The Sun.
London, England, 1870-01-19 00:00:00

There are two vacancies on the Bench of the
Supreme Court of the United States, that arbiter as
well as expounder of laws, once held to be the most
dignified and weighty of all tribunals, and which.
May be soon again, if worthy judges are selected.
Appointments calculated to exercise a considerable
influence on the Supreme Court of the United States
would of themselves besuffi eient to attract the national
attention ; but the rejection of a nomination to one
of these vacancies has proved of still greater inte-
rest. President GRANT attempted to fill both, and
in each instance he was foiled ; by death in the one
case, and by the Senate in the other. The rejection
of Judge ROCKWOOD HOAR'S name is significant of
such events as a struggle between the Senate and
the Executive, and of the other States against the pre-
ponderating sway of New England. Therefore this
occurrence, seemingly unimportant to the world, is
really not of mere local but of universal interest.
The chief reson given by the Senate for rejecting
the Attorney-General is that he is a Massachusetts'
man, to whom a Southern Circuit should not be as-
signed. Politically he opposed the recognition of
Cuba, and his moderation made him appear an
enemy to the war-horses of both parties. Personally
he is unpopular in the Senate, and it was there
asserted that he was unpopular with the nation.
He is curt, arbitrary, and honest ; therefore the last
man for working well any wheel-within-wheel in-
trigue. He bestowed the patronage of his office on
those be considered best fitted for the posts, not on
the nominees of the Senators, and this, with many
of his legal decisions, has given umbrage. As a
lawyer, only one opinion prevails, which is, that
there is no other in the whole country better qualified
for that great promotion in the profession. Mr.
HOAR was a leader at the bar and on the Supreme
Bench of Massachusetts for nearly twenty years,
and no Court stood higher than it, while he and
Judge Shaw presided. Putting aside locality, as
it ought to be in a selection for a post so important,
for which very few are fitted by nature and attain-
ments, little remained against Judge HOAR not at-
tributable to prejudice and dislike, mostly engen-
dered by qualities which should have told in his
favour. The A'ation asserts that the Southern Sena-
tors who led in opposition " are as poor a race of
men as ever manipulated caucuses or called con-
ventions," forming one of the most gigantic rings,
organized solely to perpetuate their own rule. Tuis
" ring" elects the Southern Senator, andbe supports
the " carpet-bag" interest. The unexpressed reason,
"the average American," the same paper says, " would
describe as too much Boston." " Boston" does not
mean a certain collection of houses, streets, awl
persons, " i.ut an impalpable subtle essence pervad-
ing men's manners and their way of looking at men
and things, and conveying the impression to the
beholder that in the opinion of Bostonians other
Americans are also GoD's creatures, and have been
endowed by him with many fine qualities, and will
probably with time and care come out all right in
the end." New England is conscious of this reason for
I Judge HOAR'S rejection, and supports him to'a man.
The carpet-bagger is not a favourite with the Bos-
tonian, and would have little chance there against
a genuine Southern gentleman. " If," says the
Springfield Republican, " an Arkansas Senator, re-
presenting GOD knows whom, went up to Judge
HOAR, and demanded that h distinguished friend

from Illinois via Little Rock should be made marshal,
he was thrown into a swearing rage by being toad
that the office was already filled, and went back to
hishotel vowing vengeance on HOAR." Thus he madam.
the G3Tpet-baggers ; DLit what is of '
more importance, the Senate asserted the in-
dividual right of Senators to suggest tiames
for office by rejecting an eminent and highly-
trained lawyer, who had disregarded this cus-
tom. It is not prob Lble that the PRESIDENT
could without chagrin observe the action of the
Chamber. It indicates the intention of that legis-
lative body to uphold a system one of its members
has prorosed to make illegal, to which many of the
gravest evils are attributable, and which is fraught
with corruption. No exception could be taken to
the PRESIDENT'S choice on the plea of qualifications,
and, in answer to the objection of locality, the PRE-
SIDENT might require that a Southern lawyer, fitted
for the Bench not disqualified by the Reconstruc-
tion Acts, should be suggested. What is grave in
the action of the Senate is the rejection of a person
admitted by his profession as well as the public at
large to be the most suitable man to fill a very high
post, for it foreshadows war with the Executive.
The Springfield Republican denounces " the en-
croaching, insolent claims of Congress to dispose of
offices as political rewards ;" and it is evident from
the general tone of the American press, iu case this
little jar should end in hostilities, that the PRESIDENT
will be well backed. Gan. GRANT is determined at
all events to retain his Attorney-General,for whom he
openly expresses his high respect awl warm feelings
of friendship. He will withdraw the name when
the Senate reconvenes, but as he will not se-
lect a Northerner he remains perplexed how to fill
from the South a post national in its responsibility.
Judge STRONG, and the Hon. JOHN A. WELLs, of
Pennsylvania, are spoken of in succession to Mr.
STANTON, but it is the other vacancy which puzzles
the PRESIDENT. An article in the Tribune, entitled
" Fatal Friendships," attributed to the advocacy of
the Nation and the North American Review the
Senate's opposition to Judge HOAR. The other
reasons were subordinate, the main objection being
to put in the most important post a man who could
be endorsed by the Nation and the North American
Review. After calling the Nation "an obscure
weekly" the Tribune adds, " It is conceding by far
too much importance to any fourth-rate journalist
when you allow him to take the scalp of his own
friend." On this the Republican remarks, "It is
difficult to say whether such a reason is a greater
insult to the intelligence of the Senators or to the
intelligence of the Tribune's readers. It is quite
certain that it is a very great belittling of a con-
troversy which involves the prerogatives of two
branches of the Government, and whose issue
threatens a breach in the Republican party, or the
disgrace of its PRESIDENT. Most papers that think
it necessary to amuse their readers with a Punch
and Judy department devote the last page to it ;
but on the Tribune it threatens to monopolize the
editorial columns."

NAVAL ITEMS.—Hitherto the officers of the U.S.
Navy have been prohibited from visiting the District of
Columbia without permission from Washington ; hut
this order is now rescinded—thus far the relative rank
question has been settled. Past Assistant Paymaster
and First Assistant Engineers will rank with Lieu-
tenants; Second Assistant Engineers with Masters;
Third Assistant Engineers with midshipmen, who
have graduated at the Naval Academy.—The follow-
ing is an abstract of the new alterations and addi-
tions made to the regulations for the Navy: The Ad-
miral's flag is of rectangular shape, blue in colour, with
four white stars in the centre, forming a diamond, and is to
be worn at the main of vessels, and in the bow of his barge
or tender, and his salute to be 17 guns ; all other honours
and ceremonies the,same as now authorised for the Vice-
Admiral. The flag of a Commodore is a swallow-tailed,
broad pendant, of blue colour, and one white star, and is
autho'rised to be so displayed by officers of that rank.—
The Swatara arrived at Aspinwall, under sail, in 17 days
from New York, and she was to start on her return trig
on the 22d Dec. —The Lancaster reached Madeira, flying
the flag of Admiral Lanman, on the 21st Dec., after a
stormy passage from Hampton Roads. --Admiral Thos. T.
Craven has been transferred to the retired list.—A naval
_ general court-martial has been ordered to convene at the
Navy Yard at Norfolk, Virginia, on the sth of January
for the trial of Paymaster Thomas C. Maden.
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