# The Story of a Great Court

Being a sketch history of the Supreme court of Wisconsin, its judges and their times from the admission of the state to the death of Chief Justice Ryan.
THE
STORY OF A GREAT COURT
BEING A SKETCH HISTORY OF THE SUPREME COURT OF WISCONSIN, ITS JUDGES AND THEIR TIMES FROM THE ADMISSION OF THE STATE TO THE DEATH OF CHIEF JUSTICE RYAN
BY
JOHN BRADLEY WINSLOW, LL.D. (U. W.)
CHICAGO T. H. FLOOD & COMPANY 1912
Copyright 1912
by
T. H. FLOOD & COMPANY
STATE JOURNAL PRINTING COMPANY, Printers and Stereotypers Madison, Wis.
To Agnes, my wife
this book is affectionately inscribed
THE AUTHOR TO THE READER
Any one who offers another book to a profession already burdened with books surely ought to give some reason, or at least some plausible excuse, for his act. My reason or excuse, whichever it may be, is this: In talking with the younger members of the bar of the state I have often been forcibly struck with the fact that many of them had little or no idea of the remarkable men who sat upon the supreme bench during the early years of the state, nor of the heated controversies, political as well as legal, in which the court and its judges were in one way or another involved during those years. With the idea of doing something to dispel this ignorance, I began to prepare a paper covering the early history of the court, intending to publish it in pamphlet form. I had not gone far, however, when I found that the subject could not be treated in any mere monograph, and as I proceeded I discovered many matters of surpassing interest which were entirely new to me and thus the projected pamphlet grew into a book. I cannot but feel that the book will interest not only lawyers but many laymen. If this be not sufficient reason for the existence of this book then there is none. It will be noticed that I have called it "The Story of a Great Court," and possibly some may think that it is scarcely appropriate for one who is now ​a member of that same court to apply to it so eulogistic a title. "Let another man praise thee and not thine own mouth; a stranger and not thine own lips." I fully considered this question, however, before adopting the title, and made up my mind that as my connection with the court did not begin until May, 1891, there could be no impropriety in my applying the term "great" to the court of which I write, namely, the court whose history terminates in 1880. Whether the same adjective may properly be applied to the court since 1880 will be a matter for the future historian to settle. I do not attempt to influence his decision.
Madison, Wisconsin, November, 1911.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I
CHAPTER II
CHAPTER III
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER V
CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER X
CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XIII
CHAPTER XIV
CHAPTER XV
The clash with President Lincoln—Denial by the Court that the President could lawfully suspend the writ of habeas corpus—The effect of this decision on Federal legislation—The validity of the draft—Extra judicial opinion of Justices Dixon and Cole as to the validity of the war bonds—Another war measure held unconstitutional.
CHAPTER XVI
CHAPTER XVII
CHAPTER XVIII
CHAPTER XIX
CHAPTER XX
CHAPTER XXI
CHAPTER XXII
CHAPTER XXIII
CHAPTER XXIV
CHAPTER XXV
The appointment of Edward George Ryan in Dixon's place—Biographical sketch of Ryan—His infirmity of temper, reverence for justice and high code of professional ​morals—Personal anecdotes—Early poetical efforts—His essays—Address to the law class of 1873—The Hubbell impeachment.
CHAPTER XXVI
CHAPTER XXVII
CHAPTER XXVIII
CHAPTER XXIX
CHAPTER XXX
CHAPTER XXXI
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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