The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-09-10
NEW PUBLICAT ONS.


T,vrs AND INDIVIDUAL SERVICES or THE CHEF
JcsrIcEs or THE SUPREME CouRT or THE UsrTED
STATES. BY C. Vn tyoord. Toe present
work is a valuable contribution to the biographi-
cal liter tire OF q country. The mca Illus
trated we're Deces arily, from their position, not
only remarkable as juF sta, but also from the
exigencies of the epoch in which they lived,
more or less distinguished poht clans. There
Is consequently double interest attaching 70
their biographies, nhic relieves then & ON the
dry nces that purely professional treatment OF
the sub ect would have rendered repulsve
feature in The eyes Of the general reader. The
rub ecis Of q e five biographical notices con
tanned ia the pres mt volume, viz Jonn Jhy,
John Rutledge, Oliver Ellsworth, John Mar
staI and Roger B. fancy, all belonged TO the
old Federal school of pol tics, but fancy sub
squeo,ly modified lis views, and advocated
the election of General jack on. by whom he
was successfully appointed Attorney General
AID 5, crctaly OF the Treasury aud ultimately
elevated o the bench of the Supreme Court Of
the Uniten States. In the ancestral o'igin of
these remarkable men may be traced may OF
the characteristics ard peculiar habits OF thought
which distinguished them. john Jay was born
In the city CT New York, bu. was descended
On the fathers side from an Old Huguenot
family of France; and tho father of John
Rutiedge was an Irish physician, who
tnigrated TO this country in 1875, and settled
IA South Caro,na Oliver Ellsworth was OF
ESgsh de, cent. and d, ew his first breath in
the village Of Windsor in Connecticut; the
grandfather OF Chief Justice Marshlll justly
sty led tie American Mansfield. vas native
CT Wales, and settled in Westinoreand county,
Virginia, about the year 1880; the ancestors o.
fancy both on the father AID mothers side
were amongst The earliest settlers of Mary land
In Cromwell's tine, aud were also of Welsh
origin. They professed the Roman Catholic
faith; and Ike the Puritans of England ia the
time Of Charles the First, they came to this
country 10 seek that repose and liberty o! con-
sctucc which, under The iron rule of the Pro-
tertor were denied them in their own.
OF the manner in which Mr.. Van Santvoord
has discharged bis task Of biographer we are
enabled to spe * in terms of gh commenda
ton. He may be wanting in that legal acu-
men and extensive acquan tance with the prin-
eiples of Jurisprudence which impart such q
profes sional value to the works Of his English
model, Lord Campbell, but he makes up for
their absence by the manner in wnich he has
treated the political branch of his subject
Fer the general reader, who cares less to
analyze the qualities that elevated those
men to the highes. judicial rank in the
country than to arrive at on accurate
conclusion as to the services which their
genius and sagacty enabled them to render
IN political capacity TO the Commonwea. a,
We gu. stiCn whether the work before us will
not possess greater intefesi. 1t is laudab'y
American in It's spirit aud treatment, and is
calculated TO exercise sound and beneficial
Influence upon the minds of all youog legal as
pirants who look upon their noble Profession as
merely means of obtaining purely selfish and
personal obects, without reference to those
great principles, an answering devotion to
which, as exebpided in the lives of the dista-
gushed men of whom writing. would
enable them not only to become eminent them
selves, but useful to their country.
With these few PREDATORY remarks we WI
now proceed to give few extracts from q
work OF Mr.. Van Santvoord, in order to enable
our readers to form their own opin'o $ of its
merits The first half dozen page jays
Biography" detail series Of imp SER
vices rendered to the Commonwea t.. which
would in Themselves have been sufficient to
shed impershable lustre upon his name. They
are, however, part and parcel Of the history q
the country, ard are too deeply impressed upon
the national heart to call for fresh observation
On our part. The following Just tribute to
jays social qualities and kindiiaess of heart
will be read with qualification =
One Of tie finest traits in the character Of Jay
YVES The warmth Of his social feelings and the con
ssascy Of his frieId hips, Adversely never sepa
raed him nom his cary associates nor did p1lit,ca
d ftrepces cause atm to forget tie attachments of
o. er days. II curing the admins ration Of
te O. uuc of Safety that TIE formidable inv ss OF
Burgoyne threatened the safety of New York. Gen
eOi Pbiip Schuyler at that time he'd commsnd ofthe
army II The North. Jay vas the friend OF Scn1y-
10 he knew and appreciated the WORTH, the patriot
ism, the chvairic honor, of that brave officer a
gallant gentleman. In moment of weakness, Cln.
eTess elCiIg either TO false and malicious repre-.
seo'asioLs, or q tiuid policy, recalled Schuyer at
the very moment wuei victory within his gra sp
AMI pocsd Gates 10 command. Schuyler felt tue
ireig aity, but with the generous magnanimity OF
his cnnacter, sacrificing every pei sonal feelog to
ne cause vi his country cleerfuly cooperatad with
TIE rlan OF the campaign. and aided Gen. Gates 10
reap the laurels which justly belonged TO himself.
Aaopg tie lends who adhered tn ough good re-
port and through evil m port To Schuyler, aud who
never failed to vinci cats his reputation, none was
3rper faithful than Jay. Sharing the same
ancestral blood, the blood of the early Dutch set
tiers Of the colony and satisfied with the entire
sorIectI ess of Scnnyler's conduct, we'll as the
putty of bis motives, Jay Did not conceal his in
dsrsdon q. This act Of Injustice. In letter to Mr.
DosEe, " Ell in Congress, exorosses what he con
csive- u be the true reason. General Schuyler il
TecSled, ne says, Ito humor the Eastern PEOPLE,
Who declare that sh@ir militia viii not fight uhder
his oomma,d." The warmth Of his friendship ard
the 6ehcacy Of his sympathy, are beautifully ex
pused N two or three letters TO Schuyler himself
sbeus this psrioi. 10 one Of these, written some
monhs after the victory Of Saratogs and wolfe sae
,l.sh nj. fha