Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-07-05
CHIEF JUSTICE GIBSON.


had been with the old "Republcan" party
and the critical condition of its affairs, |
1910, calling for the services Of its ables
men, he was returned from his native count
TO two successive State Assemblies in tai'
and 1911, where he supported with vigo
and ability the administrator of MIR, Madi
son and Governor Snyder, Along with III,
late Mr.. Nchclas BidGle, who was in tn,
same body, he was here among the earl,
advocates of ,ha, large system of inieIna
Improvement which the Legislature of Penn
sylvania has since been completing, and b,
(which alone our State can take the rank in
Ehe Union which her eado Sments make moi
rnore eminent than natural. Returning tt
a,is constituents iu March 1912, after two
years Of public service in critical and trying
times, during which he left no proper en-
pec,atiou unanswered, the legislative career
of the Chief Justice would probably have
added TO his professional advancement, had
lfie chosen 10 remain at the bar. He seems,
however, TO have early entertained the opin-
aon, which he has since expressed, that his
qualities fitted him better for the beLch
and, having short time before, united him
self in marriage with Miss Sarah Galbraith,
the daughter of revolutionary officer, then
living in retirement upon his farm, in Cum
bcrland CO., he accepted in the fall OF 1912 the
presidency of the lth judicial district, just
ihcn created in Northern Pennsylvania The
death of Judge Breckenridge having made a
vacancy in 1916 of seat in the Supreme
Court Mr.. President Gibson was transferred
on the 27ih of June of that year, TO the
bench on which he has since continued
As an Associate Justice, it was the happl-
ness Of Justice Gibson through his whole
career to have beside him for presiding
officer, The late Chief Justice Tighman, and
tho eleven years in which these eminent
persons assisted each other in The discharge
of their high judicial duties, seems TO have
been not less an nnbroken circle of judicial
harmony than it was of cordial personal iu-
tercoursc. The death Of Chief Justice Thigh
man on the 3olh of April, 1927; left without
an occupant the seat in which he had presi.
usefulness and made it a matter of no small
difficulty for the executive TO supply the va
cant place with satisfaction to the public ex-
psctarion. Names eminent in the profess
sion aud in the State were strongly pressed
upon Governor Shnllz for this honorable Of
flee, and the appointment to it on the 18th
of May, 1929, gave conclusive proof Of the
high confidence entertained by the Chief
Magistrate of Pennsylvania, and The old
fashioned Democratic party, Of which he
was the representative, in the ability and
merits of Mr.. Justice Gibson. From the
date just named, the Chief Jnstice has occu-
pied the seat TO which he was then appoint
cd. And with the exception of having
acted as one of the electors of ls2s-wheu
his name was put up by the Democratic
party al the head of their State electoral
'cket-his public services have been eXclu-
sively confined 10 the duties of his judicial
Office. Few men in magistracy any where
have given more extensive evidences of
life of labor Independently of constant
siting throughout the Commonwealth, on
the circuits, aud al Nisi Prius, where some
of his ablest opinions have been given with
pul a record the Pennsylvania reports pre-
serve enduring evidences Of his abilities,
fidelity, and learning. "The Reports of
Pennsylvania" said the late Charles Chaun-
tey, Hare entitled to the admiration OF law
gers at home and abroad. q. . :.
They contain decisions which have led the
way upon some very interesting subjects,
and which have been followed both here
and in England How far, and how faith.
fully Chief Justice Gibson has participated
In these labors so Honorable to his native
State, is atiested by upwards of Sir t&otsdnd
Eases in which he has taken part in the final
judgment of the Court, and more than
tueiUc hundred in which he has himself de-
iivered opinions distinguished for their i'm
partiality, learning, and conclusive force
Without disparagement 10 any Of the disin-
guished men who at different times have
sat beside him as associates, all will agree
that 10 HIM the Court has been largely in
deb,ed for the praise pronounced upon it by
those best qualified 10 know it5 character
Mr.. Binney, we are sure, did but speak
sentiment of perfect truth; when, on an oc-
casion dictated by respect to this tribunal
he declared amidst the enthusiastic response
of the whole bar of Philadelphia, 'lhai at no
time have the judgments of the Court been
guided by either favor or resentment and
that in learning, integrity and industry, the
Judges of the Court have never been want
ing TO themselves, the profession, or The
country. "We ALL AGREE,n
naid this eminent lawyer, 'that the judges
OF the Supreme Court have been faithful TO
The Constitution and the Law faithful 10
the State and to the Union faithful 10 the
People and to The Bar"
In person the Chief Justice is above the
common stature and has always been dis
,Inguished by extraordinary vigor of health
and frame. His tempers are emmenily SO.
cial and among all classes of society