The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-01-22
I've take the following from the columns

r. We take the following from the columns
OF the Pennsylvania.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. llth, 1858.
stepped into the Supreme Court Room lew
days ago, and, to my astonishmeni, found 1t
crowded with the most distinguished men OF the
Capitol, and being curious 10 know the cause OF
this unusual gathering Of great minds, soon
learned that it was the occasion OF Judge Blacks
debut before this Court in case great lmpor-
tance. All seemed anxious to hear how his first
forensic effort before the most august legal trI-
bunaE ia the world, would sustain his high char
acter tor talents and learning.
AS Pennsylvania, felt an unusual inter-
! est IN his success, and l must admit that ! was
restless and uncertain of the result for, with all
my confidence in Judge Blacks great mind,
well knew that he had been for years upon the
| bench, and IN the character Of Judge ! trared
| he bad forgotten the cunning OF the advocate,
and that the calm dtIiberation requisite in the
decision of cases, had untitled him for the
"rough and tumble" of the bar: and | feared
! lest the conetraint ofa first appearance before
this exalted tribunal might so enbarrasS him,
that his effort would not be worthy thu man.
| The case was that of the United States vs.. Hen
! ry Cambustou, and the questions Involved some
OF the most absruse legal learning found IN the
| books. The defendant claimed title 10 large
and valuable tract OF land in California, and the
/ defence to his title was the allegation that his
f-Tsapers were forged and his evidence manufac-
tured for the occasion. Attorney General Black
! rose calm, easy, dgn6ed and collected, and
with logic clear, torcible and convincing, he
proceeded to unwind the tangled skein of the
defendants claim 10 bring TO light the secret
machinery employed to perfect this pretended
! title. With illustrations simple and familiar,
D.! yet pertinent and expressive, the whole case
! was made to assume new appearance. You
! could almost see the hand that wrote the spu-
rious grant iaItering ia its work of fraud. You
| looked upon and pitied the poor perjured witness
| who craVed the wrath Of Heaven and invoked
the terrors of the last great day on his tale of
| alsrhood he stood before you with the secret
| witness OF his heart laid bare-a revolving spec
tacle al the degradation Of man.
| You know that love Judge Black, but never
before did feel SO proud of him, and never be-
fore did he rise 50 much above himselfa as on the
occasion OF his debut in this great case. The
deep tones ofhis manly voice, the eoonpSS and
clearness with which he diSseced and exposed
TO view the intricate secrets which hung
around the inception Of the defendants title,
clothed in the rich drapery of racy, pure old
Anglo-SaXon words, combined sentences terse
and SO powerful, all contributed to heighten the
man and the occasion, and to win from the
auditory full admiration.
It is admitted on all bands that Judge Black
is one ofthe ablest Acknowledgements We ever
had. This is saying much, but nevertheless it
is true. Here, as at his keystone home, he is
universal taVOrite-admirpd for his excpllpnt
talents, and loved for his social virtues.