Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-10-09
MMiseellaneous. q
Chief Justice Taney.

~ rom paper read before the Albany Institute
Jan - -, by Isaac Edwards. Es,ll
Soon after his admission TO the bar
he was chosen from Calvert county. a
member of the House of Delegates,
the popular branch in the legislature
of Maryland. lie was elected as a
tederalist. and served with credit in
the session commencing in November.
1873. He was a candidate for re-el.c.
ton the next year, and failed on ac-
count of the decisive change than oc-
curing in the politics of tue State.
Ims defeat was probably one of the
m9St ns le tor'qPefe e fos osyfet5 h& 20 tie
practice of law, choosing Frederick
city as the field of his labors, because
II seemed to offer better opportunities
to a young man than larger city like
Baltimore. His choice was wise one
1t gave him pleasant home in beau
tiful valley, in the midst of a prosper
Gus community; it gave him opportu-
mites for study and 4 fair share OF
business ; it brought him into close and
intimate relations with the whole body
of the people and this in turn gave TO
him the strength which every wise
hearted man derives from the con-
sciousness that he is working in his
measure for the common welfare. lie
was not Indifferent TO his own interests.
but diligent and studious. After a
practice here of about five years. like
a sensible man as he was, he married
him wife, Anne Phebe Charlton Kew,
sister Of the author of the "Star
Spangled Banner of family residing
in the immediate neighborhood on q
plantation, owning slaves, without for
getting the nature of the African or
his interests. Let me say here, lest l
forget it, that Mr.. Taney inherited
slaves as property, and mdnumitted
them. This marriage was a happy
'one. II was cemented by a genuine
affection TO the end of fife, and it was
embellished through more than forty
years by beautiful courtesy, in spite
of the fact that the husband was a de-
voted Catholic and the wife a devOut
Protestant.
Mr.. fancy rose steadily in his pro-
fession. and was employed in many
important causes. He acted as coun-
sci for Gen. Wilkinson, tried before q
military court at Frederick, in 1911,
the general being, at the time, under
cloud in consequence of the part ne
played in connection with Aaron Burr.
The charges were not sustained, and
his sword was restored to the accused,
rather against the public judgment.
Some time after this Tin March, 1879,
we find him engaged in the defense of
Martin Gruber, a Methodist minister
from Pennsylvania, indicted for at
tempting TO incite an insurrection
among the slaves. In the course o!
his sermon this minister had used these
words: "But are there not slaves in
our country! Do not sweat and blood
and tears say there are The voice OF
my brothers blood crieth is it not q
reproach TO man TO hold articles OF
of liberty and independence in one
hand and bloody whip in the other
while negro stands and trembles be.
fore him, with his back cut and bleed
ing?
1--WE Pennsylvaaians think il
strange, and it seems curious to reat
the prints or newspapers from some
States and find-For sale, a plantation
house and lot, horses, cows, sheep, ana
hogs; also lot Of negroes, men, toomer
and children, some Uery raludble ones
also a per in such and such church
In this inhuman traffic and cruel trade
/ the most tender ties are torn asunder
the nearest connections broken"
The counsel's conduct of the defence
was maLly and noble. He did not at
| tempt TO take back the words of hi.
client he could not do that, for the,
had been braveIy spoken, in the oper
light of day, to large and mixed au
dience. He therefore justified them
before a jury o: shareholders. ii,
maintained the right of his client Il
entertain and to express his convic
tions freely. on all moral and religiou
questions. He went further he NOR
than justified the words charged in tn
indictment. He spoke with abhor
renee of those reptiles who live b,
trading in human flesh, and enricl
themselves by tearing the HUSBAND
from the wife, the infant from the bo
som Of the mother" IA hard neces