Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-20
JUSTICE WIN. STRONG.
This Retired Member Of the Federal
Supreme Court Dead.
Ills CAREER OK THE BENCH.
His Prominence ut the Time the
Civil Rights Legislation Was Dc-
ing Interprefed-iiis Service ms
Electoral Commissioners.

WASHINGTON. d. c.. August 10
Associate-Justice Strong (retireD OF
tho United States Supreme Court, died at
Lake Monnewaska. y. Y. to-day. The
direct cause Of his death was paralysis,
but he has been much OF an invalid du-
ring many years.
William Strong, son Of the Rev. VIII
somers. Holland county, Conn. May g.,
,sos lie was educated at Plainfeld Aca-
denny ard Yale College. graduating at
the age Of % years. After a brief
c,reer rs n school-teacher he returned
70 New Haven and graduated from the
law school Of Yale. Removing thence
IN philadelphia. he was admitted 10 the
bar in 1872 The young lawyer chose
Beading. Pa. for his home. and entered
unon the practice Of his profession. In
,sf7 having taken an active interest in
,,c,i,ics he was elected To- represent the
district I'm Congress, and served TWO
terms He then returned to the practice
~ his profession, and in 1871 was elected
n fudge of the Supreme Court Of the State
~ PENNSYLVANIA for term Of fifteen
wears. on october !, 1858. he resigned
that position and resumed his practice
at the bar.
while a member Of the Supreme Court
81 the state the deceased Justice won 4
rentitation for judicial learning that ex-
tended far beyond IT'S limits and when
I'm 1870. President Grant transmitted his
name with that II the late Justice Brad
lev TO the Senate for confirmation as
.Ff.rr,a
of the United states there was a general
feeling Of satisfaction among the mem
hers Of his professor
LEGAL-TENDER ACT
on the 18th Of January 1872. Mr.. Justice
Strong announced the decision Of the
court affirming the c0nstitutionallty Of
the lesal-tender act. and Justice Brad
ley coucurred. in a lengthy opinion.
But the legal-tcndrr question was not
the only one Of importance growing out
OF the war IN the settlement Of which
Mr. Justice Strong took a prominent
part.
The constitutional amendments. In
tended 20 crystallize ard preserve the re-
suits OF the war. and the congressional
legislation necessary 10 give these con-
sututi0nal provisions force and effect.
were before the court.
In Bieelow vs.. Forrest Mr. Justice
Strong prepared the decision. announc-
ing that. under the c1udscation act Of
July H.. 1852 decree and sale only estab-
Iished a conhscation during the life Of
the one for whose offence the land was
condemned ard sold.
In Tennessee vs.. Davis he delivered the
opinion establishing the principle that the
judicial power 81 the United States EN-
braced alike civil AMI criminal cases aris-
ing under the Constitution and laws Of the
United States. and that their removal
from a State 20 a Federal court was no
invasion Of state domain or power.
VIRGINIA vs. RIvES.
In Virginia ~. 8ives h. also prepared
the opinion OF n court, holding that the
effect Of the Constitution which authorized
the enactment OF ,re statutes for the re-
mOval into the T-l .ei court Of civil suits
or prosecutions against any person VINO
was denied or could not enforce in State
courts any rights secur I 70 him by any
law providing for tho equal rights Of cii.-
zens OF the United States was 10 place
the cOlored race IN respect Of civil rights
upon level with the whites.
In * parte Virginia Judge Strong an
nounced the decision of the court. to the
effect that whoever by virtue Of public
position under State government. de-
privei another Of lie. liberty, or property
without due process Of law. or denied or
took away the equal protection Of the
laws, violated the constitutional inhibi-
ton: that his act as such officer was the
act Of the state. that power was given q
Congress 70 enforce its provisions by APP
propriate legislation; and that such legis-
lation must act. not upon the abstract
thing called the state. but upon the per
sons who were agents Of the state.
ELECTORAL COMMISSION
Justice Strorg WAS designated by the
Electoral Commission act Of 1871 as ore
Of ne judicial members Of the famous
tripartite tribunal which passed upon the
contested presidential election Of 1876. In
1881 Mr. Justice S;sons, having reached
the age at which. under the Constitution
retirement from the bench after ten years
OF service ther on is permitted, retired
and had since then made his home in this
city.
Justice Strong was a prominent resident
Of Washington. taking an active interest
i'm benevolent ana religious projects. II
was a ruling elder in the Church Of tn.
Covenant and a leading officer In the
American Bible Society and in the Ameri-
can Tract Society. usually presiding over
their annual gatherings.
when General Booth, comm1nler-in
chief Of the Salvation Army, visited Wash
ington In 1894 h. was presented % the
vast audience which gathered 10 greet hin
in Convention Hall by Justice Strong. IN
these lines h. VIII be sadly missed.
In 1886 Justice Strong married Priscilla
Lee at EastOn. Pa, by waOm h. had q
family Of one son and several daughters
The son died in 1872. two Of the daughters
are married and reside in Pennsylvania
two unmarried daughters have been their
fathers intimate companions since tht