Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-07-29
A LETTER FROM JUDGE BLACK.
The Famous Democratic Lawyer and
Politician.

The following letter from Judge
Black, addressed to the editor of the
Times. will be read with general inter
est. Although not intended for publica-
ton no apology is required for the use
here made Of it, for it is not only mod
ell of epistolary composition, as all OF
Judge Blacks letters are, but contains
much matter of public interest, embody-
ing as it does the calm judgment upon
men and things of one whose opinions
his fellow-citizens have learned to hold
in high respect:
HOTEL. CONTINENTAL,
PARIS, June %.
My DEAR SIR:-I have regularly re-
ceived the Times since have been on
this side and through it have learned
all l know about the situation at home.
1 am Informed fully concerning the
nomination at Chicago, and did not need
much information about the character
and history of the candidate there set
up, my personal acquaintance with him
being tolerably full and intimate. The
accounts have of the proceedings at
to the result are provOkingly meagre.
Some letter or editorial of yours upon
the effect of General HaneOck's nOmina-
tiOn was telegraphed and published in
the London and Paris papers several
days ago. No political paper of equal
length has ever given me greater pleas
ure in the reading. You are political
philosopher and your speculatiOns have
somewhat disappointed me by their
soundness and and accuracy. You let
drop an expression in 1868 concerning
General Hancock and his then particular
friends which impressed me with the
notion that you did not admire either
him OF them up to the point of their
merits. l see now that you appreciate
not merely his gallantry and heroism as
a soldier, but those for higher qualities
of mind and heart which go to fern the
character of great ruler in a constitu-
tional government. Your expressed de-
termination to see that General Garfield
shall be defended against all unjust as
PENSIONS upon his personal character is
equally pleasant reading to me, for l
have been his devoted friend for many
years, and l am resolved that l never
will believe that he does not deserve the
affection 1 bestowed upon him. If he
would carry the principles which regu-
late his private life into his public con-
duct he would make the best Chief Mag
istrate we have ever had. But he will
act for the interest of his party, as he
has acted all his lifetime, and that will
require him to take the advice which
Stephens gave to Montpelius in the
buckshot war. l do not know any really
good man who has done and assisted in
doing so many bad things in politics as
General Garfield.
In England, Scotland and ireland /
have learned much that 1 never would
have known without coming abroad; /;
but the desire to return has been grow
ing upon me until it amounts almost to
nostalgia. 1t is pleasant to be here, but
the pleasure is moro than counterbal-
anced by the WEAKNESS of absence from
home. Nevertheless, cannot get away
from Liverpool before the last of August
and may possibly be detained even long
er. 1 may be persuaded to stay here
until after the 4th for the great dinner
then to come off, but unless can get
security and safe pledges against being
called out to make public exhibition of
myself, 1 will shake the dust off my feet
as a testimony against the city and go to
Switzerland-'fly to the mountains and
tarry not in all the plain" or 1 may go
up to Dresden and see Gen. Cass, the
best and truest of American Democrats.
< am very truly yours,
J. S. BLACK.