He was careful in his opinions never to go beyond
what was necessary for the case at bar. It is said that there
is no instance that any opinion of his was ever overruled
in a very long judicial service.
Judge Dewey was a man of absolute integrity and faithful
in the discharge of his judicial duty. He had no sentiment
and, so far as I ever knew, took little interest in matters
outside of his important official duties. He was very careful
in the management of property. When the Democrats were in
power in Massachusetts in 1843 they reduced the salaries of
the Judges of the Supreme Court in violation of the Constitutional
provision. Chief Justice Shaw refused to touch a dollar of
his salary until the Legislature the next year restored the
old salary and provided for the payment of the arrears. Judge
Dewey held out for one quarter. But the next quarter he went
quietly to the State House, drew his quarter's salary, went
down on to State Street and invested it, and did the same
every quarter thereafter.
In the days of my early practice the Supreme Court used to
sit in Worcester for about five or six weeks, beginning in
April.
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