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VOL. XIII.

No. 6.

BOSTON.

JUNE, 1901.

ATTORNEY GENERAL KNOX. THE appointment of a new Attorney Gen through Monroe's two administrations, and eral calls to mind some of the noted until the end of that of John Quincy Attains, men and some of the great lawyers who have during those twelve years discharging with held the office. One of the four original ability his official duties, although not cabinet positions, its first incumbent was confining his professional labors to the ser Edmund Randolph,—beloved of Washing vice of the government. One of the great ton, a leader of the Virginia bar, of fine names on the roll is that of Roger B. Taney, talents, yet lacking somewhat in strength of Jackson's adviser and supporter, and his At character. Concerning him there have been, torney General for two years. In the list of the Attorneys General for the and will continue to be, all shades of opinion. Hamilton cordially disliked him. Jefferson next fifty years stand the names of Benjamin said of him, unjustly, that he had "generally F. Butler, of New York, John J. Crittenden, given his principles to the one party, and his of Kentucky, John Y. Mason, of Virginia, practice to the other, the oyster to one, the Nathan Clifford, of Maine, Reverdy Johnson, shell to the other." And yet on one point of Maryland, Caleb Gushing, of Massachu there is agreement.—that he performed well setts, Jeremiah S. Black, of Pennsylvania, Edwin M. Stanton and William Maxwell the duties of his office, and set a high stand Evarts, of New York, E. Rockwood Hoar ard for his successors. Of his successors a few only may be me»- and Charles Devens, of Massachusetts. The tioned. Theophilus Parsons, of Massachu names of the distinguished lawyers who setts, held the office for a brief period at the have held the office within the last twenty end of John Adams's administration, and was years are fresh in the minds of all. It is well to recall the men distinguished succeeded by Levi Lincoln, of the same State, of whom the dramatic, though fanciful, in public life and at the bar who have served tale so often has been told, how, shortly be the government in the office of Attorney fore midnight on the third of March, 1801, General. Their incumbency of the office, in he "walked into the office of the Secretary of the past, gives to it an added dignity and State, John Marshall, and with Jefferson's importance, and is a strong incentive to the watch in hand put a stop to the signing of leaders of our bar at the present day to commissions at twelve o'clock exactly. aspire to the office, in spite of its meagre William Pinkney, of Maryland, held the pecuniary reward as compared with returns office under Madison : Richard Rush, of of a successful practice. And it is a satis Pennsylvania, under both Madison and faction to know that the standard of faithful Monroe. William -Wirt, of Virginia, who service and of high professional ability set in had made his reputation in the prosecution the past will be fully met by the present At of Burr, and who ranked high both as a law- torney General. Philander Chase Knox was born fortyver and writer, succeeded Rush, and held the office for twelve years, continuing in office eight years ago in Brownsville, Fayette