the State, the taxation of the property of railways, and the Mexican land grants — have, I am aware, given offense to a large number of the people who would have had me dis regard the law, the treaties with China, and Mexico, and the Constitution, to carry out their views and schemes. I could not thus do violence to my convictions of duty — the thing was impossible. Indeed, I would not have changed a line I wrote had I known beforehand that for it I would lose the sup port of California, nor would I now change a line to secure the vote of every man in the State." That the author of such a declara tion would have made a wise and firm Presi dent, controlled always by principle, who can doubt? and it may be said in passing, that Judge Field combined to an extraor dinary degree, the patient investigation and calm deliberation of the judicial tempera ment, with the prompt decision and imme diate vigorous action required of a successful executive. Another incident which many will regard as the crowning triumph, and highest honor of his life, was the unanimous request of his associates soon after thedeath of ChiefJustice Waite, that he be appointed to fill the va cancy. Such action was never taken by the court before, and carried with it both in the manner of its expression and by impli cation, the loftiest tribute his associates could pay him. He retired, December I, 1897, having served thirty-four years, a little longer than Marshall and longer than any justice who ever sat on the Supreme Bench. He died, April 9, 1899, eighty-three years old. To the bar, familiar with Justice Field's opinions, any extended characterization of him as a lawyer and a judge is unnecessary. His grasp of principles was of the widest, and his consistency and fearlessness in ap plying them, notable. Probably no judge ever sat to whom such novel and chaotic conditions were presented, or before whom more difficult and important questions were argued. With profound study, and with
learning always equal to the occasion, he brought order out of confusion, and with re sistless logic and unfailing lucidity marshalled seemingly discordant and contending prin ciples along the unswerving lines of justice. He will live in judicial annals with Marshall and Story, with Curtis and Miller, among the great judges of our august tribunal. Justice Field was a man of wide reading in many directions, and with keen enjoy ment of all that is best in literature. Some years ago, having always as he said, taken such things for granted, he turned his atten tion to theological reading and inquiry. He went into the question of revealed religion de novo, putting aside all preconceived notions and impressions, and bringing to bear on the subject, his ripe and experienced judg ment, and his trained powers of ascertaining truth as impartially and laboriously as though he were trying a case. For two years, he said, his library was filled with books on both sides, and as the result, while his belief in a Supreme Being and a future life were in no wise shaken, he discarded the Trinitarian and atonement dogmas, and failed to find any evidence that made miracles credible to him. The justice was a man of nearly six feet in height, with a figure slightly inclining to stoutness. He wore a full beard and mous tache and his nearly bald head was large and symmetrical. Deep, penetrating, gray eyes looked from beneath his dark brows and his features were strong and noble. Clad in his official robes, the whole effect was one of commanding dignity, forceful will and high intellectual power. In all his domes tic relations he filled the highest ideals, and his genial, charming social qualities, his quick responsiveness to humor, and his natural, hearty enjoyment of life's pleasures and beauties, endeared him to numerous friends wherever he went, and made him sought for in every circle. In one of Berkshire's most peaceful valleys close by the softly-flowing Housatonic, his
