The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-03-31
Death of Chief Justice Waite.

A telegram announcing the death of Chief
Justice Waite, on the morning of March %,
was published in the ADVOCATE last week.
Below we give sketch of his life, and some
interesting facts in regard to his predecessors:
Morrison Remipk Waite, the seventh Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court of the United
States, was the descendent of line Of law
yers, his father having been Chief Justice of
the Supreme Court of Connecticut. He was
born at Lyme, Connecticut, on the goth OF
November, 1916, and was educated at y ale
College, from which institution he graduated
in 1887. He studied law in the Office of his
father, and, having been admitted to the bari
removed, in 1889, to Maumee, Ohio, where
he praoticed his profession with great success,
In 1850 he removed to Toledo. He served
two terms in the Ohio Legislature, and in
1873 was President of the Convention to
amend the Constitution of Ohio,
When the Geneva Arbitration was agreed
upon he was selected, along with Mr.. Evarts
and Mr.. Gushing, as counsel of the United
States, and in that capacity delivered writ
ten argument before that tribunal. As one
of the counsel he received the thanks of the
President for his services, but was compare
lively unknown to the general public. His
nomination as Chief Justice of the United
states was, therefore, q complete surprise.
| General Grant, thel president of the United
States, had nominated Caleb Gushing and
George FL. Williams for the position. Both
nominations met with such disfavor that they
were successfully withdrawn, and Mr.. Waite's
name was then sent in. The Senate con-
/ 6rmed the nomination unanimously, January
| 2lst, 1874, and the duties of the office hays
since been discharged with scrupulous fidel'
ity.
| He declined seat on the Electoral Com
mission which decided the disputed election
between Hayes and Tilden, and he dissented
from majority of the Supreme Court in the
decision that the States had no right to inter-
| fere with the inter State transportation of
liquors, The decision of the Bell telephope
case, given on March 10 was the last and one
of the most important he has been called upon
TO render.
In 1875 he was talked Of as a possible can.
didate for the Presidency, but at once de.
elned the honor in a manly aud dignifed
letter. His uniform course in his high office
has been one which redounded greatly to his
honor and to that of his country.
The funeral services over the remains of
Chief Justice Waite we're held on Wednesday
in the Capitol in Washington in presence Of
distinguished assemblage, including the
President and Cabinet, both Houses of Con-
gress, the Judiciary, Diplomatic Corps and
army and navy officers. Bishop Paret read
the Episcopal burial service. After the GER
emGnjes the body was taken to the railroad
depot and sent to Toledo, Ohio, on special
train, accompanied by the committee Of Con,
gress and members of the family of DECEASED,
tits interesting to consider how few persons
have filed that exalted Office. There have
been but eight since the establishment of the
Court-nearly ninety-nine years ago. Of
these the terms of the first five-John Jay. of
New York; John Rutledge, of South Carolina;
William Gushing, of Massachusetts; Oliver
Ellsworth, of Connecticut, and John Jay Ia
second time) covered period of but little
more than ten years. Jay served less than
four years, Rutledge but for single short
term of Court, Gushing did not serve at all,
for, though confirmed by the Senate, he de-
clined the appointment; Ellsworth less than
four years; and Jay declined the Office ON his
second appointment in 1900 This closed
the short terms for sixty-four years. John
Marshall holding the office from January,
1901, until 1896, and Roger B. fancy from
18th March, 1886, till October II, 1884, the
one term continuing thirty five years and the
other twenty-eight. Since then there have
been but two other Chief Justices: Salmon
B. Chase, from 9th December, 1864, to 7th
Nay, 1873, and Morrison R. Waite, appoint
ed 2lst January, l8I4-n9w deceased-23d
March, 1888.