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 The Supreme Court of Wisconsin. peace or the bloody gauntlets of war." The he held to a political opinion without regard address was a lengthy review of the causes to the rest of mankind. of the war. It denounced the Republican An incident may here be told that shows party as revolutionary, censured the abolition much of the quality of the man. He was of slavery in the District of Columbia, and once arguing a cause before the Supreme the emancipation and confiscation measures Court of the United States. Chief-Justice adopted; denied the power of the Executive Chase presided; and during Ryan's argu to suspend the writ of habeas corpus in the ment, the great chief justice turned to an loyal States, or to make arrests therein, or to associate and began a whispered conversa

trammel the freedom tion. Perceiving this, of the press, or trans Ryan paused, and port citizens arrested waited until the chief in one State to an justice turned as if to other, and demanded inquire the cause of that the war be car his silence. Then ried on for and under Ryan said, with great the Constitution. It dignity but signifi was a very able pre cant impressiveness, sentment of the views "What I am saying entertained by many is worth hearing." of the Democratic It is said that the leaders. Their tone chief justice blushed of censure and fault deeply, and after finding then assumed wards gave perfect against the war policy, attention. Indeed, no could not be distin lawyer could listen to guished, in the minds Ryan with a wander of the upholders of ing mind after he had the Union, from warmed up to his downright sympathy subject. with the South; and He had long had the " Ryan Address" an ambition to be JOHN B. CASSODAY was denounced most chief justice; and bitterly as the very this distinction came essence of that spirit which, in war-times, after long waiting. In 1874 there happened was called " copperheadism." Matt. H. to be a Democratic governor in Wisconsin, Carpenter wrote a review of the address, and the office of chief justice became vacant in which the " war powers " of the gov by the resignation of Chief-Justice Dixon. ernment in a struggle for self-preserva Ryan was appointed, and served until his tion were discussed with clearness and death. His appointment was generally ap force, and great light was thrown on the proved by the bar, for all knew his splendid juridical aspects of the great contest by endowments for the place. But it was feared the two papers. Carpenter soon became by many who acknowledged his high ability a Republican. Ryan would have remained that his one infirmity, his temper, would by the doctrines of his address if he had render the consultations of the court un remained alone, and had stood alone for pleasant. But in this respect the fears were a generation. He was so constituted that not realized. Says Chief-Justice Cole, one