The Court of Appeals of Kentucky. had distinguished himself in the diplomatic history of the country by the treaty which he negotiated with Guatemala while he was minister to that country under President Polk. He had been sent to Guatemala to supersede a minister who had involved this country in some disputes with Great Britain over the proposed canal and British occupation of that region. He went to his post with instructions that practically tied his hands from opposing the plans of Great Britian. When once on the ground, he be gan to study the situation for himself and with his characteristic foresight he per ceived the immense advantage to the United States to accrue from building and controll ing a canal across Nicaragua. In this he was nearly fifty years ahead of his people at home. Despite his instruc tions, on his own responsibility he secured a treaty with the Central American States that gave to his country more than she has yet acquired after fifty years of misguided "diplomacy." When his treaty came before the authorities at Washington, it was pigeon-holed for fear of giving offence to Great Britian. Such a man was Judge Hise, quick to per ceive, bold to act, and fearless to insist upon what he thought right. When his term of office expired in Au gust, 1854, Judge Hise retired from the bench. Ten years later he was elected to the lower House of Congress and subse quently re-elected, but his death came on May 8, 1867, before he entered upon his second term. He was born on July 4, 1 80 1, in Pennsylvania. He was a man of great dramatic power, in fact, a bom actor who would have distinguished himself on the stage, had he chosen that theatre of action. He was one of the foremost orators of a State that has been famous in that respect. His untimely death, at the beginning of what would certainly have been a long and useful career in Congress during a critical period of his country's history, was the occa
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sion of great sadness among his party asso ciates. He was an unswerving Democrat whose voice in party councils and in the affairs of State was greatly missed by his friends for many years. B. MILLS CRENSHAW.
When the term of Chief Justice Hise expired in August, 1854, Thomas A. Marsh all again became Chief Justice as already stated, for two years. In August, 1856, B. Mills Crenshaw, the last of the four Judges elected in May, 1851, became Chief Justice and he continued to preside over the court until his death, which occurred on May 5, 1857. Previous to his elevation to the bench he had served his district with signal ability in both houses of the State Legislature. His term of service in the court showed him to be possessed of the judicial temper and gained for him the admiration of the bar and the people of the State. ZACHARIAH WHEAT.
The death of Chief Justice Crenshaw caused a vacancy in the office, which was filled by the election on June 15, 1857, of Hon. Zachariah Wheat. Judge Wheat had previously served on the Circuit Court bench for three years under the old constitution of 1850. He then declined re-election as Circuit Judge. His term of service in the Court of Ap peals was little more than a year, during which time he presided over the court as Chief Justice. He was defeated for re-elec tion because he espoused the cause of the American, or "Know Nothing" party which had become very unpopular in the State. He was born in Bourbon County, Ken tucky, of Virginia parentage, on July 26, 1 806, and died at his home in Shelbyville, Kentucky, after passing his seventieth year. HENRY J. STITES.
Judge Henry J. Stites, the fourteenth man
