The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-01-04
ga SOLID BLOCK OF NEW ENGLAND Ora
MITE IN POSITION"

"A SOLID BLOCK OF NEW ENGLAND Ora
MITE IN POSITION"
The New York Tribune, under this
caption, announces the event of ex-
Secretary Chase taking his seat as Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court Of the
United States. The style of the para
graph is quite worthy Of Yankee litcra-
turc, and we copy it:
A large and distinguished assemblagc
was present in the Supreme Courtroom
to-day to see Mr.. Chase take his seat as
Chief Justice. Seldom have the vcnc-
rable walls enclosed more men Of emf
nence in the various professions and pur-
suits of life, or more attractive repre-
sentation Of the women of America.
1t was impossible to forget that the
present courtroom was the old Senate
chamber, hallowed to our memories by
Clay and Webster, and other great souls
that had battlcd for constitutional free
dom.
There is no ceremonial about the in
stallation Of chief justice 1t was evil
dent that the crowd was disappointed in
this respect. They rightly imagined that,
as the Office is of so high dignity, the
new incumbent would be inaugurated
with some solemnity. But there was
nothing of the kind, beyond that which
the characters of the principal partici-
pants, and especially of the leading
parsonage, impaired to the scene.
Yet, in many respects, it was memo
rablc spectacle. l stood again in the
area of that chamber which had so often
resounded to the stirring eloquencc and
matchlcss logic and patriotic sentiments
of the orators and statesmen who had
elevated the fame of American parlia-
'mentary clocution to level with the
noblest cxemplars in ancient or modern
times. saw it again filled with the
most eminent men in politics, in letters,
and in professional life, and with the
beauty and grace offcminine lovelincss-
all attracted to do honor to the elevation
of one whose talents and worth only had
raised him to the greatest honor Of his
professionalism of presiding in the high
est tribunal Of the nation.
1t was gratifying to notice in the as
scmblage several Of the most prominent
political opponents of Mr.. 'Chase--among
them the Democratic candidate for the
Vice-Presidency, Mr.. Pcndleton, and Mr.
Reverdy johnson. Within the bar were
the venerable Thomas Ewing, of Ohio, ex.
Secretary ofthc Treasury Mr.. Orville II.
Browning, of Illinois; Mr.. Carlisle, of
Washington, etc. The daughters of the
Chief Justice, Mrs. Sprague and Miss
Chase, were courteously accommodated
with chairs just below the bench, sur
rounded by a brilliant throng of ladies,
from different parts Of the country.
The Judges entered from their private
room on the left Of the chamber. the
procession led by Mr.. Justice Wayne, of
Georgia, Mr.. Chase being next in order.
Judge Wayne, who is truly a gentleman
of the old school, distinguished for his
mingled suavity and dignity of manner,
remained standing while Mr.. Chase read
from manuscript, in a clear, firm, en-
phatic tone, the chief Justices oath Of
office. The commission from tho Prcsi-
dent, countersigned by the Secretary Of
State, was then read by the clerk, the
new Chief Justice took his place in the
centre Of tho bench, and the installation