ADDRESSES ON RETIREMENT OF HON. SAMUEL TREAT. v
I remain here, at this last moment, only to witness the introductions into
oiiice of my honored successor, and, on surrendering my high trust into such
faithful hands, to express the devout wish that he and his colleagues may,
with continuing strength and ability, and also with increasing happiness, not
pass away until at least 30 years to come measure their omcial life.
At the conclusion of Judge TREAT’s address, Judge THAYER arose, and
the oath of otiice was administered to him by Judge BREWER. After
administering the oath, Judge BREWER said:
Amos M. THAYER, I salute you as judge of the United States district court
for the Eastern district of Missouri. In so doing I can express no higher
wish than that, in the discharge of your duties as such judge, you mani-
fest the same loyalty to your convictions, the same purity of judicial life, the
same fidelity, unswerved by popular clamor, whether of demand or threat, the
same wise knowledge ofthe broad, enduring principles of law and justice,
and the same diligence and devotion to the duties of your office, that have so
eminently characterized your predecessor.
Col. J AMES O. BROADHEAD then presented to the court, on behalf of
the bar of St. Louis, a portrait of Judge TREAT and delivered an eulogistic
address.
Judge THAYER accepted the gift on behalf of the court in the follow-
ing words:
GENTLEMEN or THE BAR: It is with great pleasure that I accept, on behalf
of this court, the admirable portrait of the distinguished judge who has just
left his seat on this bench, having committed to younger but less experienced
hands the trust which he has so long and faithfully discharged. Without this
portrait to adorn its walls, Judge TREATS induence would long be felt in
this court-room, where so much will always remain to perpetuate his mem-
ory; nevertheless the feeling on the part of the bar which has prompted your
action must commend itself, not to the legal profession alone, but to every
citizen who feels an interest in the honest and fearless administration of . _
justice. Your gift is expressive of reverence for the law, and of gratitude to
one who has courageously, impartially, and wisely administered it. I need
not say, gentlemen, how heartily I sympathize with the feeling which has in-
spired your action, and how cordially I approve your desire that one who has
so long presided in this court may, through portraiture. be ever present as an
encouragement and example to his successors.
Judge TREAT’s term of judicial service covers a period so memorable in
the history of the country, and in the growth of law, that it is impossible, in
a few words, to speak fittin gly of his most notable official acts; nevertheless
I deem it proper on this occasion to supplement what has already been said
by a brief reference of my own to some of his important services to the pro-
fession and to the community. As a msi prius judge on the state bench, it
was his duty, under adverse influences, to make almost the Iirst practical trial
of the new Code of Procedure in this state, without the aid of text-books or
previous adjudications. During his period of S€1'VlCG on that bench, rights of
property involving many titles to realty in this city and the adjoining county
were also in litigation. It became his duty to explore French and Spanish
law, and to determine how, under changes of government, treaties, and acts of
congress, individual right was to be ascertained and established. How well
the task was performed other persons have borne witness; but the many
anxious hours spent in laborious examination of the complicated questions in-
volved are known only to the judge himself, and to those members of the pro-
fession who are familiar with such labors Fortunately for those who suc-