The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-05-01
THEU. 4. SUPREME COURT.
Pen and Ink Sketches Of the J judges

Il y
Pen and Ink Sketches Of the J adges
Wash. Cor. N. Y. Standard.l
We make an early start for the Cap.
itol on Monday to witness the imposing
ceremony Of opening the Supreme
Court There are other spectators, who
like ourselves, standing around the
room waiting for the judges, picture to
each other the different statesmen who
sat in this room when it was used a.
the United States Senate Chamber, and
try to fancy the brilliant Webster, Clay,
Calhoun and others when they were
seated here. The room is seventy-five
feet long, forty-five feet high, and is
semi-circular in form. 1t has Ionic
columns of Potomac marble commonly
known as pudding stone), with white
marble caps, beautifully carved, which
support a gallery that was formerly
used for the reporters. Another gal,
lery for the public extended around
the room, but that has been
removed. The furniture is of solid
walnut, upholstered in crimson. On
the wall neat white marble brackets
support the busts Of the late John Jay,
first Chief Justice, (first appointed
September &c, 1882; John Rutledge,
second Chief Justice; Oliver Ellsworth,
fourth, and John Marshall, sixth Chief
Justice. These are of white marble,
and reflect credit on the sculptors.
There is a long desk below the gallery
where the judges ait. In the centre OF
it and directly in front Of the crimson
silk hangings, beneath the gilt eagle,
is the Chief Justices seat. The justice
who has served the longest term occu-
pies the place OF honor at his left hand.
But as we talk in subdued voices the
crier, rising, announces the Honorable
Chief Justice and Associate Justices OF
the Supreme Court. The lawyers prac-
ticing before the Court rise and doff their
hats, and we visitors listen to the app
preaching rustling OF silken robes with
hated breath. The marshal Of the
Court, Mr.. Richard G. Parsons, comes
out from beneath the gallery frat, and
one by one the justices take their
places they stand for an instant,
make deep obeisance, to which the
practitioners respond, and then seat
themselves. The crier cries out: "Oyez,
oyez!' etc, and the Chief Justice bows
to Justice Bradley, of New Jersey,
who proceeds to deliver a decision.
Justice Bradley is the latest appoint
ment, occupying the place OF the late
Justice Grier, Of Pennsylvania. He
has iron-gray hair, a smooth face, dark
eyes, and fine features. Justice Field,
Of California, sits next to him. With
a high brow, bald on the top of his
mead, dark hair, that curls in small
ringlets, he wears plain gold ring on
the little finger of his left hand, and
glasses, and surveys the distinguished
practitioners before him as if studying
their characters. He is probably the
Youngest member of the Bench.
Next in order is Justice Miller, OF Iowa,
who is a fleshy man, with a smooth
face and a comfortable double chin.
Justice Clifford, Of Maine, comes next,
who, in the absence Of Justice Nelson,
OF New York, occupies the seat directly
at Judge Chase's left Justice Clifford
is also fleshy. He has dark hair,
mixed with gray, deep set eyes, and a
smooth face, with mouth drawn down
at the corners.
Chief Justice Chase has a dis.
tinguifhcd cast of countenance. He
is almost bald, having only little fine
silken silver hair about the neck, and
looks az if it might have curled in
sunny ringlets when he was a child.
He has Straight nose, small mouth,
with thin lips, small, closely trimmed
side whiskers, bushy eyebrows, pale
face, and grand manner that become
his office He has occupied many po-
stions of Importance, being twice Gov
ernor Of Ohio, twice United States
Senator, resigning the second time the
udN allcr ne tOOh HIS seat W ueCoine
Secretary Of the Treasury, where he
distinguished himself as a fnancier, in.
Producing the greenback system and
managing the Treasury during the
darkest period ofthe war. And finally,
he was appointed Chief Justice
by late the president Lincoln, to fill the
vacancy caused by the death OF Roger
B fancy. At his right, Justice Swayne,
OF Ohio, sits. He is large, heavy set
man, with a smooth face and dark eyes
and hair. Next him is Justice David
Davis, OF Illinois, the nominee of the
Labor Convention at Columbus, for the
Presidency. He has light hair, mixed
with gray, and fringe of whiskers OF the
same color around his face, deep,set
blue eyes, a straight nose and a full
indication OF strength Of will. Justice
Strong o. Pennsylvania, is last. He
has a high brow. gray hair and smooth
face. As we listen to him reading de
cision, in clear, melodious voice, we
turn IN look Mt the LAWYERS practicine