Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-04-11
Death of Judge Mclean.

The intelligence of the death of Hon John
Mclean one of the Judges of the Supreme
Court of the United States, reached US yes
terday. Few men possessed stronger hold
upon the affections and confidence OF the coun-
try, and his loss will be anented by a wide
circle Of friends and admirers. He was born
in Morris county, New Jersey, March the III,
1885. and he belongd to the old and now
rapidly.departiDg school of eminent American
juristS and statesmen. His father emigrated
to the West in 1889, and after residing for a
few years at Morgantown, Va, and near Nj
choaSville, KY, finally settled, in 1899, in
Warren Co, Ohio, where he spent the remain
der of his life. Judge Mclean commenced the
study of law when he was about eighteen
years of age, in the Office of Arthur ST. Clair,
the son of the Revolutionary general of that
name, at Cincinnati In the srpinz of 1907
he was marrid to Miss Rebecca Edwards, and
in the autumn of that year was admitted to
the bar, and established himself as lawyer
at Lebanon, Ohio He soon ganel distinction,
by his extraordinary abilities, and in 1912 he
was elected to Congress by the Democratic
party of his district, which than included the
city of Cincinnati In 1914 be was reelected
without opposition, and his Congressional
career produced such favorable impression
upon the people of his state, that in 1915,
nothing but bis positive declination prevented
election to the United States Senate. In
1916 the Legislature of Ohio unanimously
elected him Judge of the Supreme Court of
that State He continued in this position
until 1922, whea President MONROE appoint
ed him Commissioner Of the General Land
Office, which was followed, in 1923, by bis ap-
DOctpnn.,tor General Tho Air
of the Post Office Department were, at that
time, in a terribly disordered condition, bnt he
displayed SO much zeal and administrative abb
lity that he soon restored the efficiency of the
service, and won much merited applause from
the country In 1879 he declined the offer of
either the War or Navy Departments, winch
were rendered him by General Jackson and,
resignng the office Of Postmaster General, ac
cepted seat upon the bench Of the Supreme
Court of the Uuited States, which he has re-
tanned ever since Many of his charges to
grand juries " hile on circuit and his decisions
have attracted much attention by their ability
and legal force. In the famous Dred Scott
case he dSsented from the majority of his col
leagues, and his views of the questions in
volved in it have been widely circulated. His
name has often been prominently mentioned in
he received one hundred and ninety-sx votes
in the Republican Convention which nominal
ed Fremont by giving him three hundred aud
ffty-nine Many politicians thought at the
time, that if he had then been made the Re
publican candidate, the election of Mr.. Buch
anan would have been impossible and he was,
undoubtedly, much more popular in Pennsyya
mia than his successful competitor. He also
- ~
Convention, in 1860, and at one period before
the assemblage of that body. his nomination
appeared notimpr0bable. He possessed many
elements of character which endeared him to
the American people, and would, uudOubted
Iy, have proved formidable Presidential can
didate in 1856 or 1860; bnt bis strength was
greater with the masses than with politicians,
and popular verdict on the aspirations which
he might fairly have entertained for the high
est honorS of the Republic was therefore never
rendered Judge Mclean was not ouIy
distinguished statesman a superior admins
trative officer, and an able juri<t, but an emf
nently piouS and good man. lie was one OF
the most active members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and amid the multiplicity
of his other duties found time to devote much
attention to its important business affairs
1He ueuUeTS Ol lHdL uCUOUlBtllOuI hItHOuC
distinction Of party, feft for him an attach
ment which far exceeded that entertained for
any other of their lay brethren, and by his
death they have lost one Of their shining lights
aud the nation one of its purest, wiSest and
most useful exemplary, and patriotic citizens.
Judge Logan, of Illinois, Mr. LincoIns late
law partner, and conservative member of the
Peace Congress, is named as his probable sue
cessor on the Supreme Berch.-PhiladeiPhia
Press.