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The Supreme Court of North Carolina.

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diligence and practical business knowledge profession and the studies in which he had and the faith imparted by his acceptance of won renown. But in 1858, on the death of its headship, he effectually reinstated the his friend and successor Chief-Justice Nash, bank in public confidence, and relieved it of he was called by the almost unanimous voice its embarrassments. About this time there of the legislature, though in his seventy-second being a vacancy in the United States Senator- year, to resume his place upon the Supreme ship by the appointment of Governor Branch Court bench. This he did, but did not insist to the head of the Navy Department, he was upon resuming the Chief-Justiceship, which solicited to become a candidate for the went to Judge Pearson. After something over

vacancy, with strong a year's service, his prospects of success.' failing health made This he declined, say his duties irksome, and he resigned a sec ing, as he often did, that " after the labor ond time, and retired finally from judicial and attention he had life. It is his singular bestowed upon his fortune to- have re profession he desired signed twice from to go down to pos terity as a lawyer." both the Superior Court and Supreme While employed on . Court bench. It is the affairs of the bank, worthy of note, too, he still remained in that in 1848 all three full practice at the of the Supreme Court bar, and his reputa judges (Ruffin, Nash, tion as a lawyer suf and Battle), the Gov fered no eclipse. On ernor (Graham), and the death of Chiefone of the United Justice Taylor, in States Senators (Man1829, Governor Owen guin) were from the appointed to the Su single county of preme Court Judge Orange. Already, Toomer, a lawyer of from 1845 to 1848, deserved eminence in ARCHIBALD D. MURPHEY. two of the Supreme the profession, and of Court (Ruffin and a singularly pure and elevated character; but public opinion and Nash), the Governor (Graham), and one the sentiment of the bar had so decid United States Senator (Mangum) had been from that county; while at the legislature of edly marked out Judge Ruffin for the suc cession that when the legislature met in 1841 both United States Senators (Graham the fall of that year he was elected to the and Mangum) were elected from the same county of Orange, in which the Chief-Justice position. Upon the death of Chief-Justice Henderson also then resided. From 1852 to 1858 two in 1833, Judge Ruffin was elected Chief- of the three Supreme Court judges were Justice by his associates, and served as such again from Orange, as two out of the three nineteen years. In the autumn of 1852, (Smith and Merrimon) were from Wake from while at the height of his fame and not yet 1883 to 1889. In the latter year the number oppressed by the weight of years, he resigned of judges was increased to five. Thus, in his office, intending to retire forever from the our State, geographical considerations have