The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-10
ONLY SEVEN CHIEF JUSTICES.
One High Office in the United States
Which Few Men Have Held.
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
The Office of chief justice of the SUI
preme court of the United States was es-
tablished by the constitution concurrently
with the office of President; but while the
presidency has been open to all native
born citizens above the age of 3d. the Of
flee of chief justice of the supreme court,
bestowed usually upon men of mature, If
not advanced years, has been held in fact
by seven persons only since the founda-
ton of the government. There has been
more than three times as many Presi-
dents
John Jay of New York was the first
chief justice of the supreme court. lie
was appointed by Washington in 1879.
Judge Jay was at that time only A years
of age. When he attained the age of 80
he resigned and retired to private life.
He died thirty-four years later-in 1893.
The second of the supreme court chief
justices was John Ellsworth of Connect
cut. He was "a years of age when APP
pointed and served until 1901, when he re-
signed, designations from public office be-
ing somewhat more frequent at that time
than now. His successor was John Mar
shall of Virginia, who was 46 years of age
when he assumed this post by appoint
ment of President John Adams; he held
until his death in 1885. Andrew Jackson
appointed his successor, Roger b. fancy
of Maryland, who held the office until hi5
death in 1864. Judge fancy was 50 years
of age when appointed and 81 at the time
of his death.
No chief justice of the supreme court,
perhaps, had more intricate questions to
determine or to vote upon in that tribu-
nal than did Judge fancy, and his tenure
and that of Chief Justice Marshall stretch
over nearly one-half of the history of the
United States as a nation. Chief Justice
Taney's successor was Salmon p. Chase
of Ohio, who had previously been secre-
tary of the treasury, and was IS years OF
age when appointed. He served for nine
years. dying in 1873. Mr.. Chase was APP
pointed by Abraham Lincoln, and it is
part OF the political history of their day
that Mr.. Chase was himself a candidate
for the presidency. and had hoped to de-
feat Mr.. Lincoln for denomination ana 10
succeed him; and later, in 1868, it is known
that Mr. Chase was candidate for the
democratic nomination for the presidency
though he had been one of the founders
of the republican party Chief Justice
Chase was succeeded in 1873 by President
Grants appointment of another Ohio man.
Morrison r. Waite, who was 81 years OF
age when appointed and served until 1888
when he was succeeded by the present
Chief Justice Melville w. Fuller, appoint
| ed by President Cleveland. Mr. Fuller Is
a native of Maine. He was. when appoint
ed, IS years of age and will be 81 on Fep:
| II next. He is the seventh OF the CHER
| justices of the supreme court and mas
| served thus far. a briefer time than any
OF his predecessors since Chief Justice
| Ellsworth.
In addition TO the chief Justices who
have served several men have been nomi-
mated for the office but rejected by the
| Senate. which has conhrmatory power.
| The Office OF chief justice Is by many eiti-
zens more highly coveted than that of the
| presidency. The labor is less. the respon-
| sibility much smaller. the tenure longer
| and the honor an exalted one.
Dog Fancier-Yes, madame. 1 have al
kinds OF dogs here. Is there any partic-
! MIR hrnnA unll r.Ish2 OH I.adu lruhn rnnls