The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-13

Oar New nIinlster 20 Anstrsn.


John Jay is Of Huguenot descent, his ancestors
having come to America after the revocation ot
the Edict of Nantes. ln the political history OF
America probably no family occupies more
prominent position or enjoys the reputation of
such useful career that Of Mr.. JAY. His
grandfather, John jay, held the post of Presi-
dent of the First Congress- and that of Minister
respectively to Spain and England. lie was
also one Of the Commissioners who nego-
tiated the treaty of peace His son, Judge
William, the father of the present Jonn
Jay, married sister of the late Professor
McVicler, and was one Of the earliest and most
prominent leaders of the constitutional anti
slavery movement. John JAY, our few Austrian
Minister, was born In 1917, and graduated ut
Columbia College in 1896 After a course of
study of the law with the late Daniel Lord
during which Attorney-General W. NJ. Eyarts
was among his fellow-students, he was ad-
mitted to the lar in 1882 He continued in
active pursuit Of his profession until the
death OF his father, after which event he re-
moved to the family estate ut Bedford. Among
the more noted cases in which Mr.. Jay was pro-
fessionaly engaged were the Marie Field will
case; the case of Williamson against Field, argued
by him before the Supreme Court of the United
States, with Daniel Webster as the leading op-
posing counsel; in re- Kirk, one of the earliest
slave cases in New York, which created at the
time profound excitement; in re Da Costa, two
Brazilian slaves, who, pending the hearing,
escaped from the Eldridge Street Prison; the
celebrated Lennon trial, on the original
hearing before Mr.. Justice Paine, where
eight Virginia slaves, brought to New
York EN- route TO Texas, were declared free
and despatched to Elgin, in Canada to o
farm there prepared for them; in re Bret, which
litigation was made the basis OF an appeal in the
United States Senate for additional legislation in
behalf of slavery. Mr.. Jay became a manager of
the New York Young Mems Anti-Slavery So
ciety in 1884, and from that time until the aboli-
tion OF slavery by the passage of the coDstitu-
tional amendmeut-ot which he made report
to the Union League Club in 1Sd5-he was an
rT,l H.
Convention OF the Diocese of New York he car
ried the admission Of the Coored Church of st.
Philips after vigorous struggle extending
over period of nine years. He twice presided
over the New York State Convention OF the Free
Soil party, and we believe in 1863 was their
candidate for Attorney-tieneral. Mr.. Jay has
twice visited EurOpe-the first time in 194S, on
which occasion he passed some months i'll Eng
land, where he was cordially received by large
and influential circle; and again in 1866 and
1866, when he presided at Thanksgiving din
ner at the Grand Hotel, Paris--the first reunion
of Americans subsequent TO the war. The
speeches there delivered were reported in full
by the London Times, and widely commented
en- by the European press. He also presided at a
break fast given in Naples on the I'D of February
in celebration OF Washington's birthday.
1t was during that tour that Mr.. jay was
elected President OF the Union League Club of
New York, office to which he has three dis
tinct times been reelected with marked una
nimity. The services of the Club during the war
are now an important item in history, and its in
huence in the late Presidential campaign, as
well as since, in discovering the frauds by
which Mr.. Gribwold was defeated are familiar
to the country. Throughout the war Mr.. Jay
was an active member of the Union
League Club, frequently advising with Mr..
Lincoln and his Cabinet. Mr., jay married,
in 1887, the daughter of Mr. Nickson
w. Field-now residing in Rome-the Oldest sur
viving member of the Chamber Of Commerce.
His son, Colonel William jay, served through
out the war, chiefly upon the staff of General
spectively to Mr. Henry G. Chapman, Major
William Ii. Schieffelin, and f. Randolph Robin
son, Esq, of the New York bar. Apart from his
professional and public career, Mr.. Jay has sue
ceeded in earning Tor himself a tar-famed
tional reputation of his distinguished family, by
the publication of numerous literary produc-
tions, which have more particularly been devoted
TO the discussion Of questions Of public interest.