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Subject Area: Political Theory
Topic: The American Revolution and Constitution

ACTION OF THE NEW YORK BAR ON THE DEATH OF JOHN JAY. - John Jay, The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay, vol. 4 (1794-1826) [1893]

Edition used:

The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay, ed. Henry P. Johnston, A.M. (New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1890-93). Vol. 4 (1794-1826).

Part of: The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay, 4 vols.

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ACTION OF THE NEW YORK BAR ON THE DEATH OF JOHN JAY.

City Hall, New York, Tuesday, May 19, 1829, Five O’clock, p. m.

The Bar of the State of New York, now attending the sitting of the Supreme Court, met pursuant to their adjournment, D. B. Ogden, Chairman; John Sudam, Secretary.

James Tallmadge, Esq., Chairman of the Committee appointed this morning, reported the following Preamble and Resolutions, which were unanimously adopted.

The Committee respectfully report:

That the recent decease of the late venerable JOHN JAY is the cause of deep grief, and the present engrossing subject of private and public feeling.

John Jay was a native of our State; and a member of this Bar. The events of the American Revolution called him early into public life. His inherent love of political and virtuous liberty made him an early and active agent in laying the foundations of this nation, of which he soon became one of the brightest, and continued one of its fairest pillars. In 1777 he was appointed the first Chief Justice of this State, under the Constitution which he had eminently contributed to frame, and most of which was drafted by his pen. He was a member of the first Congress of the United States, and bore a conspicuous part in all its important duties, and presided for some time over the deliberations of that body. The exigencies of this nation required and commanded his great talents, discretion, firmness and skill, in various interesting and important duties during the Revolutionary struggle. At times as Chairman of the Committee of Public Safety he secured the domestic tranquillity, and at other times he was employed in important foreign missions and diplomatic trusts. He bore a prominent part in the negotiations for our Independence as a nation, and the ultimate treaty of peace. He continued to represent his country at foreign Courts for a number of years. He was, shortly after his return, called to preside as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, which place he afterwards left to accept the Executive Chair of the State of New York. When he had performed that last and highest duty to his native State, he declined all further judicial or political employment, and retired to the calm shade of domestic retreat, where the evening of his days was spent in social and benevolent intercourse, and in the signal observance of that religion which had been the bright beam of the morning and the evening of his life, the rights and toleration of which he had secured to this people in one of the most important articles of our Constitution.

There is no place more fit, and no persons are more willing to express their sincere feelings on this occasion than this Bar, where the talents and acquirements of the deceased were so early and so often displayed.—Therefore,

Resolved, That the members of this Bar are impressed with deep grief upon the decease of their illustrious brother, John Jay. They find, however, a consolation in the reflection that his conduct through a long and useful life, has given a lustre to our profession and to this Bar, and that while his character for private virtues and public worth has justly endeared him to the nation, his patriotism, his great talents as a statesman, and his great acquirements as a jurist, his eminent piety as a Christian, and probity as a man, all unite to present him to the public as an example whose radiance points to the attainment of excellence.

Resolved, That in respect for the character of the deceased, the members of this Bar will wear crape during the period of thirty days.

Resolved, That the Chairman and Secretary are desired to transmit a copy of the proceedings of this meeting to the family of the deceased.

Resolved, That the proceedings be signed by the Chairman and Secretary, and published in the different newspapers of this city.

D. B. Ogden,Chairman.

John Sudam,Secretary.