Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 03.pdf/454

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The Supreme Court of New Jersey.

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cause was tried before thein as advisory and manner that even the defeated party masters. It was argued by the most dis could find no quarrel with it, nor with the tinguished counsel and in the most elaborate man who pronounced it. Not so with Judge manner. A week was consumed in the argu Drake; he was equally clear and definite, but ment, and the testimony filled two large octavo his opinion went further than the Chiefvolumes. Questions of law, of fact, and of Justice's, and decided not only the principles theology were discussed; the government of law involved in the case, but discussed of the Quaker denomination was examined, the theological questions which divided the and every possible argument which the two religious bodies, and so exasperated the

acutest intellect and Hicksites, who lost, the profoundest learn that they revenged ing could dream of themselves by taking were brought into the the most efficient cause. When the day means to prevent his re-election when his of decision arrived, a term expired. most impressive scene was witnessed. The When the result was announced, the court-room was crowd spectators most inter ed with quiet, unde monstrative Quakers, ested rose, and quietly who sat apparently im shaking one another's perturbable, with their hands in their usual hats on, but divided quaint fashion, Hicksinto two unmistakable ite with Orthodox, left antagonistic bodies. the room. They attempted to re George King Drake, tain their stoical calm an Associate with ness, but in vain; com Chief-Justice Ewing, pressed lips, gleaming was born in Morris eyes, and twitching County on the 1 6th features fully evinced of September, 1788. the interested tumult I Ie was the son of Col. which surged within Jacob Drake, a pa GEORGE K. DRAKE. their breasts. As the triotic officer in the time approached for Revolutionary army. the delivery of the opinions, the silence be His mother was a near relative of Mahlon came almost painful, only interrupted by the Dickerson, who has already been noticed, and rustling of the paper held by the judges. The the widow of George King, a member of one Chief-Justice first read his decision, written of the most respectable families of Morris in the purest and best English, in his usual County, after whom Judge Drake was named. calm, clear, and deliberate tone, incisively He received his early education under the Rev. Amzi Armstrong, who at one time was enunciating his view of the law which gov erned the case, and discussing the facts the preceptor of Samuel L. Southard, and who involved. His opinion was masterly and had in his time, as pupils, some of the most distinguished men of the Republic. He en convincing, and could by no means be mis understood; it was the pitiless, cold, logical tered Princeton College in due course of argument of a judge dealing with problems time, and graduated from that institution of law, but couched in such courteous tones in 1808, having for his classmates Bishop