Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-08-21

The PreES On Ju0Se BLACK.
Considering that Judge Black was 90
eminently a disputant, and that in the
many controversies which marked his
public career he expressed his radical
opinions of men and things with such
freedom, the unanimity of kindly feel
ing with which the public press speaks
Of him is gratifying and significant. 1t
is the fashion of newspapers generally to
discuss the dead more indulgently than
the living it is no occasion for surprise
that Democratic newspapers and con-
ventions everywhere manifest their
esteem for q great counsellor of their
party; nor that the flags Of the
federal departments should droop
at talf mast for one who had
adorned high station; nor that those
who came within the range of his social
charms should mourn their loss. But,
beyond all these considerations, there is
comprehensiveness and there is sim
cerity about the newspaper tributes to
Judge Black which seldom, if ever,
before had been noticed with reference
to similar expression of popular feel
ing.
There was not q leading newspaper Of
the country that did Lot join in this
tribute yesterday, and it was notable
what concurrence of opinion there was
that Judge Black had died before his
time, in the full vigor of his powers
and with much important work yet to
be done, which no other can well take up.
Likewise has his death developed the
fact that every trace of misunderstand-
ing as to his position at the outbreak of
the war has disappeared; AMI the follow
ing terse statement from him at that
time, as to the great questions sprung
upon the country, is now everywhere
cited as q pregnant and forclble deliver
ance, which not even the events Of the
war and all that followed have qualified
in the slightest degree.
"The Union is necessarily perpetual. No
state can lawfully withdraw or be expelled
from it. Tho federal constitution is as
much part of the constitution OF every
state as if it had been textually included
therein. The federal government is
sovereign within its own sphere and acts
directly upon tho individual citizens of
every state. 1t can suppress insurrectiOn,
fight battles, conquer armies, disperse
hostile combinations, and punish any or
all of its enemies. 1t can meet, repel and
snbdue all those who rise against it. But
it cannot obliterate a single common
wealth from the map Of the Union, or de.
clare indiscriminate war against all the in
habitants of a section, confounding the
innocent with the guilty"
But, appealing more forcibly to the
tenderest sensibilities, the circumstances
of his death proved that heroic Chris
tian character which was the crown of
his personality ; and these have been
eagerly seized upon by the professors of
the faith as fresh testimony of the sus'
tanning and strengthening power of
divine grace. A New York newspaper,
referring to the approaching convention
of free thinkers, gives this advice to the
clergyman who has been selected to
urge the claims of Christianity before
them:
If Mr.. Mitchell wishes to vanquish the
freethinkers let him induce the Methodist
church to flood Rochester with pamphlet
giving a sketch of Judge Jeremiah 8.
Black and containing the following prayer
which the celebrated jurist offered while
his venerable wife knelt by his bedside
just before he died Oh, Thou beloved
and most merciiul Father, from whom l
had my being and in whom I have ever
trusted, grant, if it be Thy will, that no
longer suffer this great agony, and that l
be speedily called home to Thee :; and oh,
my God, bless and comfort this, my
Mary"