Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 August 1883 — JUDGE BLACK. [ARTICLE]

JUDGE BLACK.

Death of the Eminent Lawyer and Statesman. A Sketch of His and Eventful Career. Judge Jeremiah 8. Black died at his home In York, Pa., after a week’s illness, on the 19th of August His death was as calm and peaceful as the se ting of a summer’s sun. ; His two sons, Chauncey F. and Henry, his 1 daughter, Mrs. Hornsby, his son-in-law, Mr. Hcrnsby, and A B. Farquhar were present 1 when he died. Just before his death he spoke with confidence of the future, saying to his son Chauncey that he had no fear of I crossing the dark river, adding: “I would that I were as comforta le about what I leave beuind in this wor d.” He spoke of busine.-s and private matters to his son. and in the midst of it would stop and refer to his faith in Christ On one occasion he said: -1 would not have you think tor a moment that I fear to cross this river. I Lave taken care to arrange for my futu-e over there, and therefore death has no terrors for me.” When his beloved wife knelt by his bedside, comforting him with her sympathy and love, he gave utterance to the following prayer; I I -uh, Thou beloved and most merciful Father, from whom I had my being and in , whom I have ever trusted, grant, if it be Thy will, that I no longer suffer this agony, ana that I be speedily called home to Thee. And Oh, my God, bless and comfort this my 1 Mary.” I Jeremiah Sullivan Bladk was descended from a mixed ancestry, composed pf the German and Scotch-Irish elements. He was born in the Glades, Somerset county, Pa, I Jnnel(\ IblO. His father, Henry Black, was a man of prominence in Southern Petm yl- ; vania, and was a memter of Congress at the time of his death. Young Black finished his “schooling” at 17, after having gained a fair knowledge of the classics, mathematics, and, above all most precious to him, a thorough grounding in the knowledge Of English classic literature. When his school 1 days ended he went home to work on the 1 farm, but his studies were nbt neglected, ' for by. the light of the morning fire he 'conned his Horace and 'Virgil, committing to ! memory each day anertatn number df lines. I Before he entered upon his profession, he 'had not only translated but learned'‘th4 : whpja.of.theiVJ bqoks by heart ... u ■/ ' 1 I h Under Chadncey forward he studied • laty/tuadinHfeFwas admitted to the -her.-j , When he was 28 years of age he married ifis , taStruCtof s daughter, she being 17. About tohiSiUmQfee joined the sect known as tha J : Camp bellites or I?is ciplea of Christ, with I Whom he remained In fraternal relatlonsthe rett of his Hie, Gov. Porter in ; .j ; pointed him presiding Judge of the Frank- j iiin, Bedford and Somerset districts, hndf i j; though a party Jight was made on the apI polntment, the urianimotis approval of the ; members of ten bar decided the nyattec in 1 his favor. This office he held with great credit for nine years When thepoutfoii was made-elective he was chosen for. the. short term, and filled the Chief Justiceship most acceptably for three years ■ • - Judge Black, was re-elected for fifteen years; bht was' compelled to resign After twp, President Buchanan calling him to the Cabinet as Attorney-General where he remained until 1860. His most oon!«WH?BQfttae Willie holding this Office was the protection of the claims made by ; Americans against the fraudulent preten- . Stfitiof the Spanish in regards to land’s ih ; California.; r Mr. Stanton was associated’.' with him In these labors. When Judge , Black was made Secretary of State Stanton became Attorney-General Throughout the war he remained a staunch War Democrat. When Black retired from the Cabinet he resumed the practice of Law, and few man have eiyoyed so large a practice in the Supreme Court of the land as ha His manner was characterized by eminent legal ability, courage and skill He talked to the court deliberately, without notes, and cited authorities from memory. The most important cases in which he was engaged were: The Milliken case, the Vanderbflc will case* the McGarrahan claim, the Belknap impeachment, and the electoral contest In no case where public interests were involved, as in the Milliken case, did he take a fee for services rendered j Judge Black was elected a member of the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention in 1873, and was urgent in pressing the needs of the legislative reform. He served without pay. Not only as a jurist, learned, exact, and apt, has he made himself known to the people of the whole nation, but as a writer of political and theological articles he has won a place among the classic writers of the age. His answer to the strictures on Christianity by CoL Ingersoll, given in the pages of one of the principal magazines in the land, pro yoked much critki m and praise. For a time it was the topic of conversation and of leading newspaper articles, and its clrcu'ation passed the boundaries of the United States into Canada and England, where it was unequivocally commended. His last noted political paper was on “ Monopoly,” and the strong views he uttered, backed by keen logic and biting woids, were as rapturously applauded by his sympathizers as they were condemned by those opposed to its views. Personally Judge Black was imposing in his stature and manners. Nearly six ieet tall, with shaggy eyebrows that in repose gave him a stern aspect, his strong bodily frame and erect carriage made him a remarkable figure in any assemblage. Though noted for the radical views he held in politics, he was a great social favorite, and Garfield. Carpenter, Ingersoll and Blaine always sought him out when in Washington. Even Thad Stevens defended him once in the House, when attacked by some one on the Democratic side. Lawyer as he was, statesman and scholar of high ability, deeply read in literature, Judge Black devoted more time to the study and perusal of the Bible than persons would think possible His ideas of right and wrong gained in the strict old school of Presbyterians remained with him throughout ms jife and make his character shine with a brightness that mere culture or even genius could never produce He was an American in every sense of the term, the peculiar product of a community whom, for • rugged strength and grand ambitions, the I world has never seen excelled.