The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-26
interesting Biographical Sketches
ofthe Mon Who Sit in Judg-
ment on Our Case.
sCLoPIs, ITAJUBA, sTAEMPFLI.
The Herald Correspondents Interviews with
the Count, the Baron and the Citizen.
ADAMS AND COCKBURN
Sketch of Prof Favrot, Secretary to the
Tribunal of Arbitration.

Below we give long and interesting sketches Of
Count Sclopis of Italy, the President of the Geneva
Court of Arbitration; Baron d'Itajuba, OF Brazil,
and Citizen Staempni, OF switzerland, the three
gentlemen associated with Sir Alexander COckburn
and Charles Francis Adams, and composing the
Geneva Tribunal which is to sit in judgment on the
Alabama claims These biographical sketches
win prove of interest at the present time,
and as they have been cleaned from notes and in
formation obtained from the members OF the Court
themselves specially for publication in the columns
OF the HERALD they can be fully relied upon. the
interviews between the Italian, Brazilian and Swiss
arbtrators and the HERALD correspondents will
enable the reader at once to that these gentle
men have made a close and impartial study of the
presented to them for decision and as the peo
pie Of the United States claim nothing but justice at
their hands, they may rest fully assured that its
full measure will be hOnorably and sarly dealt out
Count sclopis, the Italian Representative,
President OF the Geneva Tribunal.
TURIN, Italy, May 81, 1872
The President OF the Court of Arbitration ap-
pointed to assemble at Geneva is Count Paolo
FEDERICO Sclopis di Salerano, the Commissioner
appointed by the King OF Italy.
Count Scopis is native OF the city OF Turin.
Born in the year 179S he has attained his seventy
fourth year. He is the son OF a celebrated jurlst
the Count Alessandro Sclops. The mother was a
Countess Gabrielle Peyretti oil COndove. The
father has left behind the record OF an accomplished
gentleman, and 1t is said Of his writings that they
bore evidence of greater intimacy than possessed
by any of his contemporaries with the hidden
beauties of Latin classics. The mother, belonging to
q renowned family, is represented likewise as a
lady of high culture, uniting all the traditional
qualities of her sex with masculine mind. The
son had, therefore, the advantages of home
afording early and ample opportunities to lay the
foundation for superior education.
FEDERICO Sclops studied Jurisprudence at the
University OF his native city, and already at the
early age of twenty, received his diploma doctor
at-aw. About one year later he was admitted to
the bar and shortly afterwards accepted an APP
pointment in the Department of the Minister OF
Interior. Prosper Balbo, man of great attain
ments at that period at the head OF the Minis
try; he recognized in young Sclopis rare talents,
combined with an immense aptitude for business,
and took the warmest interest in bringing out the
young man. 1t was under these auspices that
Count Scopis became associated with men who,
under the guidance OF Cavour have in later life
rendered such eminent services to the Italian
cause.
In the year 1921 King Charles Albert came to the
chrome OF Piedmont, Turin being then the capital
thereof. That sovereign, while Crown Prince, was
supposed to hold views highly favorable to the
LIBERAL party; but from the very moment he came
into power, he exposed that party to course Of
bitter disappointment. Charles Albert threw him.
self into Of the clerlcals and deserted the
ranks of the liberals. For time the latter were
thus deprived Of all hope OF success FEDERICO
Sclops shared but little in the common feeling of
disappointment In his judgment the proper time
for action had not then been reached; the mind OF
the people had not yet matured; the country was
lily prepared to appreciate the boon impaired by
liberal institutions. He did not consider the cause
OF liberty irrevocably lost. Notwithstanding his
extreme youth he knew well how to exercise
patience, and for long time Scopis maintained
the attitude of a silent and patient observer He
did not interrupt his studies and thus successfully
paved the way for future action. During that
period he continued in search OF that knowledge
which qualified him afterwards to take promi-
nent place in the ranks OF the pioneers OF Italian
unity.
The first fruits OF his labors reached the public in
the year 1885, when he published history of the
ancient legislation Of Piedmont This led to the
publication of still more important work, and in
1910 appeared the first volume OF the "History OF
Italian Legislation.n That work revealed the
authors mind; it showed the patient inquirer,
the interchangeable investigator. Sclopis gave EVIL
dence that from the very outset he had fully under
stood the duties and responsibilities devolving on
the historian With the irmness OF a master hahd
Count Sclopis has traced conscientiously the PIC
ture OF the progress OF legislation from the down
fall OF the Roman empire TO the period when the
Napoleonc dynasty succumbed. All the great
social facts which occurred during that time are
exposed and demonstrated with minuteness de-
noting the acute senstiveness OF fine critical mind
Truhulness prevails throughout his narratives, and
one OF the reviewers OF the works Of Count Scopis
n q n a n
serted that the work embodles the true philosophy
OF the history Of Italian legislation"
The subject OF Roman law necessarily occupies
the main portion OF the book. After demonstrating
the origin OF the law, as well as its development
M. Sclop.s discloses rich treasure OF researches
relative TO the period OF the invasion OF the barba
rians and the subsequent consolidation OF the en-
pire in western Europe and the countries where
the Roman law was in force. M. Sclops maintains
that to all those who have studied history from the
Middle Ages down to modern tmes 1t must become
apparent that the influence OF Roman law although
tons has always worked in an opposite direction,
and proved injurious to the liberty OF the people.
The provisions OF Roman law have furnished at all
times and under all circumstances to princes and
sovefeigns the means whereby TO crush the resist
ance offered by local or Individual power no
matter whether that resistance emanated from the
people or whether 1t was generated In the castle.
Those who have handied the law, It Is true,
action has had the tendency at the same time to
undermine the Independence OF communities. 1t
has done more-it has destroyed local liberty:
placed sefgovernment out OF the question, and
while bringing a universal decay, We arrive at
an equality with despotism. This argument Is by
means arbitrary; 1t is the natural result OF deep
study and the outpourngs as IT WERE OF an anxious
and aborious inquiry into facts. Roman law was
codi1ed under the rule OF the empire and, however
perfect in very many points, 1t is impossible to
overlook the fact that great care-special care
was taken to make provision for the humiliation OF
all political Independence OF local institutions.
While subecting all pers0ns-individually and col
lectively-to level Of equality, the Roman law pro-
vides for the destruction Of all and every autonomy
without discriminating local or individual interests
The natural consequences arising thererom appear
toerably clear The Italian race and likewise that
portion OF the Saxon race living under the influence
OF Roman law have always been found willing
readily to submit TO the yoke OF an absolute
government.
IL IL further shown on undoubted evidence,
notably by the school OF historans OF which Savlgny
was the head and 'front.' that the functions OF Roman
law mad never been stopped or interrupted, not
withstandng the dreadful vicissitudes 70 which
european countries have been subjected at various
periods
Count Scopis, In his works, had limited himself
70 the TASK OF depicting the contrast between the
results Obtained from the action OF various systems