The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-21
DEATH OF JUDGE BLACK.
End or a Veteran Jnriu and statesman
His Last Prnyer-Sketch OF Ills career.

Judge Blacks death was peaceful anC
calm. Ills wife. his two sons (Chauncey
r. and Henry. HIS daughter Mrs. Horribly
and her husband. and a. ID. Farquhal
were Al his bedside. 4 few minutes before
his death he spoke with confidence OF Tho
fnture. saving 10 his son Chauncey that b,
had no fear. and added 81 would that
A,yere as comfortable about what leave be.
hind in This world" While his wife knelt
at his bedside Judge Black gave utterance
10 the following Impressive prayer:
..Oh. thou beloved and most merciful
Father. from whom ! had my being and In
whom have ever trusted, grant, II il be
Thy will. that l no longer suffer this ago.
nv. and that | be speedily called home To
Thee; and oh. my God, bless and comfort
this my Mary
Soon afterwards he kissed his wife good
i've. turned over on his side ana passed
away. The Judges illness only dates from
Monday last. and from the first appearance
OF the fatal and painful disease he was per-
fcctly resigned, feeling that il would ter
inmate fttaily. After his case became
critical and Il was found necessary TO re-
sort 10 surgical operation he observed the
doctors in council and asked its import.
They told INN Of the intended operation,
family. GOod-humoredly and with his ac-
customed wit he remarked: "lou have
rcckoned without your host. am the vic
tim and the one who is TO be consulted.
will not submit. can hold out until Drs.
Alice and Garnet can be summoned in con-
sultaiion.r AgTecably TO the judges de-
sire. the doctors were brought and he con-
scented to the operation. 1t was successful
al
the contents OF the bladder were such ms
to poison the system. superinducing pye-
mia. which was the immediate cause OF his
death.
An through his sickness. although he
was suffering intense agony, he was cheer
full. and his great mind gave vent in ire
quent scintilla,ions Of witty utterances,
and at times he repeated selections from
his fayorite authors. Bryants "Thanatop-
sis" and the words of Lady Macbeth. In
his diving moments the great jurist lost
none OF his force Of character. his geniality
and brightness OF disposition. or his flow
OF language when not under the influence
of opiates. His remains will be inferred
NJ Prospect-Iill cemetery. York, at D
O'Clock on Tuesday evening. Rev. Mr..
Powers. Of Washington, the pastor OF the
late President Garfield. will oiiiciate.
Judge Black was a member of the Christian
or Campbelhte Church. The announce
ment that Judge jeremiah :. Black
was dead was made on the streets az an
early hour. and the sad intelligence was
passed from Tip to lip until the whole COM
munity were aware OF the great loss they
had sustained. Flags float at half-maSt.
The people. REGARDLESS of partisan feel
ings, feel that not only the nation has lost
distinguished and patriotic son, but the
town OF York has been especially bereaved.
Judge Blacks youngest daughter, Mrs.
Clayton. cannot he present at the funeral,
as she is at For; Apache, Arizona, with
her husband, Captain Clayton, paymaster
United States army.
SKETCH OF MS CAREER.
Judge Black was born in the GladeS.
Somerset county, Pa, on the 10th OF JAN
uary, 1910. He was therefore in the sew
enty-iourth wear of his age at the time of
his death. lie was admitted to the bar in
1890, and while following his profession
took an active part in the stormy politics
OF those DAYS. when the name OF Jackson
was the rallyng cry OF Democratic politi-
clans. and Judge Black was a Democrat
throughout the whole OF his life OF
the sturdiest Jefferson and Jackso-
MAN type In 1912 he was appoint
ed presiding Judge OF the court OF
the district in which he resided, and
in 1852 was elected Judge OF the supreme
Court of his state. and chosen chief JUS
tice. being reelected to the same high po-
sition in 1851. ON March 5, 1851. the day
after Mr.. Buchanan took his seat rs PresI-
dent. he appointed Judge Black Attorney
General of the United States; and three
wears later, during the stormy period that
preceded the outbreak OF our civil war, he
held the portfolio Of Secretary OF state,
continuing in that position until President
Buchanan's term Of office expired, on the
4th of March. 1861.
Since then Judge Black has not held
Office. but until recently was more or less
actively engaged in the practice of his p 20
fessi0n. He argued many cases before the
Supreme Court Of the United States,
where his legal ability was held in very
high esteem. Although he did not during
this period of his life enter actively into
politics. vet. A. a writer on current
political topics. and especially as a
cOntroversialist, he had no superior.
An exchange saws Oh this point: His
controversy with Senator Henry Wilson
concerning the patriotism OF Secre-
tary Stanton, and the fidelity with
which he supported, as a member
OF the Cabinet, the policy OF Presl-
dent Buchanan, was masterpiece OF min
gled adroitness and sarcasm. His other
controversies in vindication OF the memory
OF Mr. Buchanan against Ingersoll, and
recently with Mr. Jefferson Davis. were
marked by the same vigorous style and dis
tinguished for the same ability. To the
people Of the United States there have been
few persons better known, either in person
or by name. than the late Judge Black,
and more worthy OF respect for sturdy
honesty and uprightneSs.
Judge Black was in 1873 elected mem
Der OF the Pennsylvania Constitutions
Convention on the Democratic ticket oil
delegates at large, and he lowered aloft In
that assemblagc OF Pennsylvania repre-
sentative men. His remarks on legislative
bribery, the aggressive power OF corpora.
tons in collision with political rings, and
kindred subjects, were in his characters
tic vein, and contributed much TO the gen.
eral tone OF the Conventions conclusions.
He zealously supported his fayorite propo-
siti0n 70 administer an ir0n-clad, con-
science-clearing oath TO members OF the
Legislature after their terms had expired,
but his colleagues would not adopt it. Pro-
fessional engagements compelled him TO re-
sign his seat before the Convention finally
adjourned.
Judge Black was about five feet eleven
inches in height, with shaggy gray eye.
brows that in repose gave his features q
sternness OF expression which was quickly
melted away in the humorous twinkle OIL
his eyes or as the animation OF expression
stole over his face, which had never worn
beard. lie was Of rudy, healthy com.
piexion, strong bodily frame, and erect
carriage. In 1868, while going to Gal