Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-08-06

Don't tell me. sir. don't tell mo.
I've forgotten more law than you ever
knew 1hen by n great effort he raised
himself by the arms of his chair. aud,
standing n his fun height. repeated.
looking straight mt Justice Field. who
was somewhat offended ut the brusQuo-
ness Of his manner: Don't tell me. sir
Here's "A man thot has had every act
of I'M active business life for forty
years examined under 81 microScope to
find some hing again his charactcr,
his home rs we'll as his public life ANA
lyzcd To find flaw tAlt would reflect
upon his Vcrnci,Y. and nothing-no.
nothing. not one single thing could he
found against him but lliuing-one liz
tie Frcnchman.' with a contemptuous
drop of his cracked voice.
ION ono occasion. when an unknown
attorney was delugiug the bench with
words. Justice Grecr called his attend
ant, and. while leaning ON him as he
WIS helped from the room. gave his
peculiar whistle and said: y regular
hladder-hiaze can't understand a
thing he is talking about and can't SCI
n decent nan. Now. If it were James
:. Carlisle or Mcpherson | could take
p nap and wake uN aud know all that
they had been saving. hut this hiad-
der-hlazc VIII neither cnlightcn nor
JUDGE NELSON.
The great Judge Nelson was Il notn-
bic figure upon the supreme Court
bench for many years. His brain was
n legal etore house from which lilo
could draw ANYTHING ne wanted to use.
II was remarked of him that m prs
pairing his opinions he would not call
for a dozen law books during nm entire
session of the court. yet his references
and citations were fun and accurate,
and no ono ever thought of questioning
their entire correctness.
JUSTICE CLIFFORD.
"Iustcc Clifford, ON the contrary, one
Of the most profound jurisis that ever
adorned the bench. who, in the esti-
nation OF many legal experts. was the
equal OF any member of the court dur
ing his long term Of service, would have
law books sent 10 his house by the
wagon load. and he seemed to use them
all. His opinions We're prepared IN the
library of his home.
CHIEF JUSTICE TANEY.
"At the time THAT Chief Justice Roger
L. raney delivered his celebrated opin-
ion In the bred Scot- case. Qsi7D jonah
-. Hoover was the United States dis
trict marshal. and his house was the
meeting place III The leading Demo-
cratic statesmen of that day. Score
tary John H. Floyd. H1well CobD and
Jacob Thompson. of lSHchaunn's cabi-
net; Senator BroGericN. OF California;.
Dr. Thomas Miller OF Warrington, and
Sam Ward, buL recently crowned as
the king of the lobby. aud the greatest
lobbyist ever known IN Washington.
dined with Hoover ON the evening the
decision was rendered. and their eN-
pressions Of their private opinions Of
Judge Faneys biunder.ng decision
could scarcely be restrained untl the
doors closed upon them Floyd and
Frederick were both given 10 a very
free use of pr0faae language, anG
Judge Taney's ears must have burned
painfully that evening. They de-,
nonuced MIN as darned laundering
old fool, who had for lack OF tact in
wording his decision, destroyed all
chances OF the Democratic party's sue
ceodng itself in the national admins,
tration and they predicted Il wild up-
rising against the power OF the slave
states. All accorded 10 the chief itis-
t!ce the possession Of great legal wis
dom. but they credited him with being
q blind partisan without one particle OF
diplomacy. The decision, had it been
adroiuy framed they said. would have
given no loophole for an outbreak of
popular indignation. while all the leca,
advantages deemed essential to M.
slayeholding interests could have been
maintained"