Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 06.pdf/150

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The Supreme Court of Vermont. Collamer's death, said, " The great Act of July 13, 186 1, which gave the war for the suppression of the rebellion its first congres sional sanction and invested the President with new powers, was drawn by him. It was he that set in motion the great ban, not yet lifted, by which the rebel states were shut out from communion with the Union. This is the landmark in our history, and it

might properly be known by the name of its author, as Col lamer's Statute." Reverdy Johnson of Maryland said : "The universal sen timent seemed to be that under the guid ance of such wisdom as his all would be well."

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bly, and in the Constitutional Convention, was elected member of Congress several times, and judge of the Supreme Court for two years, in 1833 and 1834. He was Gover nor of the State in 1843. He declined further service in the Supreme Court, and also as Governor. He was a man of brilliant talents and cordial manners. He early met with marked success in his profes sion, standing in the front rank among his legal brethren. The Bar of northeastern Vermont, in the first half of this century, was a strong one, and among the brilliant array of able men, in its ranks, Judge Mat tocks stood facile princeps. Such was the general judgment John Mattocks of the people and the was brought by his Bar. father, Samuel Mat tocks, to Tinmouth, He was possessed Vt.,when he was one of an acute and log year old. His father ical mind, sound judg was a prominent ment, a tenacious and man, served for four comprehensive mem ory and power of an teen years as treas alysis to unravel urer of the young JAMES HARRIOT. cases, and a re State, and was judge of the Rutland Coun markable power of statement. He was plain and simple in his ty court. style of argument, persuasive and honest Young Mattocks was academically edu cated, commenced the study of the law with in his manner, and possessed of infinite wit his uncle, Samuel Miller, a prominent lawyer and humor. at Middlebury, but completed it with Bates Serving but two years, he must be judged Turner at Fairfield. In 1797, he opened an by his judicial opinions contained in the office in Danville, but in the following year sixth and seventh volumes of our reports, removed to Peacham and resided there the and from them can be seen his power of remainder of his life. analysis, clearness of statement and argu ment. His manner in court was kind and He was one of the directors of the Ver mont State Bank, and was general in the gentle; he disposed of the business with militia force in 18 12. He represented great facility, and his instructions to the Peacham repeatedly in the General Assem- jury were easily understood by them; the