That the State never had before, and has never had since, a finer
Judiciary than that which was organized under the administration of
Governor Alcorn and which continued under the administration of Governor
Ames is an indisputable and incontrovertible fact. The Judges of the
Supreme Court were E.G. Peyton, H.F. Simrall and J. Tarbell, who in
Mississippi had no superiors in their profession, and who had the
respect and confidence of the bar and of the people without regard to
race or politics. Judge Peyton was the Chief Justice, Simrall and
Tarbell being the Associate Justices. The first two were old residents
of the State, while Mr. Justice Tarbell was what the Democrats would
call a "Carpet Bagger." But that he was an able lawyer and a man of
unimpeachable integrity no one doubted or questioned. During the second
administration of President Grant he held the important position of
Second Comptroller of the United States Treasury. The Circuit Court
bench was graced with such able and brilliant lawyers as Jason Niles,
G.C. Chandler, George F. Brown, J.A. Orr, John W. Vance, Robert
Leachman, B.B. Boone, Orlando Davis, James M. Smiley, Uriah Millsaps,
William M. Hancock, E.S. Fisher, C.C. Shackleford, W.B. Cunningham,
W.D. Bradford and A. Alderson. Judges Brown and Cunningham were the only
ones in the above list who were not old residents of the State. After
leaving the bench, Judge Chandler served for several years as United
States Attorney. Judge Niles served one term as a member of Congress,
having been elected as a Republican in 1875. His son Henry Clay Niles is
now United States District Judge for the State, having been appointed to
that important position by President Harrison. He was strongly
recommended by many members of the bench and bar of the State; and the
very able and creditable way in which he has discharged the duties of
the position has more than demonstrated the wisdom of the selection.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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