When the Supreme Court of the United States was organized Washington selected Mr. Wilson for one of its judges. This high office he filled with great ability up to the time of his death. In 1790 he was appointed the first professor of the Law College in Philadelphia. When that and the University of Pennsylvania were united he filled the chair. As a learned and eloquent lawyer he had no superior at the Philadelphia bar. He was honored with the degree of LL.D. and during the first year of his professorship delivered an admirable course of lectures to the law students. Like most of the Scotch literati, towards them he was distant and reserved. His writings were vigorous and logical. In 1774 he wrote a spirited essay on the assumptions of the British Parliament not warranted by Magna Charta and portrayed the blessings arising from a republican form of government in such fascinating colors that it exercised a wide and salutary influence. To the uninitiated in party politics it may seem strange that any one accused James Wilson of aristocracy or a want of patriotism. A purer friend of his country or a more ardent advocate of the cause of freedom could not be found among the sages of '76. He passed through the ordeal of party persecution several times but truth-telling time forced his enemies to retrace their steps disgraced and shamed.
On the 28th of August 1798 this venerable sage, eminent lawyer, able statesman, profound jurist and impartial judge took a final leave of earth and closed his eyes in death. He died of strangury whilst absent on his circuit. Fortunately he was with his friend Judge Iredell in Edenton North Carolina where his ashes repose in peace. During his last illness he realized the proverbial hospitality of the south and was cared for in the kindest manner.
The private character of Judge Wilson was beyond reproach. He was a warm friend, an affectionate husband, a faithful father, a consolation to the widow and the fatherless, an upright and honest man.
In reviewing the history of this worthy man no one can doubt his patriotism and purity. No room is left to question his devotion to the American cause and his firm opposition to British oppression. Influenced by noble motives, guided by liberal principles—it is painful to reflect that he was often wounded in the house of his professed friends by those who had sworn to support the same cause he so ardently and ably espoused. The solution of this paradoxical problem may be found in the present state of things without travelling back to that time of times when party spirit should have withdrawn its hydra head into its legitimate Pandora box. We have those among us who live under the protective mantle of the Federal Constitution and the laws based upon it, who denounce that Constitution and refuse obedience to statutes according with it unless those statutes advance their interests and chime with their revolutionary views. They are cancers on the body politic loathsome to the sight of every friend of our country—to every advocate of our Union. It would promote our safety and their happiness to colonize them beyond fifty-four forty.
JOHN WITHERSPOON.
The man who makes the Bible his counsellor—the polar star of his actions, will not go far astray. Divine in its origin, the sublimity of its language caps the climax of composition. As a history of the grand epoch when God said—"Let there be light—and there was light"—it stands alone clothed in all the majesty of Divinity. As a chronicle of the creation of man after the moral image of Deity—of his ruinous fall—of the glorious plan of his redemption—it must remain unrivalled. As a chart of human nature—human rights and wrongs and of the attributes of the great Jehovah—in precision, fullness and force of description it far exceeds the boldest strokes, the finest touches of the master spirits of elocution in every age. As a system of morals and religion—the efforts of men to add to its transcendent beauty—its omnipotent strength—are as vain as an attempt to bind the wind or imprison the ocean. As a book of poetry and eloquence—it rises in grandeur above the proudest production of the most brilliant talents that have illuminated and enraptured the classic world. As a book of Revelation—it cast a flood of light upon the wilderness of mind that shed fresh lustre upon reason, science and philosophy. As a book of counsel—its wisdom is profound, boundless, infinite. It meets every case in time and is a golden chain reaching from earth to Heaven. It teaches our native dignity—the duties we owe to our God, families, parents, children and our fellow men. It teaches us how to live and how to die—arms the Christian in panoply complete—snatches from death its painful sting—from the grave its boasted victory and points the pious soul to its crowning glory—a blissful immortality beyond the skies. The man who is led by this sacred book to lean upon the Supreme Ruler of revolving worlds, has a sure support that earth cannot give or take away. When we can rightfully appeal to Heaven for aid in our undertakings, faith bids us onward and fear no danger.
A large portion of the most prominent patriots of the American Revolution were pious men. I am not aware of one who did not believe in an overruling Providence. Several of them were devoted ministers of the gospel. Among these was John Witherspoon, born in the parish of Yester near Edinburgh, Scotland, on the 5th of February 1722. He was a lineal descendant of John Knox the celebrated reformer. The father of John was minister of Yester parish and moulded the mind of this son in the ways of wisdom, virtue and science. At an early age he placed him in the Haddington school where the rare beauties of his young mind unfolded like the flowers of spring. He soared above the trifling allurements that too often lead childhood and youth astray. His studies were his chief delight. He exhibited a maturity of judgment, clearness of perception and depth of thought—seldom manifested in juvenile life. He entered the Edinburgh University at the age of fourteen and fully realized the anticipations of his friends in his educational advancement. Especially did he excel in theology. He passed the ordeal of his final examination at the age of twenty-one and was licensed to proclaim to his fellow men the glad tidings of the Gospel of Peace. He immediately became the assistant of his revered father—a favorite among their parishioners—an eloquent preacher of plain practical Christianity.
On the 17th of January 1746, he was a "looker on in Vienna" at the battle of Falkirk and with many others whose curiosity had led them to the scene of action, was seized by the victorious rebels and imprisoned in the castle of Doune. After his release he resided a few years at Beith, subsequently at Paisly—rendering himself very useful as an exemplary and faithful minister. During his residence at the latter place he received urgent calls from Dublin, Rotterdam and Dundee. He also had an invitation to fill the presidential chair of the College of New Jersey in America to which he had been elected on the 19th of November 1766. This was done at the suggestion of Richard Stockton. A general demurrer by his friends and a special demurrer by his relatives were entered against his acceptance. Ingenious arguments were used to sustain the pleas put in. The delights of his native home—the horrors of the western wilderness were placed before him in fearful contrast. A very wealthy bachelor relative offered to will him his large estate if he would remain. For a year he declined the proffered chair. During that time his lady caught "the missionary fever" and became anxious to embark for the new world—removing every obstacle with the ingenuity and perseverance peculiar to woman when bent upon the accomplishment of a noble object. On the 9th of December 1767 Mr. Stockton had the pleasure of communicating his acceptance to the trustees of the college which was most joyfully received.
Early in the ensuing August he arrived with his family and was inaugurated at Princeton on the 17th of that month. His literary fame had been spread through the Colonies and caused an immediate accession of students—a new impetus to the institution—a renovation of the empty treasury of the college. He introduced a thorough and harmonious system in all its departments and fully answered the most sanguine anticipations of his warmest friends.