Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-12-22
DEATH OF CHANCELLOR KENT

- @no A>O" AVin papers UTinH us tie melancholy
Intelligence that the venerable and illus,rious Chan
eellor Kent is no more. He expired on Sunday af
ternoon, at the age of eighty five years His death
occurred at period when his career seemed 10
nave reached the uttermost point at which gifted
and pure intellect could be exerted for the benef,
or the race, and he departed from the life which
ne had SO long adorned fully ripe in wears and hon
ors. His reputation and his abors constitute rich
legacy to the republic-for his fame and works be-
long to noslnge State, and cannot be confined with
In the limits of the country which he loved and
served so long and well. Perhaps no man OF the
age In TINS country has impressed the results of his
long and laborious life more ndelibly upon the in
reject OF the country than Chancellor Kent The
elevation oil his private life, the purity of his public
character the accuracy of his research, the sound
ness OF his Judgment, and the authority given to his
writings by the high character of his own judicial
decisions, have rendered his volumes text books in
every court of the Union.
The following is briefoutline of the chief events
of his life
In l19S, James Kent, then Recorder of N. York
city, was appointed Justice of the Supreme Court
or the State of New York In February, 1904. he
was appointed Chief Justice, and remained in that
Office until February 25, 1914 when he was made
chancellor OF the State, the functions of which Of
hce he performed with distinguished ability till dis
qualihed by the Constitution, July 81, 1923, in
consequence OF having attained the age of sxty-
In 1921, he represented Albany county in the State
convention which formed the Constitution that
went into operation LIST July, 1928
chancellor Kent was no less distinguished for
the virtues OF a good man, which secured TO him
all the ornament of age, and its consolation, ..as
honor, love- obedience, and troops OF friends" than
Tor brilliant talents and profound legal attainmen,s
SWTTZERLAND-Stc Socereigatu-The
civil war into which the people ofSwitzerIand seem
about to be plunged takes its rise from the refus,
OF seven Of the States or Cantons to obey the au-
thorty of the General Government. These seven
Cantons have entered into compact called the
Sonder6und, which they will not dissolve: thew
set the Diet at defiance and blood has been already
shed in civil strife.
AS to the origin OF the difficulty which hoe cot
tne swiss Cantons at variance among themselves
or as TO the merits Of the controversy which threat
ems to be SO productive Of disaster TO both parties
we need not dwell now upon either. The most in,
teresting aspect which the matter presents is that
which exhibits States without nationality. a Con-
tederaton without one Identity of political being,
General Government without sorereiunty-the re-
suit being collision between the pretensions of
State independence and Federal Diet restinu for
support upon the very States that claim the rioht
OF setting aside It's authority at their own pleasure.
men two authorities are up, neither supreme,
How soon confusion takes the one by the other
And falls in the lap of both 20
Such is Shakspeare's brief epitome OF the often
repeated efforts to reconcile impossbiItes- 81
forts OF States, individually weak TO obtain all the
advantages of union and of a powerful nationality.
yet retain, at the same time, separate sovereignty
with the prerogatve Of multiplying the general au ,
thority at their indvCsial discretion.
The founders of our Republic, no doubt. believed
that they had guarded effectually against future
conflicts between State pretensions and the supreme
government by making the latter not the mere crea
ture OF the States. but constituting it as an emana
uon from the great body Of tine peopIe-a govern
ment not dependent on the States for the exercise
VI ns aulhorly' nor requiring their agency in any
manner as essential either TO the enactment or The
execution OF its laws. There are some politicians
overwhelmingly they are few--who would
deny to the General Government its characteristics
OF nationality, and who seem to think that the ner
iecsion OF political system embracing collection
Vi H'a'es IS 10 be found In confederation like that
which makes the Swiss Cantons n bousebod oc
strife-Battinore american. Vi