The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1872-12-27
THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.


or judicial. 1t is composed of {
chief justice and eight associates
and is the connecting link between
the courts of this country and ths
aristocratic courts of Europe. The
, heavy wig is discarded, but the
tgown retained.
Its sessions were formerly held in
the basement of the capitol, in what
is now the law library, but in 1868
when the United States Senate
changed their chamber in the north
wing of the Capitol, the Supreme
Court took possession of the old
Senate chamber, where ali sessions
of the court have since been held
The floor of the room is in the
shape of semi-circle, and the cell
ing is in the shape of a half dome.
Next the circumference of the room
: are seats for spectators, while with
in an inner semi-circle, separated
from them by an iron railing, are
desks and chairs for the members OF
the bar. Behind large desk, on 8
raised platform, al point which
would be about the center of the
completed circle, is the chair of the
chief Justice. He sits facing the
bar, while to the right and lett OF
him sit the associate justices in the
order of the seniority of their ap-
pointment. The oldest associate,
Judge Nelson, sits on his right,
while the next in antiquity, Judge
Clifford, sits on his lett. The ex-
treme left is occupied by Judge
Bradley. The extreme right is sup
ported by Judge Strong, the official
senior of Judge Bradley by one
month. Above the chair of the
chief justice brass or bronze eagle
spreads its wings and eIongates its
neck with q fierce or frig htened
look. Above the eagle is q clock
which never strikes, Tor such uproar
Is not permissible in this solemn
and sacred court, hut precisely when
the hands of that clock point silent
ly to the hour of eleven a. m, a
procession is silently ushered in at
one side of the chamber by the mar
shall of the Supreme Court. 1t is
composed of nine figures in black
gowns. The members of the bar
rise reverentially to their feet, and
a young man ut the other end of the
chamber, with q military air and
loud voice, announces, "The Hon.,
the Chief Justice and the Associate
Justices of the United States" The
procession then walks around, head
ed by Chief Justice Chase, the assoc
ciates i'll the order of seniority, as
follows: Justices Nelson, Clifford,
Swayne, Miller. Davis, Field, Strong
and Bradley. When the end men
have reached their seats all bow pro-
foundry, the members of the bar
in return bow sOlemnly, and the
supreme court seats itself. The
crier next opens the court and the
chief-jastice states the business on
hand, which is proceeded with.
Monday is opinion day. Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday are argu-
ment days. Friday is motion day,
and Saturday is holiday.
The supreme court has had five
different chief justices, The first,
John Jay, of New York, was ap-
pointed by and with the consent of
the Senate, September, 1889. He
resigned to accept the mission to
st. James, to which court he was
accredited by President Washing
ton, in 1894.
After the resignation of Jay, J John
RuGlege of Sonth Carolina was
nominated during the recess of Con.
gress, and presided at the August
term of the courtin 1895. His nom
ination was, however, rejected Big
the Senate. VIM. Gushing of Mas
sachusetts, at that time an associate
justice of the supreme court, was
nominated and confirmed as chief
Justice. He, however, declined to
serve, and was succeeded by Oliver
Ellsworth, of Connecticut, who was
appointed March 4th, 1896. In 1899
he was appointed by President
Adams minister to France, and re-
signed his position as chief Justice.
Jno. Marshall, at that time Secre-
tary of State, was appointed to the
position by President Adams on the
3lst of January, 1901, and presided
at the February term In 1901. Mar
shall was Virginian 10y birth. He
declined the Attorney Generalship
and the mission to France rendered
to him by Washington. He was
the author of "Marshall's Life of
Washington" and the "HistOry of
the American Colonies" works of
well deserved repute. His name
will ever be revered by lawyers as
among the brightest ornaments that
have adorned the American bench.
His successor was Roger B. Tan.
ey, of Maryland, then ATTORNEY
General in the Cabinet of President
Jackson. He had been previously
nominated by Jackson as Secretary
of the Treasury, and also as an As
sociate Justice of the Supreme
fynYIuf hE1k -.
rejected by the Senate. He contin-
ued ae chief justice until his death,
which occurred. on the 18th of Ocio-
Der, 1864. He is noIed for having
pronounced the opinion of the
court in the bred Scott case.
A marble bust of each Chief JUS
tice who has passed away has been
placed in the Supreme Court room,
save one of fancy. There is one OF
Rutlege there, although his nomina-
ton was rejected by the Senate.
As you enter the main door of the
courtroom, on your left is the
bust of Jay, and beyond that one
of Ellsworth. On the right are
Rutledge and Marshall. Let us
hope that Taney's may be added,
and that when Chase shall be no
more, his also may be there.
The history of Salmon P. Chase
is too well known to need comment
here. His career, whether as Gov
ernor, Senator or Cabinet officer,
has been at all times illustrious, and
to him we owe what there is wise in
that financial policy which carried
US safely through the war.
Judge Nelson is eighty years of
age, and has been constantly on the
bench for fifty years. He was on
the circuit, or supreme bench of the
State of New York from 1923 till
1915, when he was appointed TO his
present position by President Tyler.
He is becoming infirm, and has not
attended the sittings of the court
during the last year. 1t is probable
that he will retire under the provi-
sions of the law. which allows q
judge, seventy years of age, who
has served ten years, to retire under
full pay for the remainder of life.
Judge Nathan Clifford, of Maine,
was born in New Hampshire, in
1903. He served in Congress, from
Maine, from 1889 till 1913, and was
afterwards Attorney General and
Minister to Mexico. He was ap.
pointed to the supreme bench by
President Buchanan in 1853. He is
the heaviest man on the bench, tilt
ing the scale at three hundred and
and seventy pounds. Judge Swayne
of Ohio, a profound lawyer and
good man, is also of goodIy size, but
is outmeasured round the girth by
Judge Davis, who ranks next to
Judge Clifford in way of size.
Judge Davis is known to all as the
friend of Lincoln, by whom he was
appointed. Judge Miller, of Iowa,
was also appointed by Lincoln. He
was born in Kentucky, in 1916.
Judge Field, of California, was
horn in E0unecticut- and In fiftv.six