The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-03-29
DEATH OF TIE CHIEF JUSTICE.


home in Washington, on last Friday
morning, at 6 o'clock, Of pneumonia.
But few days before his death he
had boasted of feeling more than
usually strong. Judge Waite spoke
in Jackson many years ago, winning
the admiration Of all who heard him.
His death leaves the Court divided
politically as follows: Republicans
Justices Miller, Bradley, Harlan, Mat
thews, Gray and Blatchford -6.
Democrats-Justices Field and Lamar
2. The new appointee will, of
course, come from the Confederate
ranks. Ex-Governor Hoadly of Ohio
is being urged for the place, but the
ermine worn by the next Justice
must, we think, be stamped with the
Confederate colors. Following is a
sketch of Justice Waite's life:
Morrison Rennick Waite was born
at Lyme, Ct, November %, 1916. He
was the son of Hon. Henry Matson
Waite, also native of Lyme, born
February 9, 1887, who, soon after
graduating at Yale, became distin-
guished as an able lawyer and public
man, was elected successfully to the
lower and higher branches Of the
General Assembly, was chosen Asso-
ciate Justice of the Supreme Court in
1884, was appointed Chief Justice Of
the State Of Connecticut in 1854 by
the almost unanimous vote of the
Legislature, and held that Office until
his seventieth year, the limit pre-
scribed by the constitution OF the
State. The mother of Morrison r.
Waite was a daughter of Colonel
Richard E. Selden, Of Lyme, and
granddaughter Of Colonel Samuel Sell
den, an officer of the Revolutionary
army. The family settled in Lyme,
Ct.. about the middle of the seven
} teenth century, and had among its
members other eminent men. Thomas
Waite and his son Marvin were pub
lic-spirited and prominent citizens.
The latter was candidate on the first
electoral ticket after the Revolution
ary war, was a Representative in the
State Legislature nineteen terms,
Common Pleas Judge for several
years, and finally one Of the Commits
sioners to sell the State lands of the
: Northwestern Territory, the proceeds
of which, funded by him, formed the
basis Of the Public School Fund OF
Connecticut. The subject Of this
sketch was a graduate Of Yale in the
class of 1887, which included, among
other distinguished men, William MI
Evarts, Edwards Pierrepont and Ben.
iamin Silliman, jr. He commenced
the study of law in the Office Of his
father, but removing West early in
life, completed his studies with Sam
uel M. Young, prominent attorney
{ Of Maumee, Ohio, with whom he
afterward formed partnership. In
1850 the firm established an Office in
, Toledo, of which Mr.. Waite took
charge, and for which he soon oh.
/. tanned large business.
, He subsequently, entered into part.
nership with his brother Richard, ano
: continued with him until he was ele-
vated to the Chief Justiceship. A
; Wing in politics, he was always active
and Influential. In 1S49 he was elect
ed to seat in the Ohio Legislature
g and was the Wing candidate for the
Convention of 1850, to revise the con
stitution of the State. His party be.
I ing in a great minority, he was de.
feated on strictly party grounds. Ii
!. 1852 he reluctantly became candi.
date for Congress as the nominee OF
one Of the two Republican conven.
$ tions, held at Toledo at the time
which indorsed the war policy Of the
I, administration, and pledged itself, in
all ways and at all times, to give its
full and undivided support to such
measures as the Government should
deem necessary to crush out the rebel
lion in the shortest possible time
q The other Convention, which nomi.
mated ]. M. Ashley, adopted a radica
3 anti-slavery platform and urged more
radical measures than the Administra'
ton had adopted, proposing virtually
: to make the abolition OF slavery ar
end rather than an incident Of the
war. Edwin Phelps was brought out
as the Democratic candidate, and al
though the superior organization o1
, his opponents caused Mr.. Waite's de-
feat in the district. the esteem il
which he was held in Toledo was
shown in the fact that he received
within five hundred Of all the votes
, cast in that city-the most emphatic
Endorsement ever given there to a
public man.
, The position Of Judge Of the
Supreme Bench of Ohio, which was
left vacant by the refusal Of Hon
Hooking Hunter to serve, was subse-
quently rendered by Governor Brough
to Mr.. Waite, but he declined to ac-
cept. His national reputation dated
from his unexpected and unsolicited
appointment as counsel for the United
States in the arbitration at Geneva
involving the settlement Of the
Alabama claims against Great
Britain. He accepted the appoint
ment, and in December, 1871, depart
ed for Europe to assume his new
duties. He performed the services
required to the entire satisfaction Of
the Government and country. His
argument on the liability Of Great
Britain for permitting Confederate
steamers to take supplies Of coal in
her ports was pronounced fine effort,
remarkable for logical power and
grasp of international questions.
To the Constitutional Convention
called in 1873, to revise the constitu-
ton Of Ohio, he was elected delegate
from Lucas County by both political
parties, and was elected President Of
that body. Upon the death of Chief
Justice Chase, after Hon. George III.
Williams and Hon. Caleb Cushing had
been successively nominated and
withdrawn, President Grant sent to