National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-10-14
THE LATE CHIEF JUSTICE CHASE.

THE LATE CUIEP JUSTICE CHASE
Action OF the Bar Of the Unitcd States SUI
prcme Court-Address by Hon. Revcrdy
Johnson.
meeting Of the members OF the bar was held
yesterday noon In the Supreme Court room TO
take suitable action in regard to the death OF
Chief Justice Chase; Hon. James NJ. Carlisle In
the chair. The attendance was very large.
Hon. R,yerdy Johnson made the following
address.
Address or Mr.. JOHNSON.
0sntiepsn " The Bdr: Although IL has been
some months since the sad event occurred which
brings US together to-day, our sense Of the great
loss which the court, the bar, and the country
have sustained by the death Of the late Chief
The loss Of any eminent judicial state or,cer
Ia always greatly to be lsmented, but the death
Of the presiding Judge Of the Supreme Court Of
pasuav moIe spre% T sS iapss III sn q,
that high tribunal Is so vast and comprehensive,
embracing as u does questions which involve
Sss Ss s sSs e
aliens and our citizens, hut more or less the re-
spective rights Of the States and Of the Unlted
states, and which may at times affect our rela-
tons with foreign Governments, that the death
OF one Of It's members Ii calculated to oil the
public mind with more than ordinary sollcitudc.
The tribunal Is to pass upon the acts OF the
other two departments OF the Government when
cases Involving them are properly under judg-
ment, and to decide authoritatlvely whether
they nave transcribed their legitimate powers.
IL Ia also TO adjudicate all questions OF prize and
maritime law; to construe treaties aud all ques-
tions OF puDllc law that may be before them, and
70 decide conclusively the limits Of their own
uaestiSns n commsIcs ' isr when Sres more
or less, not only our own commercial community,
but In many Instances that class In other coun-
tries.
Il il very Obvious, then, that to a proper and
enlightened discharge Of these several functions
an extensive range Of legal knowledge--consti-
tutional, domestic and foreign-is absolutely
necessary, ~ Is also q liked conviction In the
public mind that these qualifications are con.
necied with strict impartality and perfect In
tegrity. II Ia to the honor Of our country that
these qualities have been Illustrated from the
organization Of the court to the present time.
IL would be out OF place to refer to the ass0-
ciate justices who have constantly adorned the
bench aud contributed so much TO challenge for
II the respect and reverence Of the country, and
TO secure for It q reputation which Is Ne firmly
established abroad as II Ia NJ home.
As our late loss was that Of the presiding
Judge, II Is sufficient to pay passing tribute 10
the memory Of those who preceded him as well
rs to that Of the late chief Il may with truth be
said that no nation In the world has produced
sSs and ussSS' saa Jay rRs 81
Marshall and fancy, covering so many years Of
service, do more and more, as time rolls on,
command the admiration 81 the profession and
so brief that the lawyer readily remembers the
few Judgments which he pronounced.
The ability Of these Judgments, the full knowl-
edge which they display, and the admirable po-
liticAl style In which they were rendered, filed
but win wonder. For many wears he Nad ceased
TO practice the profcssou, deyoting himself al.
most cxcluslyely to the political contests of the
day, His Immediate Inbors before his elevation
10 the bench were, 1t Is true, excessively ar,in-
Qua. and eyluced The greatest ability, hut they
borc little or no Analogy TO the subjects which
no hai 10 treat when he became the head Of me
tribunal. IL was surprising, therefore, that Al
me very threahold Of mis- duties he exhibited a
kne vietiqe entirely adequate to their able and
satisfactory discharge. The occasion Will NOT
permit me to refer particularly TO any OF his
f.s shsn ,s nas1x him Sy sSoss
opinions. he proved himself In all respects the
canal on the Rreat men who preceded him: and
maj his uniform klndpess and courtesy TO ali Inc
members OF the professiou comm aided their
esIeem and regard.
word Or two more, II leaving him Is a Judge we
refer 10 his private life we flnd him every way
worthy OF commentator. As Q friend he was
constant and sIncere: IS q parent watchful and
afiectIonste: and no persons will feel his loss
more deeply than his imme tinte friends and his
domestic circle. Their consolation Is TO be found
In the excellent opinion entertained OF him by
the assurance that he had died a. he had lived,
Christisn.
Mr. Carllale chairman OF the committee on
resolutions, reported the following, which were
adopted;
Salmon Portland Chase, sixth Chief Justice of
the last term OF this court, the members OF the
bar and other oficers Of the court nave az
sembled 10 testlfy their profound regret al the
event and their hiRh respect for his memory.