The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1889-03-16
DEATH OF A GREAT JuRisr.
Judge John A. Cam pbel1 Passes Away
II His Residence in Baltimore.

Especial to The Times D emocrat.l
4 BALr1MoRE, March l2.-Hon. job,
A. Campbell, formerly associate justice
Of the United States Supreme Court
and afterwasd Assistant Secretary o
War for the Confederate States, died
at his home in this city this afternoon
aged nearly seventy-eight.
Judge John 4. Campbell WAS born
near Washington, GA, in June, 1911.
At the carly age of fifteen he graduated
from the State University of his native
State. He then entered West Point,
remaining there three years, when he
returned TO Georgia and was licensed,
at the oge Of eighteen, by special act OF
the Legislature, to practice law. Soon
after lie entered upon his profession
young Campbell removed to Mont
gomery, Ala, where he rapidly went to
the front in his profession and formed
. partnership with two of the most dis
tinguished lawyers in the State, Senator
Fitzpatrick and Judge Go!dthwaite.
In Montgomery Mr.. Campbell mar
ried Miss Anne f.. Goldthwaite, a
slater Of his law partner. While in
Montgomery he was made Colonel OF
the Alabama troops in the Creek war.
In 1886 Col. Campbell, AZ he was
then called, left Montgomery and went
10 Mobile, where he secured a large
and lucrative practice. In the same
year he was elected member Of the
Alabama Legislature, and in the extra
session of 1887, called by the Governor
to devise means to tide over the
financial pane caused by Gen. jack
sons withdrawal of government de-
posits from the branch banks, he was
made chairman of the bank committee.
tant of the Legislature, and the reports
made by its chairman, Col. Campbell,
form to-day some of the most valuable
records in the Capitol OF Alabama.
In politics Mr.. Campbell was, from
his early manhood, States rights
Democrat, and wherever he went,
though not An applicant for office or
position, lie was honored and looked
up to a. a wise political leader. ta"
In 1850, Col. Campbell came to New
Orleans and was engaged with John
Randolph Grymcs in the case Of Mrs.
Myra Clark Gaines against Richard
Relf and others.
In 1852 he appeared before the
United States Supreme Court in the
Gaines case, opposed by Mr.. Webster.
Though he failed 10 win this case his
splendid argument in its trial 50 pleased
the judges of the Supreme Court that
they concluded to recommend him TO
the President for appointment in tho
vacancy of that court occurring in the
loss of Judge Mckinley.
Judge Campbell was appointed one
of the Associate Justices of the United
States Supreme Court in 1858 by
President Franklia Pierce. At that
time Judge Taney was Chief Justice,
and Campbell and Taney were re-
garded as the ablest judges of the
court.
From the time of his appointment to
the outbreak Of the civil war, eight
years later, Judge Campbell was fire.
Quently in New Orleans as presiding
justice Of the Circuit Court for this
district.
Before the Southern States resolved
to try the experiment Of secession he
advised against it, foreseeing that it
would result in war.
At the first threat of war he resigned
udS YSStSlOu lA lHC NnttCV otNCGS
Supreme Court and came home to cast
his lot with his people.
Under the Confederate government
Judge Campbell was appointed Assis-
tant Secretary of War. In 1865, few
months before the surrender of the
Confederate armies lie was chosen with
Vice President Stephens and Hon. II.
II. L. Hunter, of Virginia, on the
famous commission or peace con-
ference to meet Abraham Lincoln nenr
Fortress Monroe. The failure Of that
conference has long ago passed into
history. After the war he was incar-
cerated State prisoner in Fort
Pulaski, Ca, for nearly year. When
he was released he came to New Or
leans and went into partnership with
Judge Henry NJ. Spofford, and his own
son, d. G. Campbell.
In the winter Of 1925, it will be
remembered. q committee Of leading
citizens OF Louisiana, called the Com
mittce of One Hundred, went TO WASH
ington 10 make An appeal to Grant to
withhold his countcnance and aid from