| Show BIBLE OF SUPREME COURT many notable and historic incident cluster around the book kept securely under ock and key in the supreme court room at washing ton there Is a small oxford bible around which cluster many notable and historic incidents it was I 1 at oxford in 1799 first came into the court s service in 1808 and Is believed to be one of the imported by congress a few years before during its court career of nearly a century volume has been called into ice every day on which the august tri bunal has held session tbt great constitutional lawyers ott the formative period of our govern ment as a 0 their adais slon to practice before this learned body kissed its material face besides these great legal lights ev ery associate and chief justice ath the exception of chief justice chase who had a bible of his own and every lawyer except daniel webster sworn to practice before the supreme court has taken his oath of allegiance on this little book it Is a tradition of the court that athen daniel webster came before this high tribunal in his first argument in the defense of the abar rights of his alma mater dart mouth college against the legislative attacks of new hampshire by some strange inadvertence the oath was not administered the tradition goes fur ther intimating that the judges were so impressed by the eloquence of his appeal which stands out today as a classic in legal lore that they either forgot or dared not mention his dere it Is no wonder that this little bible Is carefully preserved endeared as it Is with the memories of america s greatest statesmen and jurists when a president Is to be sworn the clerk of the court usually purchases a new bible and after the certificate has been affixed he presents it to the first lady of the land leslie s weekly |
