TRIBUTE OF RESPECT TO THE MEMORY OF HON.

AMOS R. MANNING.

SUPREME COURT, MONTGOMERY, Dec. 15, 1880.

On motion of Hon. H. C. TOMPKINS, Attorney General, it is ordered that the following Resolutions, relating to the death of Hon. A. R. MANNING, late Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama, be spread upon the minutes of this court.

The Bar of the Supreme Court has to mourn the death of one of the distinguished judges of that court, the late AMOS REEDER MANNING. By this sad event, we are once more reminded that in the midst of life we are in death, and plainly admonished to consider whence we are, and whither we are going.

Judge MANNING was born in the State of New Jersey, but removed to Alabama in his early boyhood. Being admitted to the Bar in early manhood, he commenced the practice of his profession in Marengo, and the adjoining counties. While residing in Marengo, he was elected as senator from that county to the General Assembly of this State, where he stood high as an intelligent, faithful, and competent legislator. About the year 1851, or 1852, he removed to the city of Mobile, and engaged in the practice of his profession at first, and for a short time, in partnership with Hon. W. M. BROOKS; and afterwards, for many years, with Hon. PERCY WALKER. While residing in Mobile, he was elected to the Legislature as one of the representatives of that county for the year 1872. In the year 1874, he was elected by the people of the State to the high office of Justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama, which he filled with distinguished ability, dignity and honor, from that time until his death, which occurred in the month of September last, shortly after he had been re-elected a Justice of the Supreme Court..

Our deceased friend was looked up to and greatly esteemed in all the relations of life-as a man, a citizen, a husband and father, a member of the Legislature- and of the Judiciary, and also as a Christian; in all of which relations, he would serve as an example which any of us might well endeavor to follow.

In view of the life and death of such a man, we adopt the following Resolutions:

1. Resolved, that in the death of AMOS REEDER MANNING the Bar of the State and all its citizens have sustained a heavy loss.

2. Resolve, that in our intercourse and acquaintance with Judge MANNING while at the Bar, we always recognized in him the able lawyer, the upright citizen, the courteous gentleman, and the conscientious Christian; and his elevation to the Bench only served to render these good qualities. the more conspicuous in him.

3. Resolved, that our long intercourse with Judge MANNING inspired us with the greatest respect and esteem for him and his character, and we will ever cherish his memory with affectionate regard.

4. Resolved, that we sincerely sympathize with the members of his family in their great bereavement.

5. Resolved, that the Attorney-General is requested to present a copy of these Resolutions to the Supreme Court, and move that they be spread on its minutes.

Attorney-General TOMPKINS, in presenting the above Resolutions, said:

If the Court please: I can not let this opportunity pass without paying an humble tribute to the memory of the deceased. Judge Manning had been known to me by reputation, since first I became a citizen of the State; but it was not until the last few years that I discovered his many noble traits of character and mind, as they were developed by a more intimate acquaintance and association with him. Of him it may be truly said, that to know him was to love him, and the more intimately and thoroughly known, the stronger must be the love for the man, and the respect for his noble character. During the course of a long and active life, Judge Manning has been called upon to serve his country and people in many and varied capacities; and I do not think I could pay to him a higher tribute than to say, that which all who are acquainted with his history will most cordially indorse, that not in one of them did he ever fail to discharge his duty with credit to himself, and with honor to his people. In the memorable legislative contest of 1872, Judge Manning was a member of the House of Representatives of this State. That was a time of trial, and an occasion when all but brave men quailed; but he, impelled by the same heroic devotion to duty, which was ever a marked characteristic of the man, stood among the boldest of the opponents of usurpation, and let no fear of consequences deter him from walking in the path that duty and patriotism marked out. But, if the court please, it is not so much to Manning the bold, patriotic and honest politician, that we

meet to-day to pay tribute, as it is to the able, upright, and just judge, and the pure and noble man. It was as a judge the deceased won his brightest laurels, and as a man that he bound himself to us by the strongest and tenderest ties. Judge Manning was, perhaps, not so quick in arriving at conclusions as many who have adorned our Bench; yet, but few will deny, that his conclusions, when reached, were the result of processes of reasoning so accurate, and were in themselves. so patently correct, as to be almost axiomatic. The very deliberation and care, and consequent tardiness in delivering opinions, upon the many and intricate questions of law that were presented to him as a judge, only show the thorough conscientiousness and devotion of the man. Among the many qualities possessed by the deceased which so well fitted him for the eminent position he filled, none was more prominent than the entire absence of that pride of opinion, which is so incompatible with correct judgment. We are told that, when that eminent lawyer and pure and upright judge, Sir MATTHEW HALE, was elevated to the bench, he composed eighteen resolutions, as "Things necessary to be continually had in remembrance." Among those eighteen, were the two following, so necessary in the attainment of truth, and in reaching a just judgment, namely: 1. "That I suffer not myself to be prepossessed with any judgment at all, till the whole business and both parties be heard." 2. That I never engage myself in the beginning of any cause, bnt reserve myself unprejudiced till the whole be heard." The principles involved in these rules were certainly those which marked Judge Manning's judicial career. Without them as guides, the most brilliant intellects must frequently reach conclusions that can not stand the test of reason; while, guided by them, the judge with half the quickness of perception will by his opinious build for himself a monument that shall stand through all time, and will win in every age the admiration of the seeker after truth. To this great quality Judge Manning added powers of painstaking investigation, a depth of research, and an accuracy in the use of our language, that must ever make his opinions models of judicial composition.

But, if the judge, by these means, won our respect and admiration, it is to the man that we must offer our sincerest tribute of love and praise. This conscientiousness and devotion to duty as a judge would have been impossible to a man of less purity of heart and nobleness of soul. In every relation of life, Judge Manning was a shining example of that highest type of manhood--a Christian gentleman. In social life, he deemed it not beneath his dignity to unbend, and become the pleasant genial companion, an acquisition to any