New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-19

Ger uOIuA ONfT. Inc dItuIDfUJ ukeu 10 luQucp the
House 10 elect new man IL that the harmony and
success Of the Republican party demand such re-
suit. But as Major Stevens does not belong to the
Republican party, nor care whether il il harmoni.
Gus and successful or not Of course the argument
is lost upon him. On the whole, probably he looks
with some degree OF satisfaction upon the dissen-
sions Of that party. If it could be united in his ia
vor be might not object, but a. that cannot be, he
looks with pleasure upon the schsm. The troubles
in the Methodist church disturbed General Jack
sons last hours but Major Stevens will never lose
any sleep account Of the divisions in the Repub-
ican ranks.
The business Of legislation has been entered upon
in both Senate and house to-day. The Senate took
up the Salary BILL az it il called. 1t provides that
the members of each branch Of the Legislature
shall receive $500 year, and that SIS day shall
be deducted for every days absence, unless leave
has previously been granted, or unless the member
sOme one of his family is sick. The members
are forbidden TO receive books except such as may
be- printed by order Of the Legislature. The clerks
of the two branches are to be paid 90 OO8 each and
are TO pay out of this for all the assistance they
may require. regular salary is provided Tor the
messengers, doorkeepers and pages. The presiding
officers are to receive $500 per year. ReckOning
the session at hundred days, the pay OF members
under this act will be the same as it has been ever
since 1854, viz: So per day There will be saw
ing however in the gross amount paid Tor the SEES
s0ns have averaged at least 100 days for the last
five years. There will be saving, Also IN the pay
of the clerks-S4, 900 being paid for what cost last
wear twice that sum. The bill has, however, been
already amended in the Senate, and there is no
means of knowing what will finally become Of it.
If il ever becomes law, i'll any shape, will let YOU
kOw of it.
The House has been considering q bill for the
better administration of the finances, by means OF
general appropriation bills certain salaries Of the
Governor, the Judges &c, being excepted from its
operation. This bill also meets with opposition,
principally on the ground that the plan has not
worked we'll in Congress, but has been fruitful
source of corruption there.
Petitions for the removal of Judge Loring are
coming into the Senate and House in great quanti-
ties. The Judge will have name in legislative as
well as in judicial history and if his persistence in
holding the office of Judge OF Probate should result
in the abolition of the Probate Court, he will be az
odous in the eyes of the Old Hunkers as he now is
in the eyes of the mass of the people. The subject
of removal has been referred to a JOINT Special
Committee upon which the judges opponents are
largely and ably represented.
We are likely to lose some of our hangings, after
all. Charles l.. Cater the murderer of Mr. Ten
ney, the Warden of the State Prison, was just
about ready for execution, under the old law which
allowed one years probation after conviction, when
consumption or pleurisy took him of And now it
is announced that the Governor, by advice of his
Council has committed the sentence of WnslOw
EDDY to Imprisonment for life. Eddy was con-
yicted of the murder of his wlle-under circun-
stances, however, of great prOvOcatlOn from her.
One of the Judges of the Supreme Court was asked
the other day what ground there was for commute
ton of sentence and he said he did not know un-
less it was that the woman deserved to be killed
These two cases of disappointment OH the part OF
the friends of the gallows will make the chance of
MCGEE rather slender. Niece committed the
murder in the prison upon Mr.. Walker, the Deputy
Warden, and his time of probation must be nearly
out. Out Of the tOrty-twO persons committed to
the ails of this State for murder during the eleven
months ending Sept 30, it must be that one at
least will be executed.
The certificates which Chief-Justice fancy and
others furnished as to the fitness of Mr.. Clifford for
a seat upon the bench of the Supreme Court OF the
United States, have not satisfied lawyers IN this
neighberhOod Clifford is well known here. BOs-
ton contains many lawyers who were born and bred
down East, and they know very well, and don't
hesitate to say that he is totally unfit for the posi-
ton to which he has been promoted. lie Is man
of unbOunded ambition, and Of great physical
strength: he is, therefore, able and disposed to do
great amount of work, but he is not and never
will be great lawyer. Suggested to Maine law
yer the other day, as a sort of "leadDg question,
that supposed there were fifty men in New-En-
gland more fit than Clifford for the Office Of Judge.
4" Fifty" said he, with apparently considerable
contempt for my lack of information as to the mat
ter: five hundred at least" Perhaps l put the
number too low; but am satisfied lay friend set
it too high; suppose We call it three hundred
Some ten or dozen years ago, Clifford came into
Massachusetts and tried a SANDER case at one OF
the Courts in Middesex. went to hear his speech,
and have vivid recollection of it and of its effect
upon the lawyers and the public, who were drawn
together to hear the great man from Maine. The
opposing counsel was Thomas HOpkinsOn of Lowell,
alterward Judge of the Court OF Common Pleas
and President of the Worcester Railroad, and now
deceased Mr.. HopkiusOn was good lawyer, but
BY no means the first at the bar of Aiddesex Coun-
ty. Yet his superiority over Clifford was unds.
puted. As the boys would say, he could " throw
him with one hand"
But. after ALL is il matter OF much consequence
whether Mr.. Clifford is great lawyer or not
There is good deal TO be said on both sides OF this
question lfyou should ask ChOate Curtis, Abbott,
Butler Lord, HOar, or any OF our other leading
LAWYERS, who will be obliged to meet the new Judge
and try cases before him, no doubt they would say
that legal fitness is matter TO be looked to. But
if Won should put the question to the shareholders III
the United States Senate, they would say that as
the chief business of the Supreme Court is to up
hold Slavery by Judicial decision, the less ability
there is in Northern Judge the better. The men
who are expected to manufacture reasons for each
new usurpation, ought to be able men, but nothing
is wanted of Clifford except to nod assent to their
conclusions The possibility of doughface be-
coming an honest man after he gets firmly seated in
his place, must be guarded against Now if Caleb
Gushing should have judgeship, and should take
notion to resume his old Ant-Savery opinions, he
would make bad work with fancy and Campbell.
But Clifford may become as rabld an Ab0lltlonist
as Gerrit Smith, and come TO hold the same legal
opinions as Mr. Smith, and yet he would never be
able to announce them with any effect to the coun'
try. Considering, therefore, the chief purpose
tbe Court no appointmpnt could be more sultabl