Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-02-21
A CENTENNIAL OF Law.
Celebrating the Foundation of
the L. 5. Supreme Court.
Impressive Exercises in Presence
of Brilliant Gathering.

The only thing which served to detract
from the ma gnificence 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 colors, and an interest
ing feature was the exhibition of portraits
of seven of the Chief Justices of the United
States jay, Rutledge Ellsworth Marshall,
fancy, Chase and Waite.
Promptly at 10 80 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 H.
Armour. the Chairman of the Judiciary Cen
tennial Committee of the New York State
Bar Association, appeared leaning upon the
arm of ex-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 the
stage They were Chief Justice Fuller and
Associate Justices Samuel F. Miller, Stephen
J. Field, Joseph P. Bradley, John NJ. Harlan,
Horace Gray, Samuel BIatchford, Lucius Q.
lamar and David + RraNaT all attirad 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
George E. Adams, J. Buchanan, Henry C.
Mccormick and James Sherman the Judi
ciary Committee of the House of Representa-
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 a sympa-
thetic reference to the affiictiOn which had
come upon the Executive Department of the
Government. His speech was brief and
ended as follows: 81 deem myself highly
honored by the part assigned to nae in these
commemorative exercises. AS in eloquent
and fitting terms we shall be led by those
chosen to address US to the contempla,
ton Of the hs' Try of that august tribunal
organized one ,4ndred years ago; as the lives
and services Of those who in the past have
presided over It's councils are rehearSed to us:
our love and veneratiOn for our fellow
cOuntrymen who now fill its high and sacred
places are quckened, and as we are remind
ed Of the manner i'll which our national
Court has at all times illustrated the strength
and benefcence of free institutions, let us be
glad Ill the possession Of this rich heritage of
American citizenship, and gratefully appre-
clate the wisdom and patriotism of those who
gave to US the Supreme Court of the United
States"
At the conclusion of Mr. Clevelands ad-
dress the Rev. Dr. Morgan Dix offered the
invocation, reading the Episcopal prayers
appropriate to the occasion. The sad calam-
ity of the previous day in Secretary Tracy's
family was brought again to the thought of
the audience when DIR. Dix added the prayer
for those in affection.
Ex-Judge Arnoux, Chairman of the Judi
ciary Centennial Committee of the New York
State Bar Association, next rose and deliv-
cred an address Of welcome to the Supreme
Court.
The response of the Supreme Court was de-
livered through Mr.. Justice Field, who was
introduced by Chief-Justice Fuller.
The Hon. William Allen Butler of New
York, then delivered a stirring address on
the ''Origin 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 J. Semmes,
" " LOuA>LAua' anu eA--hlulSCcT EDWARD y.
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-
ton by the Rev. DR.. Talbot w. Chambers
dinner in honor of the Supreme Court
was given at night. Responses to the various
tOaStS were made by Associate Justice Har-
Ian, Senator w NJ Evarts, Edward NJ. Pax
son, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Walter
B. Hill, of Georgia. Joseph II. Choate, of
New York; Seth Low, President of Columbia
College, Rev. DR.. W r. Huntington and
NJ. Depew