Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-18

The elevation of Justice EDWARD y.
| White of Louisiana to be Chief justice
| of the Supreme Court of the United
| States is the first instance for over
century of promotion of member o.
the court to preside over it, and also of
the selection for the post of a man of
| opposite political faith to that of the adj
ministration.
| In the infancy of the court. before
| 1886, one who had been an associate
justice was appointed during recess,
served one session, but failed of contirma-
ton. Another had been appointed and
confirmed. but declined the commission.
| From this date until the present, Chief
Justices have come from benches other
than the Supreme Court. for seventy
| four years a vacancy in the chief JUS
ticeship has happened but four times.
Chief Justice Marshall served thirty
four years to his death, in 1885. His sue
| cessOr, Chief Justice fancy, served
twenty EIGHT years, to his death, in 1864.
Chief Justices Chase, lS64-1S73; Waite
| 1S74-1SSS. and Fuller, 1SSS-191O have &C.
cupied the post since then
The court organized under the;
Constitution, which became effective in
| 1889. Article ) of that instrument pro-
| vided that the judicial power of the
United States should be vested in the
Supreme Court and such inferior courts
as Congress might establish from time
| to time.
| That Congress assembled for its first
| session in March. f7SJ. Washington was
| inaugurated April 10 of that year. 1t was
not until the closing days of that ses
| sion that the Justices of the Supreme
Court were appointed.
lh6t. if.lt, for
| the construction of the highest judicial
| body of the land. Many men had made
| their marks in the diplomatic, Legislative
and military service, as Well as at the
| bar and bench in the various states.
| Some had succeeded father and grand
! father in the legal profession.
John Jay of New York, then forty
| four. years of age, who had given inval-
liable service to the cause of independ-
| ence during the revolution governor
| of his state as diplomatic agent in Ed
rope, as well as in the Continental Con-
gress and by his pen, had done much to
shape public opinion-Was given the
choice of Offices under the government
by Washington. He selected that of
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of
the United States.
He was confirmed as such Septem-
Der 26, 1850. Associate justices were con-
firmed at the same time.
John Rutledge of South Carolina. thea
about fifty years of age. was one of
those He had served in the Continental
army, was commander of the co!ony.
member of Congress and of the constltu-
tiOnal convention.
William Gushing of Massachusetts. then
in his tifty-seventh year, descendent OF
judicial officers of the earliest colonial
days. was another appointee. James
Wilson of Pennsylvania, forty-seven
wears of age. Signer Of the Decia ION
of independence and long a member OF
the Continental Congress. was also an
associate justice
John Blair of Virginia, who had been a
member, of the Continental Congress:
Robert II. Harrison of Maryland. VINO
resigned in few days to become ch.e1
chancellor of his state, and James ire
dell of North Carolina, who was appoint
ed in place of: Mr.. Harrison in Feoruary'
1890. completed the membership. of the
court.
The first session of the court was held
| in New York city in February. lF!'o'
| Chief Justice Jay and Associate Justices
Gushing, Wilson, Blair ana feden were
on the bench.
| In 1892 Associate Justice Rutledge re-
signed Thomas Johnson. Governor OF
Maryland during the revolution, was ap-
pointed to his place, holding II untli ~" No.
William Patterson. Governor Oh new Jer-
sey who died in 1896.
! In 1874 Chief Justice Jay resigned and
became Governor OF New YORK lie was
afterWard envoy to England
In 49,, former Justice Rutledge was
| amounted to head the court. After pre-
siding one term his nomination failed
confirmation. In 1916 Justice Cushing
was appointed and confirmed as Chief
Justice. He declined, remaining on the
| bench as an associate justice until his
death, in 1871.
John, Blair, one of. the original APP
pointees resigned in 1896 and was sue
ceeded by Samuel Chase, of Maryland.
James Wilson died in T79S. Bushrod
Washington of Virginia was appointed
to his place and served about thirty years
| therea fter until his death.
Justice Iredell oied in 1900. He was