and extending through limitations which, although not so obvious sixty-seven volumes of reports, display re as his merits, appear frequently enough in markable evenness and uniformity in qual his work to enter into a proper estimate of ity. Although he was fifty-seven years of his judicial services. I venture to assert that age when appointed, there was no falling off these limitations are confined almost alto with age; his opinion in the ejectment suit of gether to his opinions on constitutional ques Baeder v. Jennings, 40 Fed. Rep. 199, when tions, where his ardent feelings seem occa he was in his seventy-seventh year, is as sionally to outrun good taste, if not sound acute and thorough as anything he ever did. judgment. His dissenting opinion in Knox Justice Bradley's extensive acquirements v. Lee, for instance, would seem to overstep