The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-08-10
HON ELLIS LEWIS.


The fearless and independent chief justice of the
Of Pennsylvania is Of bitterly traduced by the
abolition press on Of his decision against
the application of the Of Passmore Williamson
The Pennsy vanan triumphanny vndicates Judge Lewis
in the following article:
.'THE TRIBUsE AND THE PESssYLvAslA JupIcIAny.--
When newspaper reckless and unprincPled the New
York Tribune speaks we Of public officer he has good
suspect that there is something in bis conduct
When the contrary thai speaks evil Of him. the
tegent and upright portion Of the public unite in
opinion that he has done something worthy of commentator
When the Tribune calls Judge Kans fanacal reckless
passionate Judge, who, blinded by rage and impeled by
hatred is ready make false constructions and violate
rights the public may be assured that Judge Kane has done
something support Of that great Union Of the States which
the Tribune and its negro picnic ieud desire dis
solved. When Chief Justice Lewis il called "a skuking
chief Justice because he did oiciously volunteer
opinion questions not necessarily arising in The before
him. all of will commend the prn-
deDoe and sound legal propret Of the adopted by the
ciejusce. that eminent jurst had followed the example
OF Tbunes favor sJudge cnyer) who attended and
addressed meeting OF negroes where sentiments OF
hostility great Union publicly proclaimed and
which adjourned with cheers for Passnore Williamson he
could have enjoyed highest audaons of that degraded
print But Heaven forbid that judge should
ever 80 himself receive praise from the New
York Tribune ocousy preudgng questions before they
arise cnnay participating in solutions and traitorous
gamaon meengsl Chief Justice Lewis has been the
longest the bench Of any Judge in commission in the
State He has held Judicial stations under ell the various
changes which have taken place in constitution and
high Office by the voice of the people OF his
nave State, who have known him all his life. He is not
ocousy addicted preudging questions not before him
be been known shrink from the faithful and
fearless performance Of his duty in relation to all questions
when they properly arise If be trait in the Judi
ca character of Chief Justice Lewis which particularly dis
ngshes him. his perfect Independence and earessness
in the performance Of his duty When Judge Story under
mistaken view Of the law volunteered the celebrated opn
ion in Prigg Pennsylvania that the States had right
to leesate airmnncc their constitutional obligations
10 surrender fugitive slaves Chief Justice Lewis had the
disregard that opinion and 10 execute the Penn
syv statute for the surrender Of ugtves from labor
Notwithstanding Judge Story opinion until the act
pealed by legislature of the State. When the Legislature
passed apprasemen law prohibiting the sale OF property
for the payment of debts unless brought twohrds of its
appraised value Chief Justice Lewis only pronounced
the law unconstitutional because it impaired the obligation
Of contracts disregarded the decision Of the
court Of the its favor the ground that it
violation Of constitution Of the United holding
that on question he take his rule Of decision from
the Supreme Court OF the United States be then being
Judge the second Judicial district of Pennsylvania When
the legislature and the wealth and influence of the whole
State running wild in favor Of municipal subscriptions
to railroads. Judge Lewis had the rmpess to meet the
situonal question boldly and to deny the OF the leg
isature to impose any such burdens the people,
Many other instances might be mentioned in the career
Of the chief Justice show that Of all charges he is least
liable TO that Shaking questions legmatey brought be-
fore him No man the truth of what have said
better than the proprietor Of the Tribune although he
has thought proper to promulgatc this SANDER