The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-09-13
The Late Jere S. Black.


Jere S. Black died at Brockie, his
residence, near York, Pa, early yester-
dav morning, at the age of seventy
three years, leaving void in the legal
profession and in the politics and life
of the country which can not be filled.
Judge Black was man of genius,
profound lawyer, a brilliant advocate.
a fearless defender of the convictions Of
his mind. Indifferent to the popular
ity of the moment, his concern was for
the performance of his professional du-
ties, and for the defense of the princi-
pies, political and religious, which he
had adopted and revered as truth.
Among the striking qualities Of Judge
Black mental constitution, his wit and
imagination were those perhaps which
most strongly impressed the cursOry
observer. These gifts always added to
his forensic arguments and to his con-
versation a racy and delightful flavor
that made them memorable. In En-
glish literature and history he was
deeply read, and the illustrations which
pointed his reasoning or spiced his talk
were often drawn from those sources;
but he was equally familiar with the
annals of his own country, and OF all its
parts, and with the treasures of Ameri-
can humor and anecdOte; and he used
them all with surprising freshness and
originality.
A native of Pennsylvania, the life of
this distinguished man was mainly
past in that State. In 1851 he became
Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania SUI
preme Court, which is there the court
of last resort; and he was again elected
to that office in 1854. When Mr.. Bu-
chanan became President, he was APP
pointed Acknowledgement of the United
States: and when General Cass resigned
from the Cabinet in December, 1860,
Judge Black succeeded him as Secre-
tary of State, and filled that post until
the accession of Mr.. Lincoln. During
that part of Mr., Buchanan's Admins
tratiOn. when the agitatiOnS which final
" eliminated in the civil war had al
ready assumed the most stormy char
acter. Judge Black, along with Mr..
Dix, Mr.. Stanton, and Mr.. Holt, stood
firmly as a defender of the Union; AMI
thus he contributed his full part towari!
preserving the Government intact and
handing it over to the new Republican
President At the same time he cher
ished all that hostility toward the Abo-
| litionists which belonged to a Pennsyl-
vania Democrat of the day; and al
though he was not lacking in any re-
spect in the completeness of his duty as
an officer of the Government, his criti-
cisms against the Republican party and
against the leaders who took charge of
affairs after he and his colleagues had
withdrawn, were, like his criticisms in
general, sarcastic, sharp and unmerci-
| full. 1t is this circumstance, doubtless,
that has given rise to the impression
that during that trying period his loyal
| tv to the Union was somewhat shaken;
but the impression is entirely incorrect.
Judge Black was a fervent Christian
of the Campbellite denomination,
reverencing the Bible as divine revel-
alton, and holding fast to the faith of
orthodox Professionalism. He was we'll
acquainted with the polemical liter
allure of English and American orthO-
doxv, such as it existed previous to the
advent of modern ratiOnalism; but of
late years his occupations were much
more of legal than theological ma
ture. While his ardent feelings and
lively convictions always rendered him
a partisan, his cordial sympathies often
made him the personal friend OF those
whose public position he felt himself
bound to asSail. Thus it was that,
while Democrat of the old school, he
was on terms of friendship with con-
spicuous Republicans, and kept bright
the chain of social good feeling amid
the conflicts of parties and sects.
But now this great athletic figure dis
appears from the stage, and the wit,
the eloquence, the passion of his voice
will not again be heard among us. AS
we said, there is great void which
will not be filled, and the hearts near
est to him will be slow in gaining any
comfort. Yet when in the fullness of
years such a man dies, the event is not
without its consolation. His part has
been well performed. After a life so
long and so consistent, in purpose so
high and manly, in action so splendid.
the laurel that is laid upon his grave Is
well deserved.-N. Y Sun.