The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-08-31
JUDGE BLACK.
Death Of the Eminent Lawyer
and Statesman.
a Sketch Of His Long and Eventful
Cayeer.

a Sketcn OF his Long anu Gvenuul
Career.
In York, Pa. after q weeks illness, on the
10Th OF August His death was as calm and
peaceful rs the setting Of q summers sun.
His two sons, Chauncey +. and Henry, his
daughter, Mrs Hornsby, his son-in-law, Mr.
Hornsby, and A b Farquhar were present
when he died just before his death he
spoke with confidence Of the future, saying
to his son Chauncey that he had no fear Of
crossing the dark river, adding: Il would
that / were as comfortable about what
leave behind in this world" he spoke OF
business and private matters to his son. and
In the midst OF 1t would stop and refer 10
his faith in Christ On one occasion he
said: Il would not have you think for
moment that fear to cross this river 1
have taken care to arrange for my future
over there, and therefore death has no ter
rors for me-"
When his beloved wife knelt by his bed
side, comforting him with her sympathy
ard love, he gave utterance to the follow
SOh, Thou beloved and most merciful
Father, from whom had my being and in
whom have ever trusted, grant, II 1T be
| IQy Will, CnaU no longer Suutr uSohy,
and that be speedily called home to Thee.
And Oh, my God, bless and comfort this my
Mary"
Jeremiah Sullivan Black was descended
| from q mixed ancestry, composed of the
German and Scotch-Irish elements He was
born in the Glades, Somerset county, Pa,
June 10, 1910. His father, Henry Black, was
man of prominence in Southern Pennsyl
vania, and was q member of Congress at the
time of his death Young Black finished his
schooling" at II, after having gained fair
knowledge of the classics, mathematics,
and, above all most precious to him, a
thorough grounding in the knowledge OF
English classic literature When his school
days ended he went home to work on the
farm, but his studies were not neglected,
| for by the light of the morning fire he
conned his Horace and Virgil, committing to
memory each day certain number or lines.
Before he entered upon his profession he
had not only translated but learned the
whole Of these books by heart
Under Chauncey Forward he studied
law, and in 1851 was admitted to the bar.
When he was % years of age he married his
instructors daughter, she being II. About
this time he joined the sect known as the
Campbellites or Disciples OF Christ with
whom he remained in fraternal relations the
rest of his life Gov. Porter in 1872 ap-
pointed him presiding Judge OF the Frank
lin, Bedford and Somerset districts, and,
though party hight was made on the ap-
pointment, the unanimous approval of the
members of the bar decided the matter in
his favor This Office he held with great
credit for nine years When the position
was made elective he was chosen for the
short term, and filled the Chief Justiceship
most acceptably for three.years
Judge Black was reelected for fifteen
wears. but was compelled to resign after
serving two President Buchanan calling
him TO the Cabinet as Attorney General,
where he remained until 1860. His most
consp cuous service while holding this office
was the protection OF the claims made by
Americans against the fraudulent preten-
sions Of the Spanish in regards TO lands in
California Mr.. Stanton was associated
with him in these labors When Judge
Black was made Secretary or State Stanton
became Attorney. General Throughout the
war he remained staunch War Democrat
When Black retired from the Cabinet he
resumed the practice OF law, and few men
have enjoyed SO large practice in the SUI
preme Court of the land as he. His manner
was characterized by eminent legal ability
courage and skill. He talked to the court
deliberately, without notes, and cited au
thorlties from memory The most import
ant cases in which he was engaged were
The Milliken case the Vanderbilt will case
the McGarrahan claim, the Belknap i'm
parchment, and the electoral contest In ne
case where public interests were involved
rs in the Milliken case did he take a fee fol
services rendered
Judge Black was elected member of the
Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention IL
1875, and was urgent in pressing the needs
of the legislative reform. He served with
out pay Not only as a jurist, learned, ex
act, and apt, has he made himself known x
the people of the whole nation, but as
writer of political and theological articles
he has won a place among the classic
writer's Of the age His answer Il
the structures ON Christianity by Col
I,.<x, Ill frtx hA of ON.
OF the principal magazines in the land
provoked much criticism and praise For
time it was the topic of conversation anC
OF leading newspaper articles, and its cir
culation passed the boundaries OF tn,
United States into Canada and England
where it was unequivocally commended
His last noted political paper was on Mo
nopoy," and the strong views he uttered
backed by keen logic and biting words
were as rapturously applauded by his sym
pathiZers as they were condemned by thos
opposed to its views.
, Personally Judge Black was imposing il
his stature and manners Nearly six fee
tall, with shaggy eyebrows that in repos
gave him a stern aspect, his strong bodil.
frame and erect carriage made him re
markable figure in any assemblage. Thong
noted for the radical views he held in poi
tics, he was great social favorite, and Gar
field Carpenter IDgersoll and Blaine alway
sought him outwhen in Washington Eve
Thad Stevens defended him once in tn
House, when attacked by some one on tn
Democratic side.
Lawyer as he was, statesman and schola
of high ability, deeply read in literature
Judge Black devoted more time to the stud
and perusal Of the Bible than persons woul'
think possible. His ideas of right ant
wrong gained in the strict old school o
Presbyterians remained with him through
out his life and make his character Shin
with brightness that mere culture or evel
genius could never produce. He was al
American in every sense OF the term, tn
peculiar product Of community whom, 70
rugged strength and grand ambitions, tn
world has never seen excelled.