Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 03.pdf/456

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The Supreme Court of New Jersey.

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lie accordingly entered the office of David In 1832 Chief-Justice Ewing died, and Mr. B. Ogden, afterward a celebrated lawyer in Hornblower became a leading candidate for the city of New York, and, after a course of the vacant position. By this time his reputa five years' study, was licensed as an attor tion as a lawyer and an advocate had become ney in 1803, became a counsellor in 1806, established. There were, however, those who and subsequently sergeant-at-law. It is said objected to his appointment, and, perhaps, that Mr. Ogden had so high an appreciation with good reason. He was a man of im of the merits of his student that he offered pulses, too quick in arriving at a conclusion, him a partnership before he had finished his and too apt to permit his judgment to be swayed by his emoterm of study.

. tions. When once inAt the time when terested in a cause he Mr. Hornblower be made it his own; his gan the practice of his profession New client was the only injured party, and his ark was a long, strag eyes were closed to gling town of perhaps any arguments except five thousand inhabi those which aided in tants. Its history had the establishment of extended during a what he considered the period of a little over right. These charac a century. The old teristics, which cer puritanic feeling and tainly did exist more sentiments which or less, in Mr. Horndominated its first blower's mental make settlers was still there up, were urged as almost as strong as strong objections to ever. Mr. Homblower his appointment, and was physically a man they were all that of feeble health, not could be proved; but fitted for the severe to those making them struggle of life among they were deemed in a stern and pitiless superable. Notwith people. He could JOSEPH C HORNBLOWKR. standing the opposi only hope to succeed tion he was elected; by the sheer force of his mental ability, His success was as- and while it is certain that he erred in the di rections indicated by his opponents, yet his sured almost from the beginning. His com petitors in the race, then in active business success as Chief-Justice was almost phenom life in Newark, were no mean antagonists; enal. He was too impulsive; he would fre some of them were the very best lawyers in quently form incorrect judgments by yielding the State. But he proved himself equal to to first impressions; but the impulses of his generous nature were so correct that he the task, and soon became a successful prac titioner. In one line of his profession he was rarely failed in the end of doing entire justice. particularly eminent, and that was in the trial He was a learned lawyer, fertile in intellectual of causes and in addressing juries. He spared resources, his industry almost marvellous; no pains to fit himself for the discharge of his his inquiring mind was not satisfied with duty as an advocate, and he became one of mere cursory examination, but would return again and again to the scrutiny. His pride of the ablest at the bar in New Jersey.