The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-09-06
The Late Jere S. Black.

Jere s. Black died at Brockie, his
residence, near York, Pa, early yester-
day morning; at the age of seventy
three years, leaving void in the legal
professi, and in the politics. and life
of the country which can not be filled.
Judge Black was man of genius a
profound lawyer, brilliant advocate.
fearless defender of the convictions of
his mind. Ind. .ferent 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, pol teal and religious. which he
had adopted and revered as truth.
Among the striking qualities of Judge
Blacks 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-
versat;on 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 It's
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 Su-
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 ap-
pointed Attorney-General 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 agitat ons which final
ly eliminated in the civil war had al
ready assumed the most stormy char
acter, Judge Black, along with MIR.
Dix, Mr.. Stanton, and Mr.. Holt, stood
firmly as defender of the Union; and
thus he contributed his full part toward
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 Penhsyl-
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
afflirs 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
ty to the Union was somewhat shaken
but the impression is entirely incorrect
Judge Black was fervent Christian
of the Campbellite denomination
reverencing the Bible as divine revel
alton, and holding Il. to the faith o
orthodox Professionalism. He was wei
ac uainted with the polemical liter
ature of English and American ortho
doxy, such as it existed previous to the
advent of modern rationalism; but o
late years his occupations were mucl
more of a legal than a theological ma
ture. While his ardent feelings ant
lively convictions always rendered hin
partisan, his cordial sympathies Otter
made him the personal friend OF thos,
whose public position he felt himsel
bound to assail. Thus it was that
, while Democrat of the old school, h,
was on terms of friendship with con
spicuous Republicans, and kept brigh
the chain of social good feeling ami'
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 voic
will not again be heard among us. A
we said, there is great void whic
will not be filled, and the hearts near
est to him will be slow in gaining an
comfort. Yet when in the fullness Q
years such q man dies, the event is no
without its consolation. His part ha
been well performed. After life S
long and so consistent, in purpose s
: high and manly, in action SO splendid
the laurel that is laid upon his grave
1 well deserved.-N Y. San.
"A peddler tried to coax Michigan
l farmers wife into buying some of hi
/, wares by patting her under the chi
and saying that she was nice littl
woman. Her husband soon returned
and she told him. With friend b
overlook the peddler, whipped him
threw his pack over fence, took hir
q back to the house. whipped nm again
then tried him before a mock court, an
D fined him three dollars, which he paiG
5 His retaliation is a suit for damages.
l Detroit Post.
e In Georgia, a sinful young farme
0 who, at revival, refused Bible an