Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1860-12-01
Resignation of Chief Justice
TapeV.


Buchanan to appoint successor. The
Herald gives the following brief account
of Mr.. Taney and his public services;
"He was born March II, l777, in Cal
vert county, in the State of Maryland, to
which State his forcfathers emigrated
about the year 1850. He was educated
at Dickinson College, Carlisle, where he
graduated in 1905. In the spring ofl796
he commenced the study of the law at the
city of Annapolis, where tie principal
courts of Maryland were then held. He
afterwards, in 1901, removed to Frederick
town, in Frederick county, it beng
more eligible point for the pursuit of his
/ profession. In 1916 he was elected in
/ that county as one of the electors of tho
Senate, and was chosen by tho electoral
! body member of the Senate of Maryland.
Under the constitution of Maryland, as it
then stood, the State Senate consisted of
fifteen members, whose term of service
was five years, and who were chosen by a
body of electors composed of two members
elected by the people, from each county,
and one from the city of Baltimore and
one from the city of Annapolis. After the
expiration of his term of Office in the SEN
ate Mr.. fancy returned to private life,
and continued the practice of lawin Fred
erick until 1923, when he removed to
Baltimore, where he has ever since resi-
ded.
In 1897 he was appointed Attorney
General of Maryland by the Governor
and Council, and it is perhaps proper to
mention, as the fact is equally honorable
to both parties, that the Governor and
Council and Dir. Taney we're, at the time
of tho appointment, politically opposed
10 each othor-the Governor being the
friend of Mr.. Adams, who was then Pres
ident,and warmly supported his re election,
and the latter being equally decided and
open in supporting General jackson, the
contest, too, having at that time become
exceedingly animated. Mr.. Taney con
tinued to hold the Office of Attorney Gen
oral of Maryland until June, 1881, when
he resigned upon receiving the appoint
mcnt of Attorney General of the United
States. This Office ho resigned in Septem-
Der, 1888, when President jackson di-
rectcd the then Secretary of the Treasury,
Vim j. Duane, to deposit the money Of
the United States in certain banks desig-
natod by him, as he thought tho United
States Bank had resolved itself into per-
manent electionoering institution. The
secretary refused to obey the instructions
of tho President, when the latter ordered
his removal, and the appointment of Mr..
fancy to fill tho vacancy. Mr.. Taney
obeyed the instructions Of the President,
much to the chagrin of the friends of the
interested bank. A presentimcnt of what
would happen induced President jackson
to delay, until near the end Of session, the
nomination of Mr.. Taney for Secretary of
the Treasury. He had offended the Bank
of the United States too much to expect
his confirmation in the present temper Of
the Senate, and the nomination was not
sent in until the last day of the session
(Juno %, l633,) when it was Immediately
rejected. Mr.. Taney thereupon resigned
his Office on the same day. He then re-
turned to Baltimore and resumed the
practice of the law.
In 1885 Judge Duvall resigned lis
Office as Associate Justice Of the Supreme
Court, and General jackson nominated
Mr., Taney to fill the vacancy. The ma
iority Of the Senate, however, refused tc
act upon the nomination until the last mo-
ment Of the session, when it was postponed
indefnitely-a vote which was intended tc
be, and was understood as equivalent 10
rejection.
Before the next session Of Congress,
SAlCl q usLlCC lliil NlCu anu WI. L IL
ney, was, therefore, nominated for tho
office of Chief Justice of the United States
Supreme Court, and the political complex
ion of the Senate having changed, hi
nomination was confirmed by that body il
:, March, 1886, and he took his seat on the
bench in the Circuit Court for the distric
Of Maryland in May, 1896, and upon th'
bench of the Supreme Court January, 1897
Our space will not permit us to spcal
in detail of the able and dignifed man
ner in which Justice Taney has discharged
his duties as the chief of the highest cour
in the land, and for the deep, erudite anc
profound legal knowledge with which hi
9 decisions in important eases have bee
characterized. The most important de
:. cision in which Judge fancy occupied