Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-02-05
JUDICIARY CENTENNIAL.
The Department of Justice Cele
braIes Its Centennial.

The Department of Justice Cele-
brates Its Centennial.
New YORK, February 4.-The sad
events OF the Last few days at Washing
ton dimmed considerably the celebration
of the Centennial OF the Federal Judi
ciary inaugurated this morning. The
weather, too, was very unfavorable,
heavy rain falling. The attendance at
the exercises in the Metropolitan opera
house was the most noted that ever
filed the magnificent building. Dis
tributed about the galleries were banners
and shields bearing the coats OF arms OF
the various States. The interior of the
building was otherwise elaborately
decorated. On the right of the stage, in
the front row, were seated the members
of the United States Supreme Court.
Ex-Pre sident Grover Cleveland pre-
sided. Others seated on the stage in
cluded ex-Justice William Strong, Sem
ator Evarts, 7. ]. Semmes, of New
Orleans; General William T. Sherman,
Chauncey NJ. Depew and David Dudley
Field.
While the distinguished gathering were
| leaving their carriages at the door, and
| filling the seats until there was standing
room only, the grand symphony orches-
ira played the coronation march over
ture, to Tampa and the Amer ican
fantasie.
EX-PRESIDENT CLEVELAND SPEAKS.
When the last air had been played, ex-
President Cleveland stepped forward.
He Was cheered to the echo, and come
minutes elapsed before he could speak.
Bowing his acknowledgements and ex-
pressing his appreciation of the generous
welcome accorded him, Mr.. Cleveland
delivered a brief Introductory address, in
which, among other things, he said: "In
the work of creating our nation, the ele
ments of free government were sup
piled by concessions of the sovereign
States, by surrender of their accustomed
rights, and by tie inspiration of
pure and disinterested patriotism
If from these elements there mad not
been evolved that feature in our Federal
system, which is our theme today, the
structure might have been fair to look
upon and might have presented SEM
blance Of solidity; but it would have
been only semblance, and the COM
pleted edifice would have had within it's
| foundations the infrmity of decay and
ruin"
PROGRAMME OF EXERCISES.
Rev. Morgan Dix then led in prayer.
Ex.Judge Arnoux, of the New York
| Bar Association, next delivered brief
address of welcome.
The next address was on the "Origin
of the Supreme Court of the United
States and it's Place in the Constitution"
| by the veteran lawyer, william Allen
| Butler.
Hon. Henry Hitchcock then spoke on
the powers of the Supreme Court, and
those of the Constitution.
Mr.. Hitchcock was followed by Hon.
Thomas Semmes, OF Louisiana, who
spoke on the Personal Characters of
Chief Justices"
Then Hon. Edward J. Phelps, Of Yer
| mont, delivered an address on "The Su
preme Court and the Sovereignty Of iAe
| People,"
Chief Justice Fuller then introduced
Justice Field, who responded on behalf
of the Supreme Court.
| JUSTICE FIELDS ADDRESS.
| Following is synopsis of the address
of Justice Field:
''In every age and with every people,
| there have been celebrations for triumphs
| in war; for battles won on land and sea,
and for triumphs OF peace bat never un-
| til now has there been in any country a
celebration like this, to commemorate
| the establishment of judicial tribunal,
| rs coordinate and permanent branch
of its government. This celebration
had its inspiration in profound
reverence for the Constitution of the
United States as the sure and only means
of preserving the Union, with its inesti-
mable blessings, and the conviction that
this tribunal has materially contributed
to its Just appreciation and ready obedi-
erce to its authority. Experience has
| shown that in country of great terri
toria extent and varied interests, peace
and lasting prosperity can exist with a
civilized people only when local affairs
are controlled by the local authorities
and at the same time there are lodged in
the general Government of the country
such sovereign powers as will enable it
to regulate the Intercourse of its people
with foreign nations and between com.
munites; protect them in all their right ts
in such intercourse; defend the country
against invasion and domestic violence,
and maintain the supremacy of the laws
throughout IT'S whole domain.
"This principle the trainers of the
Constitution acted upon in establishing
the Government of the Union by leaving
unimpaired the power of the States te
control all matters of local interest and
creating a new Government of the SOY
ereign powers for matters of general anC
national concern. They thus succeeded
In reconciing local self-government, ol
home rule, as it is termed, with the ex
, ercise of national sovereignty for nationa
purposes. Under this dual Government
{ each State may pursue the policy bes
, suited to it's people and resources, though
, unlike that of another State.
"And now, with it's history in the cen
4 tury past, what is needed that the Su
> preme Court of the United States shoult
sustain it's character and be as useful il
{ the century to come? 1 answer, as thu
matter of first consideration, that i
+ should not be overborne with work; ant
a by that / mean it should have
some relief from the immense burden
:, now cast upon it. This can only b.
done by legislative action, and in deter
= mining what measures shall be adopted
= for that purpose, Congress will undoubt
+ edly receive with favor suggestions from