The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-07-18

non. cannon L. CnoSc, renders his
tory of our former Chief Justices of con-
siderable interest, and hence we append
brief biography of each of the distin-
guished jurists who have filed the e1-
alted position, in the order in which they
succeeded to the office. There have been,
in all, seven Chief Justices. The first
to hold the Office was John Jay, native
of New York, and graduate of Kings
now Columbia) College.
After a short but successful career at
the bar, he was elected a member from
New York of the first Congress. Though
one of the youngest members, being
then only in his twenty-ninth year, he
was placed upon the committee to draft
an address to the people of Great Britain,
and the address reported and adopted
was from his pen. The first constitu-
ton of the State of New York, adopted
in 1777, was mainly the work Of Mr..
Jay, who was appointed the first Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court organized
under it, Livingston being at the same
time appointed Chancellor. Jay was at
this time but thirty-two years of age.
A year later he resigned, having been
elected q member OF: Congress. Suisse
quently he was sent on an important
mission to Spain, and while abroad, in
conjunction with Franklin, Adams and
others, he negotiated the treaty whereby
Great Britain recognized the indepen-
dence of the United States. After the
adoption of the Federal Constitution,
and upon the very day Of the approval
of the Judiciary act of 17S9-24th Of
September-Mr. Jay was nominated by
President Washington, and confirmed by
the Senate, to the Chief Justiceship. In
1794 he was sent to England as an envoy
extraordinary to negotiate an important
treaty. During the year of his absence
he was elected Governor of New York,
and upon his return, resigned tho Office
of Chief Justice. He was twice reelected
Governor, and at the close of his third
term in 1901, at the age of fifty-six, re-
solved to retire from public life. Shortly
after he was nominated by President Ad-
ans, and confirmed by the Senate, to his
former position as Chief Justice, then
vacant by the resignation Of Oliver Ellis
worth. But he declined the position
and retired to his farm at Bedford.
Upon the resignation Of Mr.. Jay, in
1795, John Rutledge, of South Carolina,
was nominated by President Washing
ton as the second Chief Justice of the
United States. He had taken an active
part in our revolutionary struggle, oecu.
pying the position of COMMANDMENTS
Chief and President of the colony OF
South Carolina. In 1889, Mr.. Rutledge
was appointed an Associate Justice of the
United States Supreme Court, but re-
signed the next yeaI without ever having
taken his seat. In 1891 he was elected
Chief Justice of tho Supreme Court OF
his State. His appointment to the Chief
Justiceship of the United States was re-
ceived by the Federal party with aston
ishment and dismay. The treaty negoti-
ated with England by Mr.. Jay had ex-
cited storm of indignation in various
parts of the country, and among
its strongest opponents was Mr.. But
ledge. Only two days before the ap-
pointment reached him he had made q
violent speech at Charleston in which he
denounced, with passionate earnestness,
the treaty and the leaders Of the then
dominent Federal party. Mr.. Rutledge
accepted the appointment, and reached
Philadelphia in time to take his seat as
Chief Justice ut the commencement OF
the August term, 1875. On the meet
ing of Congress the December follow
ing, the Senate refused to confirm the
appointment. He became insane shortly
Il L
after and died in 1900.
Upon the refusal of the Senate to con-
firm Mr.. Rutledge, President Washing
ton nominated William Gushing, oi
Massachusetts,, and he was confirmed.
Mr.. Gushing was appointed an Associate
Justice of the Supreme Court at the time
that Mr.. Jay was appointed Chief JUS
tice, and had acted as Chief Justice dur,
ing the absence of Mr.. Jay in England.
He now, however, declined to accept
the Presidency of the court, preferrine
to fill his position rs Associate Justice
which he did until his death.
Oliver Ellsworth, of Connecticut, war
nominated as Chief Justice and was con
frmed upon the declination of judge
Gushing, in 1876. He had already
served as member of the Supreme
Court Of Errors Of Connecticut, by rea
son Of his position as one of the uppe1
house Of the Legislature, and had held
the offices of Judge of the superior
Court. and of United States Senator
In 1899 Mr.. Ellsworth was sent as Min
lister to France, thongh stin retaining
his Chief Justiceship. His health hav
ing, however, failed, in 1901 he sen
over his resignation. Hedied in 1907 a
the age of sixty-two.
John Marshall, the fifth Chief Justice
was appointed in the year 1901 by Presi
dent Adams. He had previously beel
rendered the positions of Attorney
General, Of Chief Justice, and Of Min
lister to France, all of which he had de
| clined. On the refusal, however, of tn