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Contrary to his wishes and tastes, Mr. dinner and public reception was tendered to Taney was appointed Attorney-General of him in recognition of his services to the the United States, by President Jackson, in country. On the 28th of December, 1835, President 1 83 1. He reluctantly accepted the office; Jackson sent to the Senate the name of but he performed its duties with great satis faction to the Administration, and with great Roger Brooke Taney to succeed John Mar shall as Chief-Justice of the United States. distinction to himself. He was General Jack son's most trusted friend and confidential The nomination was opposed by the Whig adviser in the war against the Bank of the Senators, led by Clay and Webster; and it

was not until the 1 5th United States; and in of March, 1836, that order to have Taney's _ the nomination was entire services in this confirmed. He was celebrated struggle, well qualified for the the President ap high office, both as a pointed him Secretary lawyer and as a man. of the Treasury on He did not take his the 23d of September, seat on the bench of 1833, during a recess the Supreme Court of the Senate. He until January, 1837. entered upon his du So great was the rep ties the next day, and utation that Chief-Jus on the 26th of the tice Taney acquired as same month gave the a judge that both Clay famous order for the and Webster lived to removal of the de regret their course in posits from the Bank the matter of his nom of the United States. ination, and paid the Then began the famous highest tribute to his fight between Nicho judicial ability. Web las Biddle, the Presi ster often sought his dent of the Bank, and counsel on important Andrew Jackson, the affairs of state. President of the United FRANCIS SCOTT-KEY It is not within the States. The fight was purpose of this article long and fierce, and ended, as all students of American history to enter into the history of Chief-Justice know, in a complete victory for the latter. Taney on the Supreme Bench. His opinion In the United States Senate Clay, Webster, on the Dred Scott case is said to have ex and Calhoun bitterly denounced Jackson cited more rancorous hate than any other and Taney for their action in the affair of judgment of a court since man first sub the Bank; and when the President sent mitted disputes to the arbitration of law. to the Senate the nomination of Roger B. But that famous decision has been blotted Taney as Secretary of the Treasury, he was from the statute-books by a deluge of blood. Chief-Justice Taney was a close student rejected, it being the first time in the his tory of our Government that a cabinet officer all his life, as well as a constant reader of had been so treated. The next day Mr. general literature; and to the end of his long Taney resigned his office, and resumed the career he kept himself in touch with all practice of the law in Baltimore, where a the literary as well as legal questions of