Alfred Moore. punishment of the murderer of his father. Alone he tracked him through North Caro lina into South Carolina, through South Caro lina into Georgia, through Georgia into Flor ida, where at last he found him—secure, as his coward's heart believed—refuged among the Seminóle Indians. Nothing daunted, young Coor Pender boldly made his way into the Seminóle country and, addressing their chief, demanded the assassin with that plea so sacred and clear to the heart of the Indian, that blood alone can atone for blood. Bow№g to the justice of the demand, the SemiHoles surrendered the man, whose name, I think, was also Jernigan, to young Coor Pender. Binding his prisoner, unaided he brought him back through the long and wild journey and delivered him into the hands of justice in Wayne, where he was soon after wards tried, convicted and hanged. No brilliant feat of the days of chivalry can to my mind surpass this courageous and devoted act of this plain and simple young North Carolinian. In December, 1799, Mr. Moore was called to the seat upon the Supreme Bench of the United States made vacant by the death of James Iredell. He first sat at the August Term, 1800, when, in Bas v. Tingy (4 Dal las, 37), on the admiralty side of the docket, he delivered the only opinion emanating from him during the four years of his judicial life on that bench. This seems strange, and forces us to inquire the reason of this singu
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lar silence of so able a lawyer. The answer is found in the pages of Dallas and Cranch, and is given by Mr. Carson, in his History of the Supreme Court of the United States, who tells us that it was owing to the practice which obtained after Marshall came upon the bench of making the Chief Justice the organ of the court. So strictly was this rule ad hered to, that during Justice Moore's term of office the opinion of the court was always delivered through the Chief Justice, except in one or two instances, when he expressly declined to do so, and then that duty fell upon the Senior Justice. We must remem ber that the court was then but an infant, its docket exceedingly light, and it was no great labor for one Judge to write all the opinions. There can be no doubt, however, that, in the solemn deliberations of the con ference chamber, Moore's opinion upon every question under discussion was given in clear, concise and logical argument, was listened to with deference, and carried the weight of his great talents with it. He,remained upon the bench about six years, when his failing health compelled his retirement and he re signed in 1804. He died on the I5th of October, 1810, in the fifty-fifth year of his age, " a loyal, just and upright gentleman," carrying with him to the grave the blessed comfort of a well-spent life, the affection of his friends, the sincere respect and reverence of all men, and the grateful appreciation of his native State.
