The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-09-05

tcHcuiSul Vi clay W lake ltS uiSIlt u
the better world, was not limited to
the loved ones that surrounded his
bedside, or to his immediate neigh.
bors, but it extended over the limits
of our own State and the entire Ma
ton. Swiftly upon the news of his
death, words of tenderest sympathy
were telegraphed to his bereaved
family, and on the next morning the
leading journals of the country, ire
spective of party, were filled with
words of eloquent tribute to the
memory of the dead man.
Why was it that for DAYS the
press of the country contained such
lengthy accounts of his sickness and
final dissolution !? Why was it that
people thronged from different Sec
tions of the country, from the great
commercial centres, from prominent
points throughout this and other
States, to mingle their tears with
those of his bereaved family over his
grave? Why those tender mes 3ages
from distinguished men and angelic
women! Why was York in mourn
ing and her streets thronged with
people who stood with bowed heads
and sorrowing hearts as the funeral
procession passed by =? 1t was not
simply because he was a great states
man, who had occupied high official
positions, both judicial and political
in times of great public peril not
alone because he was a great lawyer
who had shed such brilliant lustre
upon the Jurisprudence of his coun.
try; not alone because he had &c
quired vast stores of knowledge
which his memory held with most
tenacious grip; not alone because
he was a most skillful controversial.
ist, "a foeman worthy of the steel
of any one who chose to enter the
lists. 1t was because, added to his
genius, his learning, his unrivaled
eminence as a jurist, he was great,
grand, honest, good man. 1t was
because his kindly nature, his genial
disposition, his remarkable power as
a conversationalist made him the
centre of every social circle in which
he entered, and over which he WELD
ed the power of an enchanter, she'd
ding his influence over all, only tC
please, crafty, and ennoble, and
leaving no withering touch behind
Since his death, so many eloquent
tributes have been paid to his mem,
ory By the press, the pulpit and the
bar, that very little is lef: to be said
about him. 1t is pre-eminently fit
however, that here in the county
where he was born, in the town
where he lived so long, in the court
where he practiced so many years as
a successful lawyer and over which
he presided as an able, dignitied
impartial and Just Judge, that prop
er action be taken, and fitting words
spoken, to show to the world our ap
probation of his splendid talents, hi,
great learning, his profound wisdom
and manly worth.
OF his great reputation as law
yer and jurist it is not necessary
that anything should be said here
for it is known of all men. His fame
as such, is recorded in the judicia
decisions of the Supreme Court o
this State, in his opinions as Attor
ney General of the United States
and in his splendid forensic efforts
before the Supreme Court of the
United States.
As a skillful controversialist he
was dangerous antagonist to any
one, and had he lived in the days Of
DR.. Samuel Johnson, that distin-
guished man might well have said
there was another person besides
Lord Thurlow, for whom he would
have made preparation for discus
sion.
Indeed there were many points OF
resemblance between DR.. Johnson
and Judge Black. They were both
men of large physical proportions,
of extraordinary intellectual power,
of strong convictions, of stubborn
integrity of character, of great learn
ing, and skilled in the act of dispu-
tation. Who that has read Boswell's
life of Johnson and who knew Judge
Black well, will not be struck with
the points of character common to
both. Who that has read the earn
est, strong prayers of Johnson will
not be impressed with the similarity
to them Of that uttered by our de-
parted friend just before his death,
when he begged to be relieved from
his pain and misery and invoked
the Divine blessing upon his fam
lily.
He was familiar with the whole
field of English Literature, and no
flower that was worthy of notice was
passed by unplucked. He not only
knew what was good In literature,
but could use it most aptly when
occasion required it. 1t was said by
Sir Walter Scott. the wizard of the
north, of himself, that he never for
got any fact or circumstance which
he desired to remember. but that he
could treasure it in his brain, Just as
papers could be placed in pigeon
holes and brought forth when need
ed. Such also was the remarkable
memory of Judge Black. His wit
was of the keenest order, and so va
ried was his learning and so subtle
was his intellectual power, that had
he lived in the Elizabetban age, the
most splendid era in English Litera-
ture, when Shakespeare and Bacon
and Raleigh fourished, or among
the wits of Queen Anne's time, or in
the days of Johnson and Goldsmith
and Burke, he would have ranked
as the peer of any of them. Thad-
deus Stevens once said to me, and
that too. at time when they were
not on very intimate terms, that
Judge Black is one of the strongest
writer's of our rugged Anglo-Saxon
that we have"
Judge Black was not only great
man intellectually. but he was great
physically. As Theodore Parker
said of Daniel Webster, he was a ma
tive king; and if the coal beavers on
tho docks If 7 oudop fnrped tn look