to the United States Senate, and served in that body until 1834, when he was elected to the Court of Appeals. For seventeen years, Judge Chambers was one of the most prominent members of Maryland's highest court. He retired in 1851, upon the adoption of the new constitution, under which the entire judiciary system of the State was reorganized. He again returned to the practice of the law, which he con tinued until the Civil War. Judge Chambers was an able speaker as well as a learned jurist. One of his most remarkable speeches was on the Judiciary Tenure, which was delivered in the Maryland Convention, in April, 1851. He said the necessary ele ments in the character of a judge were first, a consciousness of perfect independence; a freedom from all motive to do wrong; an exemption from all fear to do right. These principles guided his own career on the bench.
declined a renomination, and was appointed by President Madison judge of the Missis sippi Territory, which included what are now the states of Alabama and Mississippi. He made an arduous journey through the wilderness to the scene of his new duties, which were both gubernatorial and judicial. After holding this dual position for a year, he resigned and returned to Maryland. In 1 8 19 he was elected to Congress for the fourth time. In 1824 he was appointed one of the associate judges of the Court of Appeals, and in 1845, as already mentioned, he was elevated to the Chief Judgeship, upon the death of Judge Buchanan. Judge Archer presided over the court for only three years, having died on the 26th of June, 1848. Stevenson Archer was one of the most distinguished Marylanders of- the first half of this century. He won honor both as an associate and Chief Judge of the highest judicial tribunal of his State.
Honorable Stevenson Archer, who succeeded Judge Buchanan as Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, was born in Harford County, October 11, 1788. After a pre liminary course of education at a private academy in Baltimore, he entered Princeton College and graduated in 1805. After leaving college, he commenced the study of the law, first in Bel Air, Md., and after wards, at Annapolis, under the Hon. John Johnson, Chancellor of Maryland. In 1809, soon after passing the Bar, he was elected to the State Legislature as an independent candidate, and was re-elected the following year as a Democrat. In 1811 he was elected to Congress when only twenty-five years old, being one of the youngest men that ever sat in the House of Representa tives. He was re-elected in 18 13, and in 181 5. He served in Congress during the eventful period of the War of 18 12, and was a staunch supporter of all the war measures of the Government. At the ex piration of his third term in the House, he
Thomas B. Dorsev, who had been ap pointed an associate judge of the Court of Appeals, in 1824, to supply the vacancy caused by the resignation of Jeremiah Townley Chase, was commissioned Chief Judge July 3, 1848, upon the death of the honor able Stevenson Archer. Judge Dorsey served only three years, and gave place to one of the most remarkable men that ever sat upon the bench of the Maryland Court of Appeals. John Carroll Le Grand was born in Baltimore, in 18 14. He was educated in private schools. His first intention was to be a merchant, and he entered a countingroom, but a short experience in business caused him to change his mind, and he commenced the study of the law. As Reverdy Johnson said, " he prepared himself for the profession, which he was destined so soon and so signally to honor, under difficulties that would have proved insur mountable to most young men; with laud
