, 1859-03-18
mr. Van H. Hlgglns In Reply to 8. L.

To THE PinL1c A statement in the form Of
letter signed by 5. l.. Baker, having been pub
lshed in the Journal Of last evening, it may not
be improper for me to state the whole truth,
evcn il it does not corroborate the declarations
made by Mr.. Baker,
Frat, then, I will say that never made any
agreement with any member If the Democratic
party. nor any Republican, nor cycn with Mr..
Baker, in regard to who should be Judges, nor
in regard to the action Of the Republican party,
nor in regard to keeping the Judicial Election
in or out Of politics; nor. did eyer hare any
conversation with s{r, Baker from which such IN
agreement could be implied, either directly or
indirectly; nor did ever utter any lapguage
which could he tortured into IN agreement, Of
any kind, in regard to the subject matter Of the
election Of the Judges.
!sfeond-1 did appeal to Mr.. Baker, personal
'y, TO support my Bill; but never, directly or
indirectly, placed ny drpcal upon the ground
that was an1ions to 90 upon the bench. Mr..
Baker stated voluntarily, a great number Of
times, thut he wanted to sec Mr. Beckwfth and
Baker that the reason why my Bill
should be supported. MAS that, IN my opinion,
it wills such q bill ss was required by the wAnts
Of the people; that il was based upon orc Of
the best court ucts in the countryside NtW
York Supreme Court-that Mr. Dectwitll's
Court act would not, IN my opinion, answer the
purposes Of the public. stated to him TINT, in
er; ui,d that eacl Of them ought 10 be able to
transact any business in tho Court-that 1fr.
Deckwitl's bin provided that IL alone should
hare power in equity; that no other Judge in
the Court could grant III Injunction, or mike
any cqitablc order, without his consent; that if
any cause in equity should be commenced in
anv otllcr court, Or any application for injunc-
ton should BE- made in any other court. either
pntty might huve tho matter TRANSPORTED to Mr.
l}eckwith's 3 court, 0n simple request, and on
such request the power Of the other court
should erase, and when the casc got into Mr..
granted. except upon affidavit setting ont the
particular rcas<'1lr; .!"d M," It xhou|tthva a mat
tr Of dixrr.';e~ .rh+fher a chaaye ,,loa1H he
gsst"f<1 ar nm:' that the bill provided for ono
Judge to hold branch # ihe Circuit Court,
which l thought Of doubtful constitutionality
and impracticabIc.
Tint the bill! gavc alf the power to Mr.. Beck
with to appoint tie ntFcers Of the Collrt, the
Clerk and tlle Masters III Chanccry, not merely
for the Court, hut fur the County:
That, as the elective principle prevailed
throughout thu Statc+ and is the constitution
contemplated the election Of ono juliciary,
and US tue present Judge WAS elected }v the
ihc elective principle, in III. opinion if was bet
Ter to support my ii1a and Nj. Baker agreed to
do it, then. because lie said he believed il wes
right, and tticre was nu pretence that it Wills
dane pnlv to fayor me-.
1hird. The statement Of Mr.. Baker. that
pledged to linn my !tunor that the Republican
party should n0t make nominations, that
would co-upc,atc with and ail him in prevent
ing my such ar1ion-is as silly NJ it is nntrnr.
Icrer had the va.sity to suppose that either If
us. or beth Of G*, could cuntr0l the Republican
party. ur that il, III any ltanncr, appcrta.ncd to
onr duty to sell out tf,e Republican dttrlcta for
my price.
f"urfh. Twill not undertake to say with " "hhat
nuy"m: "f@, or trkcf mighty mayic ~;ihat." Mr..
Baker won uycr the lcadinS Democrats; but lis
the bill was mine, and as did nu1 ask him TO
labor with the Democrats, but only to giyc his
own conscnt :ls nnc nf thr committee to whom it
had been referred, do not feel that I'LL, ~
spou<Ic for his unsolicited pledges, especially
us llc did mot communicate tie same t' I:;e in
any nthrr way than to say he should sup"tt
Mr. 1tcckmith.
F;nd. \ written pledge was drawn III, NH
signed by Mr.. Ieck and Mr. Daker md p,r-
ssncl tn Mr, lsntz fur lis sixra!;tre, WHO came
win II: p"!,rr To MY nrsk aud asked ule What
thought If it. replied that would make 10
agreement about il; and Mr.. Butz said that VII.
H. ,,''' 's" "ut a4G "e"ileu 70 eo'Sa! NC.
..fctt H. w., w. n ",,s,,ii W . ~ !. wS 10 1e
Judge. IT Is Hnw or ought tu he III The hands If
i'., H. ,,,,,,,'t 49, .,.,,,. "n u" @ ~ recsi
,s;,,. 80 ,,a;, sn,,..s II" ~ 't us' at. ha1ef qua
=, 10 .J ~ .s see1 !"a''!A calne
,,,,.~ it.Li H.. ,,.. I.". a'en '"e
,i,,, .'t :. ~, n.h t' .""ne ~ agFcS <,
would BE- nrp"sc.l In the Senate. if did MT
n:et.' t,':' .tP'e" :" 'l,tt" :" Z" ~, anu make
tMel. "'l'.'s."n: .., a"u 'a'''! ""n'!' make no
~ VII. '',e1' "u ny a!'' 1foh That
"sl1rsgs s ,''e n'a ~ tlc :'sah'e- >ea'rs
,,ri: =. h' roa"e. ~ runn' a!,@ hlte1s
E"s.u .i,' ~ .n. a@' M .lea =" k''t the n'll
I",i1 "i; '''''"''''S' '"' "e'' 'e'''''cu ny Mr.
r. o,,. n,.,,,,1;, ,,.,.., Il,