Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-09-13
The Late Jere s. Black.

Jere S. Black died at Brooke, his
! residence, near York, Pa, early yester-
! day morning, at the age of seventy
three1years, leaving avoid sin the legal
profession and in the politics and Life
! of the country which can not be filed.
Judge Black was a man of genius, a
profound LAWYER, brilliant advocate.
fearless defender of the convictions of
his mind. 1ndifferent.to the popular
iy of the moment, his concern was for
the performance of his professional du-
ties, and for. tie defense of the princi-
pies. political and religious. which he
had adopted and revered as truth. sd3
/ asAmong the striking qualities, of Judge
Blacks mental constitution, his wit and
Imagination were those perhaps which
most strongly impressed the eursory
observer. These gifts aiwars' added to
his forensic arguments and ITO his con-
versation .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 Amefi-
can utI1uOT anu aDtCuOLe- anu ne suSGu
them ali with surprising freshness and
originality = 90 sif.a 40. .,s.,~..-, ss.g rs
A native of Pennsylvania, the life of
this distinguished man was mainly
past in that State. In 1851, HE becarAe
Chief Justice of the Pennsyltunia So
preme Court, which is there. tRe court
Of last resort; and he was "a gain elected
to that Office in 1854. When. Mr.. Blu
chanan became President. he Was ap-
pointed AtterneyIGeneralof tho UnitSd
States; and, when GeneraltE)ass resigned
from the Cabinet in Decenber,. 1860,
Judge Black, succeeded him as Score
tary of State, and filed That post until
the accession of Mr.. Eincolf.- During
that part of Mr. Buchaifan's Admins
4trabiQn when the agitations which final
ly eliminated in the. civil war had al
ready assumed the most stormy char
atter. Judge Black, along With mfr.
Dix, Mr.. Stanton, and Mr.. Holt stood
firmly as defender,cf THE Unions, 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 b ostility' TOW ard the Abo-
flitionists which belonged to q 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 Gover1Hiferlt, his eriti-
,eisans against the Republican, party and
against the lea deasswhe took charge of
affairs after he and his colleagues had
WITHDRAWN Were, like his criticisms in
general, sarcastic, sharp and tlnfnerri-
faE Ftis 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 d ferverit Christian
of the fCampbellite decentralization,
reverend ne the Bible as a divine reyel-
alton, and holding fast to the faith of
orthodox Professionalism. He. was well
ac9uaipted with the rolemical.- liter
allure Of English and American ortho-
doxy,i sucia as it existed prev Gus to the
advent of .modern. gat64 natiim but of
late wears his occupations walre much
more of q legal than, a theological ma
ture.e While lis ardent feelings and
lively scbnvicfions alWfays rendered lTm
q bipartisan. his eef1iIal symnathies loffen
made him the personal friend OF those
whose public position he felt himself
bound to assaiT. Thus it was that,
W hfrS'a Def1fUcfaG OF t1e CID school. he
wasftsh .teraHs of friendship with con-
spiehouss Republicans. and kept bright
the chain of social good feeling amid
the conflicts of parties and sects.
But-now this great athletic f;gure dis
appears from fhe stage, and the wit,
the :efoquenee. the passion ofshis voice
wall not again be heard among MS As
we said, there lis a great void which
will not he filed md fha hearts npar-
est to him viii be slow in gaining any
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 50 consistent, in purpose SO
high and nnafily, III action SO splendid,
the laurel that is laid upon his grave is
well deserved. IN. y San.