Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-04-21

of the Supreme Court of the United States. The
President it is sad based the appointment upon his
convictions of Mr.. Iredefs merit, derived from
perusal of the debates in the Convention. When
the Judge first visited the seat of Government, dur
ing the session of Congress- he entered the Senate
Chamber, aud stood q quiet observer amongst the
crowd in the lobby. Being recognized by one oil
the Senators from North Carolina the Sergeant at
Arms was despatched to show him to privileged
seat Being addressed by that officer with deiti'
ence that excited the interest and curiosity OF the
by-standers, rare was the Judges modesty, that
he greatly embarrassed, and bluSed like a Siri
on her first introduction into company"
At the Cd Term Of the Supreme Court, held IN
August 1890, in New York. the commission OF Judge
lredell was read, who was sworn IN ana TOOK nus
seat AT the February term, 1898, held ut Pha-
6ephia the celebrated Case of Chsom $ Executor
rs Georgia was brought on for argument This great
case excited unusual degree ofattcntion bnth on
account of the novelty of the questions raised, an"
the important political sequences that were sup
posed To be involved in the decision. The doctrine
of State sovereignty and State rights was, ior the
first time brought before the Court for discussion
The question was "whethcr a State was ainenabie
to the Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court at the suit
of citizen Of another State:" Of, in other words,
could sovereign State be coerced! The OPINION
of the Chief Justice, in this Case is by Tar the most
elaborate perhaps the most able, delivered by him
while on the bench. In relation to Judge lrcdelis
dissenting opinion in this case, the majority OF the
Court with the Chief Justice sustaining the plantff)
MIR. Van Santvoord Of New York, in his " Lives OF
the Chief Justices of the United States "a very
interesting work, from which have just quoted re-
marks" These views were not concurred IN by
Judge Iredell, who delivered dissenting opinion.
That able iuriSt considered the question also in
constitutional point of view, and as question oil
strict construction. With great force OF reasoning
and admirable precision, and clearneSs ofuStratlon
he analysed the argument of the Attorney General,
and arrived at exactly the opposite conclusion Ills
opinion was that part of the existing law applied
this case ; and even if the Constitution would adj
mt of the :rcse of such power new law was
necessary TO carry the power into effect, and that
aSSumps at the suit OF citizen would not lie aSa!St
Il State. One scarcely arise from careful peru
sal of this able opinion without being s-nsiby I'M
pressed with the force of the reasoning OF the learn
ed Judge, and the accuracy of his deductions lucid,
logical compact ana comprehensive 1t certainly
compares very tavorably with that OF the Chief JUS
tce, in every respect, and mere legal argument,
must be admitted to be far superior. " As my own
legal pretenSions challenge but little Difference,
must again quote from the same author his view on
the legal character Of the sub cct Of this sketch:
Judge lrede may be regarded as one OF the ablcSt
of the many distinguished jurSts who have graccd
the bench Of the Supreme Court As constr
tutona lawyer. Judge lrcdell had no superior upon
the bench His ia icial opinions are marked BY
great vigor of thought, clearn, SIS Of argument and
force Of expression. He did not always concur with
the majority of his brethren in their constitutional
construct us, and SUCH occasions rarely failed 10
sustain his positions by the Strictest legal we'll
logical deductions. In the interesting Of Ware
cS Hylton 3 Dallas lj5, his dissenting opinion
hlUtS uncommon learning anu aDlIllS. As
legal argument, it may be regarded of the
best specimens that has been preserved of tue Old
Supreme Court. In the case Of wilson cS. Daniels,
3 Dalae 4Ol, he also dSscnted, and his views, rela-
tive to jurisdiction writ Of error, were >ubSe-
quently adopted by the court overrung the eyail-
ing opinion in that case. "
The Judge, during the early existence Of the
Court, instead of riding circuit regularly travel
cd all the United States Judge lredrli'S adj
dresses to the Grand Juries remarkable for
ability plooupncp that they generally
published the request of the uries OF citizens at
large Copies of tAesc have been preserved in the
family have read those published at Boston, New
York Philadelphia, and at Richmond, the request
of the jury, headed by the veteran General Henry
Lee They very unlike the addresses made at
this day Oh similar occasions. They resemble much
in style and argument and subjects the papers of the
Frd,raiiSt The Government WAS Il novelty, and the
object of the Judge to explain its nature, and
it not only to the good sense, but to the
affection of the people.
So much gratiticd was General Washington at the
course puf sued by Judge lrede AM, his co league
at he a letter the Chief JUS ice thank
t ZEN for their patriotic efforts to cxpa the Cons
tuition, and render it popular among the people This
letter communicated by the Chief Justice to
Judge 1r,dell, October Goth, 1899. The Judge clo
sed his Elenton in this bosom of family
iii the 49th year of his agr. He died not thos-
who die without hope; but in his descent into the
dark valley Of the shadow of death, he leaned con-
fidently upon the that aid not fail him in the
hour of need. His body was inferred i'll the yicin-
ty Of the town, at Hays, the parimonal estate of
James &. Johnson, who has marked the spot by an
appropriate monument.
The Judge left behind him Treatise on Pleading
nearly ready for the press. This is still in existence
Judge Irelel had by reached, at his DEATH
the full development of his powers. He was ever
dill gent student, and day by day his attainments
augmented. His systematic habits enabled him
to effect much more in the way of erudtion than
often falls the lot of genius. He carried method
into all the details of life. lie precise exact,
pains taking His papers proved this trait i'll
his character. His volumnouS correspondence, as
sorted according to the year in which the letters
were received endorsed in his neat ccrky hand, and
tied in separate bundles to facilitate reference
remain as reproof to the sluggard and an incte-
ment to the ambitious He man of fine per-
sonal appearance and imposing presence. The gen |
eral expression of his face calmly medtatve 1t
indicated equanimity that seldom rutf1ed. |
an amiability that rarely shaken. Such was the
courtncss of his address, and the quiet dignity of
his manners, that while presumption stood abaShed
before him, the humblcst feared no repulsion. He !
constituted, that charity, while felt duty,
seemed in him instinct. He not extravagart,
and knew the value of money; yet was he untaint-
ed by avarice. His tastes simple, his pursuits
refined, his habits temperate his morals of bla1nel
purity He lacked not the to face danger when
it Threatened; but more particularly distinguish
ed for great moral courage. AS especially ilustra-
tive OF the latter quality, quote from one OF his
speeches in Convention: "When the British gov
ernnent attempted to establish tyranny in America,
the people did not think their oath of allegiance
bound them to submit to it. had taken that oath
several times myself, but had no scrupe to oppose
their tyrannical measures. The great principle is,