Meeting of the Bar in New-York.

Immediately after the death of Mr. Clinton, public meetings of the learned professions, and of almost every class of citizens, were called to express their sense of the loss sustained by his demise, and their respect for his memory. The members of the profession of the law in the cities of Albany, New-York, and other parts of the state, were severally convened to bear their testimony to the merits of the deceased.

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Court of Common Pleas.

The court commenced its usual sittings to-day, and was opened at 11 o'clock by His Hon. Judge Irving, who addressed the gentlemen of the bar who were present, as follows:

As the bar of this city will assemble in this court room to-day, at twelve o'clock, to express their sense of the loss which this state has sustained in the decease of its late Governor, who has so suddenly been called from a life of great worth, and public usefulness; the court duly appreciating such services, and such loss, is adjourned until eleven o'clock to-morrow morning.

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At a numerous meeting of the members of the New-York Bar, assembled in the Supreme Court-room of the City-Hall, on motion of Josiah Ogden Hoffman, Esq. Chancellor Kent was appointed chairman of the meeting, and Silvanus Miller, Esq. was appointed secretary.

Mr. Hoffman then moved the following preamble and resolutions.

The members of the bar of the city of New-York, assembled to express their sense of the public calamity occasioned by the death of DE WITT CLINTON, resolved unanimously: –

That they deeply unite in the voice of sorrow this afflicting dispensation has called forth, not only from the hearts of his family and friends, but from public bodies, scientific, religious and charitable institutions, the tribunals of justice, and the legislative councils of the state, who each felt a portion of its character and usefulness identified with his name, and each of which mourns the loss as peculiarly its own.

That the death of such a man in the fulness of his acquirements, the strength of his intellect, and when his country anticipated still further exertions for its welfare and happiness, of which the present and enduring monuments of his genius and constancy had afforded full assurance, is a bereavement greatly deplored by the state he exalted, and the age he adorned.

Resolved, That the bar of this city, as a tribute of respect to the memory of the deceased, and in testimony of their heartfelt regret, will wear mourning during the present session of the legislature.

Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be signed by the chairman and secretary, and published in the different newspapers.

Mr. Griffin seconded the resolutions, and in the following brief but eloquent address, adverted to the public and private virtues of his Excellency the Governor.

Mr. CHAIRMAN: – It is no ordinary death that has called us together. When such an individual as a Canning or a Clinton dies, we mourn, not as members of a particular profession, or a particular community, but as members of the great family of man. It is a bereaved world that feels the loss.

Our lamented Clinton was a character whom the worthies of antiquity would cheerfully have named as a brother. Possessed of a peculiarly commanding person, and a more commanding mind – a mind richly stored with the treasures of ancient and modern learning, and animated by an ambition lofty and inflexible, it is true, yet identified with the glory of his country, – wise in deliberation, unbending in purpose, determined in action, – nature and education formed him to be one of the master-spirits of the age in which he lived. The Pericles of our commonwealth, for near thirty years he exercised, without stooping to the little arts of popularity, an intellectual dominion in his native state scarcely inferior to that of the illustrious Athenian – a dominion as benignant as it was effective. He was the supporter of every charitable and religious institution – the encourager of every science and every art. Not confining his literary patronage to the artist and the scholar, he also devoted the powers of his mighty mind to the less brilliant, but not less useful, subject of common education. Feeling the truth of the great political axiom, that virtue and information, widely diffused, are the only sure pillars of a republican government, he zealously promoted every object calculated to meliorate the moral condition of the state, and laboured, with untiring assiduity, to irradiate the general mind with the light of knowledge.

About eighteen years ago, the then unformed project of our great canal, was whispered by some supposed enthusiast. The intimation reached the ear of our departed statesman. It was a subject worthy of his mind: his perception intuitive, bold, and comprehensive, saw it in all its bearings. If the enterprise should fail, it must, as he well knew, bring bankruptcy on the state, and ruin on its patron. Timidity bade him desist; – cold and calculating policy cautioned him to stand aloof until the success of the experiment was tried. But he was not a timid, nor a cold calculating politician. He foresaw that the enterprise, if successful, would crown the commonwealth with unparalleled prosperity and imperishable glory. Knowing that nothing could give it a chance of success but the influence of his own great name, he cheerfully and cordially perilled his earthly hopes on the issue of the dubious undertaking. He became its avowed patron; and regardless of the despondency of the timid, and the cavils of the prejudiced, with an inflexibility of purpose, and a disinterestedness of motive, worthy of the proudest page of Roman story, he continued for fifteen years its indefatigable and efficient, though unremunerated, guardian and protector. But, thanks to the great Disposer of events, he lived to witness its complete success; – to see, under his own auspices, in spite of the obstacles interposed by nature and the greater obstacles interposed by man, the inland oceans of the west, conducted in proud triumph to the bosom of the deep, and the prosperity of his country rendered as enduring as its rivers and its lakes.

Such is the man whom our state may well bewail. Such is the man who has sunk in the midst of his renown. But his fame survives; it belongs to posterity. The American historian will transmit it to succeeding generations, brightening as it descends, and encompassed with a blaze of glory, perhaps only inferior to that of the Father of his country.

The resolutions were then put by the chairman, and unanimously adopted.

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Transcribed from the original text and html prepared by Bill Carr, last updated 5/30/99.