Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-05-16
4tnion and american.
THE SUPREME COTRT.

The history Of the Supreme Court Of the
United States may be divided into four pc
riods The first, which we may call the
original or formative period, extends from
1889 10 the accession Of Chief Justice Mar
shall, and includes the terms of the two
Chief Justices, Jay and Ellsworth. The
original members we're Jay, Of New York,
Rutledge of South Carolina, Gushing, OF
Massachusetts, Wilson, of Pennsylvania,
Blair, of Virginia, and Harrison, of Mary
land Cushing was the only one who re-
manned on the bench at the close Of John
Adams administration. Judge lredell
came on the bench in 1890, T. johnson, in
1871, Patterson in 1898, Ellsworth in 1895,
S. Chase in 1896, b. Washington in 1898,
and Moore in 1893 All but the last two
were appointed by Washington.
The second period begins with 1901,
simultaneously with the political revolution
which. brought Mr. jefferson 10 the Presi-
dency, and embraces nearly the whole term
Of Chief Justice Marshall. He was APP
pointed, indeed, by the first Adams, just as
the latter was going out Of Office, and his
life extended several years into Gen. jack
sons term; but the unity of character of
the court may be regarded as ending in
1922. The judges whom Marshall found az
his associates were Gushing, Patterson, of
New jersey, Chase, of Mary land, Washing
ing, Of Virginia, and Moore, Of North Caro-
lima Their places were supplied by w.
johnson in 1904, Livingston in 1906, Du-
val and Story in 1911, and Thompson in
1923.
A seventh judge, Todd, of Kentucky, was
added by act of Congress in 1907, who was
succeeded by Trimble in 1923. From 1901
four of the six judges were Of the slave
States, and from 1907 the slave States had
FIVE of seven-an ample guarantee for the
rights interests, and will of that favored
section.
The third period begins with Jackson's
Administration, during which the personnel
of the Court was almost entirely changed.
OF his appointment were NJ Lean, of Ohio,
in 1929; Baldwin, Of Pennsylvania, in 1880;
Wayne, Of Georgia, in 1885; Barbour, of
Virginia, and fancy, Chief Justice, in
1886; large majority of the Court. By
the substitution of two Northern for two
Southern Judges the South retained a bare
majority in the preponderance Of the Chief
Justice. Two judges were added by act of
Congress in l837-Catron, of Tennessee, and
McKinle, Of Alabama-making the whole
Court consist of nine judges. Mr.. Wayne
is the only one of the jackson Court now
remaining on the bench. Vacancies were
supplied by Daniel in lS4l, Nelson and
Woodbury. in l845, Grier in 1916, Curtis in
1851, Campbell in 1853, and Clifford in
1858, but these made no change in the con-
stitution and character Of the Court down to
the Inauguration of President Lincoln, in
1861. This closes the third period, al
though Chief Justice fancy presided until
1864
The fourth period begins with the Ad-
ministration Of President Lincoln, who APP
pointed Swayne, Of Ohio; Miller, of Iowa;
and Davis, Of Illinois, in 1862; Field, of
California, in 1868; and Chase, of Ohio,
Chief Justice, in lS64-again a majority OF
the Court appointed by one man. The his
tory Of the Chase Court is yet TO be written.