Page:The Supreme Court in United States History vol 1.djvu/121

Rh steps taken in the case and describing Randolph's able argument of two and one half hours, the summary continued: "When Mr. Randolph had closed his speech, the Court, after remarking on the importance of the subject now before them, and the necessity of obtaining every possible light on it, expressed a wish to hear any gentleman of the Bar who might be disposed to take up the gauntlet in opposition to the Attorney General. As no gentlemen, however, were so disposed, the Court held the matter under advisement until Monday, the 18th instant, when in presence of a numerous and respectable audience, they severally declared their opinions on the question that had been argued. Judge Iredell was first called on by the Chief Justice for his opinion. In an argument of an hour and a quarter, he maintained the negative of this question ; he considered the States as so many separate independent sovereignties. . . . Judge Wilson next took a very broad and enlarged view of the question, which he thought would again resolve itself into a question of no less magnitude than whether the people of the United States formed a nation. . . . His argument was elegant, learned and contained principles and sentiments highly republican. It occupied an hour and concluded pointedly and unequivocally for the motion of Mr. Randolph. . . . Chief Justice Jay delivered one of the most clear, profound, and elegant arguments perhaps ever given in a Court of Judicature." Short accounts of Judge Blair's and Judge Cushing's opinions were also given.