The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-04-01
Decliua,lon Of Chief Justice Lewis.

We give below, the letter Of Chief Justice
Lewis addressed to the Chairman OF the State
Central Commiliee, declining the fe-nomi.
nation recently given TO him by the Demo
cratic State Convention. This determination
of Judge Lewis will be a matter OF the most
sincere regret to every sound lawyer in Penn.
| sylvania.l No man within our commonwealth
has had the judicial experience of the present,
Chief Justice, and 10 Judge has lshored more
zeaously 10 Tree the docket oi the Supreme
Conrl of the accum mulsted litigation o. ages
The wholo.legal fraternity have had the Ut
most confidence in the soundness of his opin
| ions, and have looked 10 him for the settled
law of The State. We doubt much whether
Judge Lewis has ever been equalled in in.
duslty on the Bench. With him, il seemed
10 be conscientious duty promptly to decide
all cases argued before him, even at the loss
OF his own bodily comfort, by dives,ing him
sell OF The hours which should have been de.
voted 10 rest OF recreation. No litiganl ev-
er had cause to complain OF delay where
Judge Lewis had the trial ol his cause, aud
few ever muimured at his decisions. The
cIesrness of his head, in all his conclusions,
was equalled by the integrity of his heart,
and il may be said of him, as Of LerJ Thur.
low, that he had head OF crystal with nerves
Of brass, which nothing could shake from the
line Of conviction aud duty.
WEST Penn SauARR,
PHLApELrHIA, March 25ih' 1887.
To CHARLES r. BpcKALEw, Chairman of the
Democratic Stale Commillec
Dear Sir--At the late Democratic State
Con venlion, the local claims OF the different
sections Of the State were generously waived
for the purpose oil securing my continuance
in the high and important office Of Supreme
Judge. The energy with which these claims
are now urged for the Office recently vacated
on the Srpfeme Bench, shows the extent Of
the sacrifices then made, and tho nature oI
the dissa lisfaetion which may exis. after one
section shall be gratiIisd and the other disap
pointed BY the anticipated nomination. The
Convention, when re.assembed, might be
able TO hatmonize these claims, il that body
had Two nominations TO make, instead Of one,
] therefore feel a, liberty 10 decline, as now
do, the denomination rendered 10 me BY the
democratic State Convention. Ia thus pro.
noting harmony, consult my own earnest
desire to return from judicial life, and a, the
same time put the delegates TO no inconveni.
ence, as they will be obliged 10 come ,oselh-
er again Tor the purpose Of nominating a can
dida,e to fill the existing vacancy,
have been Iaboriously engaged in judicial
duties Learly ,wen,y.four years-a longer pc.
rioc OF servcs than that OF any living Judge
in Pennsylvania. | have been thus engaged
under lhtse changes of the Constitution.
have aided to the ex,en. of my abilities m
bringing up the atreatases Of business, in
re placing upon their ancien, foundations
some OF the landmarks OF the law which had
tanning the purity and the Independence o.
the Judiciary, have constantly endeavoted
10 do justice wmhon, DELAY, tear, tavor, aztec.
uon or il.wiI. tnow occupy, by the voice
of the people Of my native STATE, the hishes,
judicial station in it, My long career as q
Judge has received the appreciation Of the
Democratic party III the denomination so
generously aud unanimously made by the
STATE Convention. All my ambition is salts.
fed, have bu, one wish left, and ,ha, is
to relurs to the freedom and indeoendeuce
OF private life. | DO this with a grateful hear,
ior the long conliuued confidence Of my Eel.
low citizens, aud in ,he iull trust that they
will appreciate and approve OF my motives.
Very Respectfully, Yours,
ELLIS LEWIS.