The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-02-19
A CENTENNIAL OF Lawn
Celebrating the Foundation OF
the U. s. Supreme Court.
Impressive Exercises in Presence
of a Brilliant Gathering.

The only thing which served to detract
from the magnifcence of the long anticipated
centennial celebration Of the Judiciary at
New York was the absence Of President Har-
rison and his Cabinet This was due to the
melancholy disaster which befel Secretary
Tracy, and in consideration of his terrible
bereavement the heads Of the United States
Government decided to decline the invita-
ton to participate in the exercises in COM
memoration Of the organization in the Su-
preme Court Of the United States.
The exercises were held at the Metropolitan
Opera House. The decorations Of the Opera
House celebration can be adequately re-
ferred to as magnificent. From the bril-
lianty lighted chandelier which surmounted
the auditorium hung colored streamers
reaching to every point Of the vast interior
of the building. From the fronts Of the
various balconies were gracefully entwined
the colors of the Union and the arms Of the
various States Of the Union. The stage was
tastefully draped in co!ors, and an interest.
ing feature was the exhibition Of portraits
of seven of the Chief Justices Of the United
States, Jay, Rutledge, Ellsworth, Marshall,
Taney, Chase and Waite.
Promptly at 1890 the orchestra began the
opening strains Of Meyerbeer's Coronation
march, and almost Immediately the doors
leading to the centre aisle of the auditorium
were thrown open, and the Hon. William 81.
Arnoux the Chairman Of the Judiciary Con-
tennial Committee Of the New York State
Bar Association, appeared leaning upon the
arm of e1-President Grover Cleveland. To
gether they led the procession to the stage
the audience standing while the venerable
dispensers of United States justice IN the
Supreme Court walked to their places on tho
stage. They were Chief Justice Fuller and
Associate Justices Samuel F. Miller Stephen
]. Field, Joseph P. Bradley, John NJ. Harlan,
Horace Gray, Samuel Blatchford, Lucius Q.
G. Lamar and David J. Brewer, all attired in
their black robes Of Office.
Following the Justices came many distin-
guished guests. George F. Hoar represented
the Judiciary Committee Of the United States
Senate, and Congressman John W. Stewart,
George E. Adams, J. Buchanan, Henry G.
Mccormick and James Sherman the judi,
ciary Committee Of the House of Represents
tives.
The exercises were begun by Frederic r.
Coudert, who introduced Mr.. Cleveland as
the Chairman Of the days proceedings. Mr..
Cleveland began his address with sympa--
thetic reference to the affliction which had
come upon the Executive Department of the
Government. His speech was brief, and
ended as follows: 81 deem myself highly
commemorative exercises. As in eloquent.
and fitting terms we shall be led by those
chosen to address US to the conteropla--
ton Of the history Of that august tribunal
organized one hundred years ago; as the lives
and services Of those who in tbs past have,
presided over Its councils are rehearsed to US;
as our love and veneration for our fellow
countrymen who now fill its high ard sacred
places are quickened; and as we are remind
Il 1fk H. xrynI oh M
Court has at all times illustrated the strength
and benefcence of free institutions, let US be :
glad in the possession of this rich heritage Of
American citizenship, and gratefully appre-
ciate the wisdom and patriotism OF those who
gave to us the Supreme Court of the United
States"
At the conclusion of Mr.. Cleveland's adj
dress the Rev. Dr. Morgan Dix offered the
invocation, reading the Episcopal prayers
appropriate to the occasion. The sad calau-
ity of the previous day in Secretary Fracy's
family was brought again to the thought OF
the audience when DR.. Dix added the prayer
for those in afliction.
Ex-Judge Armour, Chairman OF the judi
ciery Centennial Committee of the New York
State Bar Association. next rose and delly.
cred an address Of welcome to the Supreme ;
Court. -
The response of the Supreme Court was de-
ivered through Mr.. Justice Field, who WAS
introduced by Chief Justice Fuller.
The Hon. William Allen Butler, of New
York, then delivered stirring address on
the dOrigin Of the Supreme Court Of the :
United States and It's Place in the Constitu-
ton" .
Addresses were also delivered by Henry
Hitchcock, of st. Louis; Thomas ]. Semmes
of Louisiana, and ex-Minister Edward j.
Phelps, of Vermont The address which was:
to have been made by President Harrison
was necessarily omitted; and after the sing
ing of the National Hymn and the do1ology,
the exercises were closed with the benedic- :
tion by the Rev. DR.. Talbot W. Chambers.
A dinner in honor of the Supreme Court
was given at night. Responses to the various
toasts were made by Associate Justice aar-
Ian, Senator W. M. .Evarts, Edward NJ. Pax
son, Chief Justice Of Pennsylvania; Waiter
B. Hill, Of Georgia, Joseph b. Choate OF
New York; Seth Low, President Of Columbia :
College, Rev. DR.. W. R. Huntington and
NJ