Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-04-11

Death OF Judge Mclean.

The Hon. John Mclean one of the asso-
ciate justices of the United States Supreme
Court, died on the 4th inst, at his residence
having reached the ripe age of seventy-six
yeats Thus another of the great intelects
of the last generation has passed away
Clay, Webster, Clayton, Calhoun, Marcy and
host of his compeers have preceded him
to the land of shadows, and his name has
now become as historic as theirs. For near
ly thirty-one years of his long life no has
been Justice of the United States Supreme
Court, having been appointed by General
jackson, in 1929, and gone into office in
1880. In all that period his reputation as a
man and rs jurist has been steadily rising
and remained without reproach through all
the heated political conflicts in which his
name had been so freely used as cannidate
Tor the Presidency.
He was born in Morris county, New Jer-
sey. in 1885, but in his childhood his parents
with their family emigrated first to Virginia,
then to Kentucky. and finally to Ohio, where
they remained. He studied law in Cincin-
natl, supporting himself meanwhile by ac-
ting as lawyers clerk, aud in 1907 was
admitted to practice at the bar. He COM
menced practice in Lebanon, Ohio, and met
with such success that five years afterward
he was elected to Congress as an ardent sup
porter of President Madison and his war po-
icy. His course in Congress gave so much
satisfaction that he was unanimously rc-elec-
TED, and served in that capacity until ap-
pointed judge Of the Ohio Supreme Court
In this latter position be established
high reputation as a man of mature and well
balanced mind, sound Judgement, discern
ment and learning.
From local sphere, however he was A.
gain translated to the great theatre of ma
tional affairs, and successfully served as a
Commissioner of the General Land Office
and Postmaster General. In these positions
his capacity as a statesman was demonstra-
ted so clearly that he took very high rank in
the public estimation. From Cabinet min
lister he became judge of the highest trIbu-
nal in the Union, the national Supreme
Court, and there he has continued ever since
the fairest, the ablcst, and most universally
respected of all the members.
But in that high office the people. who
knew his worth. were never entirely satisfied
to let him remain. All over the Union he
was the favoritc candidate of thousands of
patriotic citizens for the Presidency, and they
did not cease earnestly to press his name, I'M
ill at last he had become too old. While
Clay and Webster lived, Of course, being in
the same party with them, he could not be
preferred as were military cheftans like
Harrison, Taylor and Scott. But when they
were all out of the way a great effort was
made to secure for him the Republican nom
nation ut the National Convention in Phila-
delpha, in 1850. Pennsylvania presented
him as her chosen candidate, and had he
received the nomination. it is now known
that Mr.. Fillmore would have withdrawn
from the canvass. The South and the Union
would have acqucsccl in the election of such
man, for all felt that in his hands the in,e-
rests OF every section wnull have been safe
But this was not to be. The people had
not yet grown tired of experiments with OBJ
scure candidates, and defeat was the result
This was IL sal disaster to the republic. 1t
was none to John Mclean. The Presidency
was not necessary to complete the measure
Of his fame. He will live in our annals
among the most iluStrious Of our citizens
Like Clay, Webster, jackson, and many 9th
crs Of our statesmen, he was entirely self
made man, Of humble origin, possessing no
advantages Of friends, fortune or education.
When we recall the number of such who
have adorned our history brief as it is, and
find the most successful and eminent Of our
publcsts still recruited from the same source
we cannot but feel proud of the republican
institutions which encourage. and the race
which can produce such aders.-NorM A.
merriam