The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-01-31

acquired all those special legal accomplishments
50 necessary 10 lawyer the Pacific slope.
and ne Is probably better acquainted with tho mixed
system Of law-Spanish. Mexican and Americxn--
which prevails there than any man Ia the country.
As Cnlef justice OF MS State he did much 80 sustain
the dignity OF the Bench and decisions OF any state
Couri have been universally respected than hia
NO one better understood those great and winch
have furnished SO much matter Tor litigation both
the local courts and the supreme Court of the United
States, and so much his ability and character
respected by men OF all parties that when the Pacific
slope was accorded Judge on the supreme Beach, the
whole California delegation IN Congress united to ask
bis appointment Al the time OF his elevation 10 his
present position Judge Field was loriy-sx wears OF
age, and no has already proved himself the peer Of
any member Of the Court he delivered the opinion
OF the Court In the Test oath cases, OF his
dissenting opinions notably IN legal tender the
connscaton cases, have attracted much attention The
solid basis while Judge Field the Bench OF
state and principally by decisions IN which he de-
lvered the OPT mons OF the Court One OF his late de-
cstons IN the Supreme Court touching these old ques
tons led 10 rather remarkable consequences. 10
January 1865 he was made the recipient Of An "in.
iernal machine" on The inside lid OF which was
October ii. 1864 Judge Field this morning decided
the Pueba case IN favor o! the city. The Puebla
involving the virtue OF titles to property
given by the city OF San Francisco, aud which
c,ded by Judge Field in favor of tho city in lses,
thereby dispossessng large number of spectators aud
adventures who hal occupied the land 'squatcrs
WILLIAM STRONG.
Judge Strong is, IKE Thaddeus Stevens one OF the
few Yankees transplanted to Pennsylvania soil who
were able To take root He was born IN Somcrs,
Conn in 1905, and received his elementary education
at Plalnneid academy. He was graduated from Yao
College in 1928, and subsequently he taught schooi
both in his native state aud IN New Jersey. While
engaged teaching he studied law 1892 he was
admitted to the bar In Philadc phia With true Yankee
courage he selected tho Duchest OF the Dutch
ties in the State the OF his legal trumphs and
began the practice of his profession IN Reading Berks
county. He has been all his lie lawyer, either
at tho bar or on tho bench, his political
this and nothing more. The books Tell
us that Judge Strong. after retiring from Congress
sumed nus profession and continued In the practice
unit 1897, when no was elected Judge OF tho Su-
prone Court OF Pennsylvania The only objection to
this statement OF facts is the fact itself that the Penn
sylvana lawyer who happens TO be elected to Con-
gross nevcr suspends his practice and however the
interests Of the country may suffer by his absence
from the Capitol no ~ always at home during court
week" The old county OF Herks was a county to dc.
mand just snch devotion from Mr. strong. and tho
esteem in which he held Is proof that accorded
II gladly, while his opinions In tho State Reports
bear ample testimony to ihe depth OF his learn
ing and the extent OF his experience. No opinions
evnce more ability ripper judgment than the OPINIONS
OF Juge Strong scattered through the Pennsylvania
Reports between 1857 and 1868 In the latter year
Judgc strong resigned his position the Supreme
Bench OF his State and two years later In 1870 Pres
idcnt Grant appoin him justice of
Supreme Court OF the United states Ho is judicial
ookng man, and his head Is generally regarded as
tho most intellectual OF any OF which hold tho
brains OF the Court Judge Strong 10 never heard of
either IN politics or society and The Presidential aues
ton with him, as with Judge Clifford. Will be only
Issue OF fact TO be decided according the settled rules
Of law and OF evidence.
SAMUEL MILLER
Justice Miller Is one OF the Justices OF the Supreme
Court whom people are apt to forget being tho
bench Al ALL He s ior all that good lawyer, anu
something more than TAR specimen OF tho Western
judge. BY birth he is a kentuck ian, and
doctor, but he practiscd medicine only few years
before turning hts attention 70 the law In years he
Is few months older than Judge Fold. and he began
his career IN Iowa about the same time that FIed
drove down his stakes in California. Mr Miller, how.
ever, was not poiiticsn though holding the strong
est possible political sentiments. and until appointed
to tho Supreme Bench IN 1862 by President Lincolr
he uniformly declined Office, and TEN ptcl
by offers Of Office. This 10 very much to his credit
when Is remembered That as early as lS4S he II
favor NJ emancipation, and removed from Kentucky
Iowa account Of the course he HAD take upon Thu
question In Iowa he always a leader In tho re
publican party, aud an active politician. though no
In politics. Ho Is man OF ready opinions, but poll
tican who kept out Of politics not likely 10 be
partisan She bench, and Judge Miller, thong
strong republican Is tree from any such impu