New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-10-01

rose TO speak he was obliged to fold his arms over
his breast and press them firmly against his body
His knees trembled so much that he could hardly
stand upon his feet. But. by strong effort OF the
will he kept possession Of his mind and made fai
argument in the case, though IN tremuious ana
disoordant voice verdict for his client scarcely
consoled him for his timidity, which seemed 10 MN
little better than absolute cowardice.
In 1919 after he had obtained a conspicuous posi-
ton at the bar Mr.. fancy counsel for Method
list minister named Jacob Gruher, who had been IN
dicted for preaching sermon tending to incite the
slaves to rebellion His defense maintained the
right of perfect freedom of speech. He contende"
that there was no law which forbade a man TO nis-
cuss the question of Slavery or TO express ms op,
ions upon il without restraint HIS Client sa'u N
Taney had indeed spoken with abhofehco u
those reptiles who live by trading in human nesn
and enrich themselves by tearing the husoaiiu i,oi"
the wife, and the infant from thelbosOm of the mother
This was the head and front of his Offending pu''
argued Mr.. Taney. Gruher had not only the nght 10
say this, but he himself was prepared TO MAINTAIN
the same principle and to the same language IN
the tempe of Justice and before the ministers OF the
law Slavery is a blot upon our national character,
and every lover of freedom hopes for its efiectual
removal The verdict of the slaveholding jury was
! in favor of Mr.. Taney's client
Many pages Of this volume are devoted to the elu-
cidaton Of the circumstances attending the removal
of the deposits by Mr. fancy while Secretary OF the
Treasury under President Jackson, and to defense
of his decision in the celebrated bred Scott case as
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United
States. The grounds taken by the biographer are
stated with ability and eanestness, but the validity
of his argument will not fail to be called in question
| by the intelligent lovers of freedom although the
occasion which gave rise to the decision OF the Chlef
Justice has happily passed away.
The memoir closes with description of the liter
ary habits of Chief Justice fancy, summing up bis
life with pregnant brevity, and leaving Viva lln-
preston of a dignifed and honorable old age
| Chief Justice fancy was constant reader 10 the
end of his life of the current literature OF the day
He has often talked to me, with great satisfaction,
of Macaulay's History Of England and CampbelIs
Lives Of the Chief Justices and Lord Chancellors
of England. ! found him, soon after 1t appeared,
reading Lord Campbels disqusition on Snake
speare. He laughed. and said: Lord Campbell has
| failed to convince himself that Shakespeare was an
attorneys clerk. but he has convinced me- Shake
speare was favorite author of his and therefore he
readily entered into theopics of Lord Campbels ar
gument. Though not what might be called novel
reader he nevertheless read novels to the last The
British Quarterlies' and BlackwOod' he read with
singular interest Newspapers, all sides Of poll
| tics, he had read to him daily. Whenever friends
came to see him. he to the very last inquired about
| everything that was going on. In fact he looked
every day with undated interest over the great
spectacle of the world and scanned all the dongs OF
man with profound insight and far-seeing forecast
| He was emphatcally an actor in the drama OF me-
But the curtain falls. On the 18th of October 1861,
in the Ssth year of his age he died. lie was buried
| by the side of his mother"