He had taken no interest in party strife, and with the exception of serving two sessions in the Massachusetts Legislature he had never held a political office.

In arguing a case his style was peculiarly felicitous--simple, direct, clear.

In the full maturity of his powers and with all the earnestness of his nature he engaged in the President's defense; and he brought to it a wealth of learning, a dignity of character, an impressiveness of speech, which attracted the admiration and respect of all who had the good fortune to hear his great argument.
William M.Evarts, who was associated with him, was nine years the junior of Mr.Curtis.

He had followed his profession with equal devotion, and, like his illustrious colleague, had never been deflected from its pursuit by participation in the honors of political life.

His career had been in the city of New York, where, against all the rivalry of the Metropolitan bar, he had risen so rapidly that at forty years of age his victory of precedence was won and his high rank established.
A signal tribute was paid to his legal ability and his character when, in the early stages of the civil war, the National Government sent him abroad on an important and delicate errand in connection with our international relations,--an errand which could be safely entrusted only to a great lawyer.