New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-20
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER.

SKETCH OF HIS CAREER.
jeremiah Sullivan Black was born in the Gladee
Somerset County, Penn. where his grandfather
| and father had lived, on January 10, 1910. Hn
tather was OF Scotch-Irish ancestry. while his
mother was of Scotch Irish descent on her fathers
side and of Pennsylvania German on her mother'a
| Judge Blacks father, Henry Black, was a man Of
prominence in Southern Pennsylvania. He served
| in the Legislature from 1915 to 1918, and was an
Associate Judge of somerset County from 1920 to
| 1S4O He was elected to the XXVIIth Congress on
the Wing ticket to fill a vacancy, but died on No
vember 2S 1S4l, at the age of ifty-eight
| years, before taking his seat. His son James,
member Of the XXIvtb, XXVIIIth and XXiXth
Congresses, died while yet a young man, and his
daughter, Judge Blacks only sister, becams the
| wife Of Somerset merchant. Judge Black re-
ceived his early education in the schools about his
home, and completed his studies at private acsd-
| emy IN Fayette County When seventeen years old
he left the ,choo-room for the farm, upon which hs
spent eighteen months. During this time he trans.
lated most of the works of Horace and Virgil into
English verse. He then studied law with
Chauncey Forward, some time member Of
Congress and q brother of Walter Forward,
Secretary Of the Treasury under Presidents
Tyler. He was admitted to the bar in
1881. Seven years later he married Mr.. Forwards
daughter Mary F. Forward, who eleven years
his JUNIOR. About the same time he united with the
Disciples Of Christ, or "Campbellites," who were
then just forming into separate organization. He
knew Alexander Campbell, the founder of the de-
nomination, intimately, and was baptized by him.
| He remained q member of this denomination
throughout his life, and some years ago he the
orator at the unveling of the bust of Campbell, In
| Bethany College. West Virginia.
Judge Blacks father was Dom,
ocrat. but after the nomination Of
Jackson in 1924 he opposed the National tickets
of the Democrats for many years, although he con-
tinued to act generally with the party upon local
and State issues. Judge Blacks political faith was
fixed before he sixteen years old, by the study
of Randolph's collection OF Jeffersons letters Be-
fore he reached his majority he began to affiliate
with the Democrats, and never afterward broke Of
the association, although the party drlfted away
from the principles he had espoussd as a boy.
In l84I the Democrats Of Judge Blacks district
decided to nom him to ill the vacancy in Con.
gress caused by the death Of Charles Ogle tWhigI.
The Whig conferees had been chosen to nominate
Joshua I. Cox but when they met they named
Henry Black. to prevent his sons nomination by the
Democrats Although lmportuned by the Democratic.
Judge Black refused to be candidate against his
father, who was popular in his district and always
ran ahead Of his ticket when q candidate. Henry
Black was elected, but died before taking his scat
as has been stated ABOVE.
FROM THE STATE SUPREME COURT TO THE CABINET.
In the following year Judge Black, who
had risen rapidly In the practice OF law
was appointed President Judge of the
Court of Common Pleas for the Franklin. Bed
ford and Somerset District by Governor David
r. Porter An effort made to prevent his con-
firmation by the State Senate but so great was ha
popularity at homo and his fame as lawyer, that
even the Wings united in petilon for his conrma-
ton. He remained President Judge of this circuit
for nearly ten years earning early in his a.
Judge reputation jurist Of high order. His de-
c,sious were noted for brevity, purity Of
diction force and correctness. There were few ap-
meals from his decisions and the higher courts rarely
rsversed any of them. His circuit was a large and
important one and the absence of railroads he
was Obliged to travel to the distant seats ON
horseback. In 1850. under the new constitution.
he was elected to the Supreme Court OF the State on
tho t,cket with LOWS, Gibson and Coulter. He
was made Chief-Justice having dra wn the short
term of three years. In 1854 he was reelected TO
the supreme Court Bench by large majority while
nearly all other Democratic candidates were over
whemed by the wave of Know-Nothingism.
After he had served two OF the fifteen years fog
,vhioh be had been reelected. Judge Black entered
President
Iudos BLACK met Mr.. Buchanan for the first time
!, 1s43 beng introduced to him on the floor Of tho
p.,,.vlyania House of Representatives. Just -
thsv clasoed hands. Mr.. McGowan. member from
philadelphia, stabbed Mr.. Bratton, fellow-mem-
har and the Editor Of The Carlisle Keystone bat not
.er,ouslv. The acquaintance between Judge Blach
ond Mr. Buchanan did not grow rapidly, for they
d,d not meet again for several years. But when they
h.oams more prominent IN the political field they
hod much confidential correspondence and often
mat at Bedford Springs and there sprung up between
A.. two men friendship that lasting as lite.
Judgs Back had q strong liking for Mr. Buchanan
hsfore he met him. he had read the latters arRue
,,.nt IN the ,mpsachnent case OF Judge PeckIoeioN
h limited States Senate and he often referred tnon
d Iots IN life 10 it as the greatest legal argumens
us, n,odo unou the power OF court to punish foi
oout.mnt. He always regarded Mr. buchanan :.
on. of the greatest lawyers OF his day and o'.sn
80, .H, ought to have been CHIEF justice Oh teS
ga o,atas He would have been one OF the Rreass
tbas ever graced the bench" For many
o' M. pucbanan conhded to Judge BLACK many
., hi. homes and ambitions that he did not speak
- ,hs noliucians, for he found In his friend az
so,o.t and valuable adviser In all tnat related q
~. nrhlic career. But the very elements q
ohorac,er and habits Of mind that drew NM
buchanan to Judge Black were the ones that LED u
f,,ot,on between the two men during tho iatteS
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