White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1865-01-05
INAUGURATION OF CHIEF Jus.
T1CB CHASE.


,..1....-.-... -
AAouuhAIlU1 w vhAf 'us-
ItV8 CAASk'
Impressive Cereno.ial, and Historical
Reninisceaees.
Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Gasstte.l
WAshIsaroN, Dec. Is.
: Twenty-nins years ago, almost to .
day. Andrew Jackson sent to the Senate
the nsme Of Rsger B. Tsney. a. successor
in the Chief Justiceship Of the Supreme
Court to the venerable John Marshall.
who, full OF years and honors, had six
months before brsathed ont his last. The
nominstiou was resisted in the Senate in
many bitter debates. For two months
and half the confirmation was was de-
layed; and at last. in the heyday of jack
sons power. passed BY . majority Of
fourteen .votes-ths names of Daniel
Webster, Henry Olsy. John j. Critten-
den, Thomas Ewing. John G. Calhoun.
and Willie P. Mangum standing foremost
in the list OF noes. The Chief Justice
thus confirmed. was quietly sworn into
Office in Baltimore. where he took his
seat In elrcuit Court. Not till year
later did be, reach Washington and cit
with bis Associates on the Supreme Bench.
1t Was fitting that this days contrast
should be sharply marked.
The very room4 that rang with Henry
Clay's denunciation OF Taney, witnessed
to-day the installation of Taney's success
or. Historic memories cluster about the
Old Hall. Here sat the worthless OF our
better times. Here Webster defended the
Constitution; here Calhoun asssiled it.
Here Hayne pronounced his splendid
eulogy ON South Carolins; here Benton
thundered against the Wings; here gath
cred Adams, Mason. Otis. Plnckney. Cor
win and the rest; here at last John G.
Breckinridge. Vice President then, insar-
gent General now. gave the farewell Of
the Sepate to the Chamber in words that
yet haunt It's columns as the echoes OF
lost spirits wall. "And now. Senators,
we leave this memorable Chamber, bear.
ing with us, unimpaired, the Constitution
we received from our forefathers. Let us
devoutly trust that another Senate. in an
other ago, shall bear to a new and larger
Chamber, this Constitution, vigorous and
inviolate; and that tile last genertion of
posterity shall ,citness the deli6eration of
the Representatives oF american States.
still united. prosperous and free " Aye,
Breckinridgel God helping Us, it shall
bs 70
Very little change has been made in
the interior arrangements. The room is
q simple semi. circle of seats and tables,
facing row of splendid Tennessee marble
columns, beneath which, on On elevated
platform, are ranged the chairs Of the
Justices. Ths walls are absolutely bare,
save that from their lofty inches, in sculp.
tured calm. look down the features of the
four dead Chief Justices, Jay, Rutledgs,
Ellsworth. Marshall. Into this very cham
Der, thirty years ago, the last of these
great men, now reigning in marble repose,
tottered to mako his last public appear
ance. The Senators sross to do him hon
or, and Daniel Webster paused, in bis
speech on the French Spoilation bill, till
the venerable and illustrious Chief Justice
shocld be seated among them. Soon sf-
ter, the land was clothed in mourning for
his death. To.day the chamber is cloth
cd in mourning for his successors death.
At an early hour an uuwonted throng
began to disturb the placid calm of the
solemn room. Outside the bar gathered
intimate and earnest friends Of the man
who was about to sit in Taney's place
Senators. Representatives. business men
who having long looked upon Mr..
Chase as the great. successful embodi-
ment of freedom in American politics,
had come to sec him make this Freedoms
Court; men of the old regime, sullenly
looked in to see this new monarch crown
ed; unknown friends and admirers; and
throng Of mere curious sight-seers.
Inside the bar was a grouping that an
artist would have seized cpon for bis can.
vass. almost in the centre sat the two
daughters Of the new Chief Justice; near
them ons observed the slight figure Of his
snn-in-law, Senator Sprague. and the sill.
very head of Representative Hooper, Of
Boston,; to the left of Mrs. Sprsgue. and
in earnest conversation with her, was one
Of the foremost lawyers of the country.
Ex. Attorney General Rsvsrdy johnson;
to the right. and sitting little apart, re.
gsrded by bar and spectators with the af-
fectionate reverence that BELTS his years
and massive abilities, the noblest Roman