Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 18.pdf/694

 THADDEUS STEVENS

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"learned in the law," and holding for a third eminent in all the attributes of a great of a century high rank at the Bar — listen lawyer." gratefully, brethren, to this even from an No one was better qualified to analyze his adopted New Englander — "of a state dis character and career as a lawyer than his tinguished for great lawyers." He was taci most distinguished student and immediate turn, even at times misanthropic; "a bril successor, as representative of Lancaster liant talker, he did not relish idle and aimless County in Congress, the late Hon. Oliver J. conversation;" "he was much given to Dickey, himself a leader of the Lancaster reading, study, and reflection, and to the Bar in his day. His father was a prominent retirement which enables him to gratify citizen of Beaver County, Pa., whose politi these tastes;" like Emerson, he "loved soli cal devotion to Mr. Stevens had much to do tude and knew its uses; " he spoke with ease with young Dickey's coming east to study and readiness, "his style resembling the law with him and locating in Lancaster to crisp, clear sententiousness of Dean Swift;" practice. In his eulogy of his predecessor his extempore sentences bore the test of in Congress, Mr. Dickey pronounced the grammatical and rhetorical criticism; he same high estimate upon his ability as a indulged in wit, not in humor; when his lawyer as those from whom I have already sharp sallies set the House in an uproar, quoted; and he added : his visage was that of an undertaker. "No matter with whom associated, he His memory of facts, dates, and figures was never tried a cause save upon his own theory exact, and his references were to the book, of the case. At nisi prius he uniformly in chapter, and page. "He had the courage sisted on personally seeing and examining, before they were called, the important wit to meet any opponent, and was never over nesses on his own side. Generally relying matched in any intellectual conflict." Mr. upon the strength and presentation of his Henry L. Dawes, in his Dartmouth College own case, he seldom indulged in extended eulogy, accords him like high praise. cross-examination of witnesses, though pos Col. A. K. McClure, who was for many sessing rare ability in that direction. He years in close personal relations with him, never consented to be concerned or to act and had large opportunities to make this as counsel in the prosecution of a capital case, not from opposition to the punishment, contrast, has repeatedly told me substan but because it was repugnant to his feelings tially what he twice committed to perma and that service was the duty of public nent record; that Stevens was the most officers. He was as remarkable for his con accomplished all-round lawyer of his day sideration, forbearance, and kindness when in Pennsylvania; thoroughly grounded in opposed by the young, weak, or diffident, as he was for the grim jest, haughty sneer, the fundamental principles, and altogether pointed sarcasm, or fierce invective launched familiar with the decided cases; he was most at one who entered the lists and challenged skilled in eliciting testimony from his own battle with such weapons. He was always witnesses and adroit in confounding the willing to give advice and assistance to the opposition in cross-examination; he was in young and inexperienced members of the profession, and his large library was ever genious and convincing in addressing a jury, open for their use. He had many young and courteous to his opponents, especially men read law with him, though he did not if they were younger men, and unless they care to have students. There were, how transgressed professional urbanity. Sum ever, two recommendations which never ming up his traits as a lawyer, Colonel Mc failed to procure an entrance into his office; ambition to learn, and inability to pay for Clure says, "I have known many of our the privilege." great lawyers who were great advocates, The recollections of his few surviving or great in the skillful direction of cases; but he is the onlv man I recall who was contemporaries and the oral traditions of