The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-03-17
hLAlHE'A BOOK.

rmtt HLAlEE'S BOOK.
Buchannn'a Administration - Judge
Blnck's Loyalty 10 the Union anu Love
or Pennsylvania.
From published leaves from the forth.
coming history by James G. Blaine the
following Ia taken: ~s
The most alarming feature Of the situa.
ton to rtilecting men in the North was
that, 80 far as known, all the members Of
MI. Buchanan's cabinet approved the de-
structive doctrines Of the message. But,
as the position Of The President was sub.
lected 10 examination and criticism by the
northern press, uneasiness was manifested
IN Administration circles. It was seen that
II the couree foreshadowed by Mr.. Buchan.
an should be followed the authority Of the
Union would be compelled to retreat before
the uaurpatiops OF seeding States, and that
powerful government might be quietly
overthrown without striking one blow Of
resistance, or uttering one word Of protest.
General Cass was the frat Of the cabinet
to teel the pressure Of loyalty from the
North. The venerable Secretary OF State,
whose whole life had been one Of patriotic
devotion to bis country, suddenly realized
that he was in a false position. When 1t
became known that the President would
not insist upon the collection OF the ma.
tlonal revenue in South CIrnlina, or upon
the strengthening Of the United States
forts in the harbor OF Charleston, General
Cass concluded that justice to his own rep.
utaiion r. qnired him TO separate from the
Administration. He resigned on the l2th
OF December, nine days after Mr.. Buchan.
an had sent his fatal message to Congress.
Judge Black, who had from the begin
ming OF the administration been Mr.. Buch.
anan's chief adviser, now became 90 BY
rank, as the successor of General Cass in
the State Department. He was man OF
remarkable character. He was endowed by
nature with strong understanding and
strong will. In the profession OF the law
ne had attained great eminenee. His learn
ing had been illustrated by q prolonged
se,vics on the bench before the age at
which men, even Of exceptional success at
ne bar, usually attract public observation.
DE had added 10 his professional studies,
which were laboriouB end conscientious, a
wide acquaintance with our literature, and
mad !ound Ia its walks delight which is
yielded to few. In history, biography,
criticism, romance, he had absorbed every.
thing in our language worthy Of attention.
Shakespeare, Milton, indeed all the Eng.
lsh poets, were bis familiar COMPANIONS.
There was not a disputed passage or an
Obscure reading in any one OF The great
plsysa upon which he could not Of.
hand quote the best renderings,
and throw original light from his
own illuminated mind. Upon theology he
had apparently bestowed years OF investi.
grtion and reflection. a sincere Christian,
he had been deyout and constant student
OF the Bible, and could quote ita passages
and apply its teachings with singular readi-
ness and felicity. To this generous store Of
knowledge he added luency OF speech,
both In public address and private CONVEX.
sation, and Rtyle OF writing which WAS at
once unique, powerful and attractive. He
had attained unto every excellence Of mental
discipline described by Lord Bacon. Read.
lug had made him o full man, talking
ready man, writing an exact man. The
judicial literature Of the English tongue
may be sought in vain for finer models
than are found ia the opinions Of Judge
Black when be sat, and was worthy to cit,
as the associate Of John Bannister Gibson,
on the Supreme Bench OF Pennsylvania.
In political opinion he Was Democrat,
self.inspired and self.taught, for his father
was a Wing who had served in bis State
in Congress-. lie idolizsd Jefferson and
revered Jackson as embodying in their re.
spective characters all the elements OF
the RoundeBt political philosophy and all
the regulates Of the highest political leader.
ship. Ho behaved in the principles Of
Democracy as he did in demonstration
Of Euclld-all tina! might ba said on the
other side was necessarily absurd. He ap.
piled TO his own political creed the literal
teachings Of the Bible. II Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob had held slaves without
condemnation or rehuke from the Lord OF
Hosts, he believed that Virgins, Carolina
and Georgia might do the came. He
found in the case Of Onesimus St. PAul's
explicit approval Of the Fugitive Slave
Law OF 1850, and in the cruel case OF
Passmore Williamson he believed himself
Q be enforcing the doctrines Of the New
Testament. Personally unwilling TO hold
even beast OF burden in oppressive bond.
age, nothing could induce him to condemn
slaye.holding in. those whose conscience
permitted them to practice 1t. In the
Aboltionis!s he found the cbiei disturbers
Of the Republic, and he held New Eng.
land answerable to pos.erity and to God
for all the heresjes which siIlcted either
Church or State. He had an uncomprom.
Using hostility to what are termed New
England ideas, though the tenderast ties OF
mis- lie were Of New England origin 'The
New Englander individually I greatly
affect" he often eaid, "but, in the mase, l
judge them to be stark mad" II think,
100" be would add, THAT il you are going
10 make much Of q New Highlander, he
should, like DR.. Johnson,s scotchman, be
caught young" ~ X,
sift JUDGE BLACK AND pennsylvania. if
To his native State Judge Black was de-
votedly attached. 10 inherited the blood
Of two strong elements OF its population
The German and the Scotch. Irish, and he
united the best characteristics Of both in
ais own person. He had always looked