Memoir of the Life of the Honorable William Blowers Bliss - Page 29 |
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Supreme Court Bench in his place. This appointment terminated his brief political career. Thenceforth he was to occupy a place probably more congenial to his tastes and where he had the opportunity of displaying his eminent ability, sound legal training, and accurate knowledge of the law, where in the years which followed he became recognized as one of the ablest, if not the ablest Judge who ever occupied a seat on the Supreme Court Bench of Nova Scotia. The appointment gave general satisfaction, and high hopes were entertained for improvement in the administration of justice throughout the Province. That such were the feelings and expectation can be gathered from the following notice of his appointment in the Nova Scotian newspaper April 17th, 1834, As Mr. Howe was the editor and proprietor, it probably reflects his opinion. "There is nothing which more concerns the general welfare than the character of our legal tribunals, and therefore we may fairly congratulate the Country upon the appointment of William Blowers Bliss, Esq., to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court Bench caused by the death of Judge Uniacke. Of the legal etiquette which is to govern such selections we know but little, but judging of the propriety of the choice from what we have seen of the individual we think it is one that will give great satisfaction to the country. Mr. Bliss as a scholar stood high in the estimation of his old classmates at College, and at the Bar his sound legal knowledge and penetrating intellect have earned for him much reputation. We judge more from what we have seen of him in the Assembly, where although he came in rather with the stain of toryism upon him, his conduct manly and consistent throughout, aided by his eloquence and varied knowledge was. daily increasing his influence. We regret we shall hear him no more in the open field of popular discussion, but we hail his appointment as one step towards that improvement in the character of the Supreme Court, which heaven knows was badly wanted." |
