1874.] ZiO [Price. 



tion against the extension of slavery, which concluded in these words : 

 "Esteeming it a violation of State Rights to carry it beyond State limits, 

 we deny the power of any citizen to extend the area of bondage beyond 

 its present dominion ; nor do we consider it a part of the Constitution 

 that slavery should forever travel with the advancing column of our ter- 

 ritorial progress." From that time he became the zealous opponent of 

 the slave power ; and when the time came to form the Republican party 

 he was prepared for the work, and from the first, and always, was a sup- 

 porter of its principles and policy. 



Even on the Bench political and Constitutional questions will arise 

 which judges must decide, and will decide according to their political con- 

 victions ; and thi^ happened several times during the war of the rebellion, 

 when it was in the power of the Courts seriously, if not disastrously, to 

 hamper the action of the National Executive and Congress, for the sup- 

 pression of the rebellion. In those cases Judge Read was one of the 

 majority of three who uniformly sustained the acts of Congress and the 

 measures of the Government to suppress the rebellion. 



Wlien the subject of consolidating the many corporate districts rountU 

 the old Philadelphia of two square miles into one enlarged city, during^ 

 the middle years of this century, was agitated, Mr. Read was an earnest, 

 advocate for that measure. Though he took no part in framing the new 

 charter, he had prepared statistics of population and finances, which,, 

 with the influence of his name, were important to help carry the measure 

 with the people, and the bill in the Legislature. 



Mr. Read was elected a Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania 

 in October, 1858, and commissioned for fifteen years from the first Mon- 

 day of December of that year. He entered upon the discharge of his 

 judicial duties with an earnest zeal, and performed his full share of the 

 onerous duties of the Court, with exceptions when prostrated by ill 

 health. His opinions are peculiarly characterized by a full history of 

 matters having a bearing upon the cause, and the full citation of judicial 

 authorities applicable to the case. The act of 1810, prohibiting the read- 

 ing of British precedents, had been repealed in 1836 ; so that all the in- 

 vestigations and learning of the British Courts were at the service of 

 counsel and the Coui-t. Jvidge Read, who always desired the fullest 

 light upon the subject of decision, made, while at the Bar, and expected, 

 as a Judge, a full citation of the relevant authorities by the counsel, and 

 he carefully availed himself of all that could assist the judgment of the 

 Court. His opiaions, therefore, were full of learning, and he brought 

 into our courts, from England and the other States, views and principles 

 that without him would not have enriched our law. His library was ex- 

 tensive, and he kept it furnished with the latest publications ; that is, 

 with the most recent editions of elementary law, and the English Reports,, 

 and those of other States, as fast as they came from the press. 



The opinions of Judge Read ran through forty-one volumes of the- 

 Reports ; that is, from the 33d to the 73d volume, both inclusive, of our 

 A. p. S. — VOL. XIV. 2i 



