The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-04-04

THE POLITICAL JUDGES AND THEIR BELONGINGS
Correspondence of the New York Tribune. }

THE POLITICAL JUDGES AND THEIR BELONGINGS
Correspondence of the New York Tribune)
WASHINGTON, March IL, 1857.
1t is not amiss, at the present moment, to
look little at the personnel of the Supreme
Court. The nature of their connections and
surroundings, the claims they have to con-
sideration and respect, may we'll be consid-
cred, since the gentlemen composing it have
chosen to thrust their private political opin-
ions upon the public under the garb and
sanctions of the judicial ermine. A little
scrutiny of this sort will be an excellent an
tidote to any remaining reverence which the
public may yet be presumed to possess for
the political opinions of the members of that
Court.
Roger B. fancy, the Chief of the Court,
is a Maryland lawyer, who practised former
ly in an interior county of that State, but
who removed to Baltimore and got into prac-
tice as the declining star of Pinckney was
setting. William Writ succeeded to the
mantle of Pinckney, and during his day but
little was seen or heard of fancy. He had,
however, gained some distinction as an acute
and cunning lawyer, and was we'll known as
warm Pr litician. At this juncture of his
fortunes, and when quite unknown to fame,
Gen. Jackson called him to his Cabinet as
Acknowledgement. He was eminently plia-
BILE, and found law to sustain the General in
whatever measure he decided to adopt
Thus useful to his chief, when the rupture in
the Cabinet took place, in consequence of
the refusal of the Secretary of the Treasury,
Duane, to remove the Government deposits
from the United States Bank, Gen. Jackson,
for the want Of an outsider to fill the Office,
put Mr.. fancy into the place, who, never
hesitant, at once did the required Job. In
this way, and for this reason, did Mr.. fancy
become Secretary of the Treasury, without
any qualifications for the post. Subsequent
ly, on the assembling of Congress, his nom-
nation was sent to Congress for confirmation
That body, headed by Mr.. Clay, rejected the
deposit-mover, and Mr.. fancy went out of
office. But Gen. Jackson was never man
to neglect those who had served him, and
he watched his chance to recompense Mr..
fancy.
Very soon after, Judge Duvall, of the Su-
preme Court, died. Gen. jackson at once
nominated fancy to the vacancy. Henry
Clay still continued to bear sway in the SEN
ate, and Taney's nomination as Associate
Justice suffered the fate of his former nomi-
nation. He was again rejected. But things
quickly took another turn. Chief-J Justice
Marshall died. At this juncture bargain
was struck. fancy had helped Reverdy
johnson out of his troubles growing out OF
his connection with the failure of the Bank
of Maryland. Through the Intervention of
Reverdy and other Clay lawyers of Mary
land, Mr.. Clay's resentment was appeased
and the Senate was again called to act on
third nomination of fancy. Gen. Jackson
appointed him to fill the place of Judge
Marshall. This time his appointment was
confirlned-thc same Senate that refused his
confirmation as Associate Judge having con-
sented to confirm him as Chief Justice. Thus
mighty are personal and party considerations.
Judge fancy thus owes his place, in the
first instance, to Gen. Jackson for his ap-
pointment, and in the second, to Reverdy
johnson for engineering his confirmation.
We shall see directly what an important
part this bit Of political history plays in the
decision of the unconsttutionality of the
Missouri Compromise. After this method
and for purely partisan service rendered to a
party in its straits, did Roger b. fancy be-
come Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
In that position he has maintained a respect
able standing as .Judge-never anything
more. His legal reputation rests mainly
upon his ingenuity and cunning. His party
instincts have never left him, and he is as
ready now to apply his faculties in aid of the
ruling dynasty as he was in General Jack
sons time. His opinion in the bred Scott
case, when published, will be found to ex-
hibit all the characteristics that have marked
his career. 1t is subtle, Ingenious, sophisti-
cal and false. 1t is the plea of tricky law
yer, and not the decree of an upright Judge
1t is singular but not wonderful fact in ma
ture that the body to some extent intimates
the character of the soul that inhabits it.
This is the case with Judge fancy. He
walks with inverted and hesitating steps,
His forehead is contracted, his eye sunken,
and his visage has sinister expression.
Among the men who practice largely be-
fore the Supreme Court is Revcrdy johnson
of Baltimore. He was formerly Wing, but
has lately become Pro-Slavery fanatic and
a warm Buchanan man. In 1S48 he made
a speech in the United States Senate. in
which he opposed Mr.. Calhoun's dogmas
on Slavery, enunciated the year before de-
clared Slavery to be an evil, and expressed
his judgment that it would soon be extin-
guished in Maryland. In the late Presiden-
tial contest he went with the whole Southern
Wing sheepfold (barring few honorable ex-
ceptons) clean over to the extreme Southern
ground. He now holds, along with the whole
Pro~siavery party, that Slavery is a benef-
cent institution, and that, so far as human
vision can discern, it is destined to be per-
petual. He is bold, resolute. INSCRIPTIONS
and energetic. No man is SO intimate with,
and no man possesses so much influence over
the Chief Justice, as he. The cause there
fore we have already in part ntimated. 1t
was for these reasons that he was procured
to argue the bred Scott case. In the course
of that argument he exerted all the force of
his temper: his sarcasm, his reasoning pow
ers, and his partizan feelings, to bring the
Judges to his way of thinking, or, if that
were unnecessary, to confirm them in their
intended decision. No man could have lis
tened to that plea without perceiving that it
was the advocates purpose to awaken all the
personal prejudices of the Southern Judges
on the Slavery question; and it was impos-
sible not to see the influence he was exert
ing as he uttered his undignified and imper-
tinent rigmarole in regard to 'Sambo" and
"Cuffee," as he felicitously styled them.
Such are the sources of Judge Taney's in
spiration in his recent opinion, and such was
the impartial, consistent and dignified advo-
cate, who was set to watch, to influence and
to confirm the judgments of heated parti-
san Pro-Slavery Court.