South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-08-24
Death OF Judge Black.


the late Judge Jeremiah s. Black,
which occurred at his country home,
near York, Pennsylvania on Monday
last. AZ tribute TO his worth we
copy the following from the Bait.
sun: American craftsmanship, law
and literature each suffer the loss of
brilliant ornament and representa-.
tive. Although his professional pur.
suits occupied the greater part of his
time, and HE triumphs as Judge and
n lawyer naturally fill up the larger
portion OF his career, his achievements
in the fields Of statecraft and litera>
ture were Sd signal and SO remarka-
bic that it is perhaps difficult to say
in which Of these three spheres he
will be most greatly missed. AS n
lawyer, q country and q century pro.
life of keen legal intellects have pro.
duced few minds that could lay claim
to equal clearness and logical force.
The blood of the sturdy Scotch. Irish
and German settlers of Pennsylvania
mingled in his veins, and seem to give
to his brain M aggressive vitality and
intellectual vigor and combativeness
that made him, rs if by nature, snuff
the battle Of debate from afar off, and
to delight in the sternest Of mental
conflicts. The law afforded him a
field where he could display in mas,
terly way all the most marked quail.
ties OF his mind. and where to legal
leaning he could add eloquence and
wit, satire and invcctive lie will be
remembered, however, in his capaci>
ty as lawyer longest and most CRATES
fully for his mantul and magnificent
defense of the constitution Of the Uni
ted States from the insidious attacks
which were made upon it under the
guise of law after the civil war. The
greatest con stitutional lawyer of the
present day, the embodied principles
of popular government have lost ia
him champion and defender whose
like mary generations may not pro-
duce. Strong, however, as were Judge
Blacks convictions on every subject,
he showed while on the bench that he
was above the reach of any motives
which could degrade or smirch his
position. No influence, political or
personal. could rise to the higher at
mosphero of his judicial station to
cloud his vision or swerve his course.
Absolutely honest, the judicial ermine
that he cast aside when he left the
bench was whittier thar when he put
1t on. AS a just and upright Judge
and model of calm impartiality and
blameless integrity, he won n judicial
fame that should ever be the pride
and ornament Of the bench. Ills pub
lie career, though comparatively brief,
was sufficient to show that Judge
Black confined within himself other
qualities than those of a Judge or q
lawyer. He had in him the powers
and possibilities OF Il great statesman,
and under different circumstances and
conditions would probably have filled II
more prominent page in national his
tory. AS it was, he showed in his brief
hour oforportunity what he could do &
then. like the valiant man of the PEG
pie that he was, went back TO the
ranks without q murmur. But, while
not filling any public station, his sage
advice and counsel were frequently
moulding aud directing the course O.!
events. and wero the secret pages of
political history revealed it might
be found, perhaps, that some of
The brightest inspirations, rs well
as some OF the most striking
political praises and suggestions
OF more than one adnlinistra
ton were drawn from this unfail-
ing source. Great rs u Judge and
lawyer, wise as national counselor,
rs n polemical writer, it would be dit,
iicuIt III the whole range of modern
literature TO name Judge Blacks SUI.
perior Gifted with remarkable
memory, he had swept over almost
tie whole field Of things excellen. in
ancient & modern writings, and with
the mental digestion of an ostrich had
asslmilated aud made them all his
own. A master OF fence rs well rs
OF style, he drew things new and old
from an lnexhaustblc storchouse, and
overwhelmed his adversaries with the
character and extent of his resources.
lie could give to his arrows a Scythi.
an keenncss, and could tip them with
feathers of more than oriental brill
ancy. If n party can be said to sus-
tain peculiar loss in q man who be.
longed so essentially to the whole
country, the democratic party must
mourn Judge Black with especial sad.
ness. A wiser counselorit never had
and is not likely to have for many a
day. His death comos at u time
when his party could least afford to
spare him, and when his steady and
clear vision was most required.
Tons of Matches from Swelen.-
The abolition of the internal revenue
tax on matches q wholesale dealer