The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-12-12 00:00:00

CHIEF JUSTICE READ OF
PENNSYLVANIA.

The Atlantic cable brings intelligence of the de-
cease, in the United States, of the Hon. John
Meredith Read, L.L.D., father of General Read,
United States' Minister to Greece. The late eminent
Chief Justice of Pennsylvania died full of years and
honours at his residence in the city of Philadelphia
on the evening of Sunday last, the 29th of November.
He wan," says Burke s Peet age, "one of the most
distinguished lawyers and Judges that America has
produced. He belonged to a family intimately asso-
ciated with Amei lean history; was the son of the Hon.
John Read, of Philadelphia; the grandson of Chief
Justice George Read, of Delaware, one of the six
signers of the Declaration of Independence, who
were also framers and signers of the Constitution
of the United States ; and fifth in descent from
Colonel J. Read, representing an elder branch of
the very ancient family of Read of Oxfordshire and
Northumberland ; to which belonged the Reads,
extinct Baronets of Brocket hall, and that Sir John
Read, who was tortured in the Tower of Dublin
for his political principles two centuries and a half
ago. He was born in Philadelphia, July 21, 1797;
graduated at the University of Pennsylvania at the
age of fifteen; was called to the bar in 1818; elected
five years later to the Legislature, re-elected, made
United States District Attorney for Eastern Penn-
sylvania in 18d7; nominated in 1845 one of the
Justices of the Supreme Court of the United
States ; but not confirmed on account ef his
free-soil principles, which be vigorously supported
at that early day. Attorney-General of Pennsyl-
vania in 1846, he resigned Boon after, and became the
leader of the bar. His eloquent and exhaustive argu-
ment in the famous Christi/ma Treason Trials in 1851
was so masterly as to win the warm admiration of
English lawyers, and drew from his associate, Thaddeus
Stevens, who was to close the case, this remarkable
tribute :—' I can find nothing to add.' In 1856 he be-
came a Republican, having hitherto been a free-soil
Democrat, and deliversd at Philadelphia his celebrated
speech on the " Power of Congress over the terri-
tories." In 1858 he was elected judge of the Supreme
Court of Pennsylvania by 30,000 majotity. This first
victory in Pennsylvania for the Republican party
brought Judge Read prominently forward in the list of
candidates for the Presidency of the United States; and
it was at one time proposed to nominate him for Presi-
dent, with Abraham Lincoln for Vice President.
During the rebellion the learned decisions of Chief
Justice Read leant a powerful support to the cause of
the general Government. He was likewise the inspirer
of some of the most important national measures
adopted by Congress. He also contributed, to a noble
extent, to the Constitutions now in vigour in the
States of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Ile retired
from the bench, as Chief Justice, on January 1, 1874.
He was the author of a great number of public ad-
dresses, legal speeches, &c. Chief Justice Read was
twice married —first to a daughter of the Hon. J.
Marshall, and secondly to a sister of the Hon. John
It. I hompson, late United States' Senator for New
Jersey. He leaves an onlx child, by his first wife,
General Meredith Read, United States' Minister to
Greece."—Galignania Messenger.