The gazette and Democrat. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1860, 1860-07-05

BSnzSlioh ana changed us fundamental
principles.
For the first time in this history Of the
Government under Mr.. Tylers admins.
tfaIIon. the opinions Of men selected for
the SaPremc Court on the question Of
slavery we're made atest of their promo
tion to that exalted position. No man
who was known to entertain views hostile
to the interest and po!ideal opinions Of
the privileged class represented by Mr..
Calhoun could be nominated, or il nomi
mated, confirmed to seat on the bench Of
the Supreme Court. And two Of the
present judges-Justice Daniel of Virgin
ia, and Justice Nelson. OF .Naw Yosk--.
were selected by Mr. Tyler, with the ap.
.proyal Of Mr., Calhoun, because Of their
reputed fidelity TO this class interest.
Having secured, by accident, the execu-
tive branch Of the Government, their next
step was to obtain and keep control Of
the Senate committees, especially the Ju-
dietary, Commitie, to whom all nominations
for the Supreme Court are referred; and
as result Of this policy, the judiciary
Committee for the last twenty years has
been completely in the bands ofihis fac.
ton. The following Senators were mem.
bers Of the Judiciary Committee at the
time Of which am speaking. Ashley Of
arkansas, chairman; Breese OF Illinois,
BerEine Of Georgia, Wes,cott Of Florida,
and Webster of Massachusetts, They
recommended the confirmation of Robert
G. Grisr, Of Philadelphia. and the rejec.
tion or withdrawal, by the President, if
not Of each Of the following names, at
least of such men as John NJ. Read, Ed
ward Key, and George w. Woodward, Of
Pennsylvania. who were severeally nom
mated and rejected or withdrawn because
oi their known opposition to slavery, aud
their elief that Congress had the power
under the Constitution, and that it was
their duty to abolish and prohibit slavery
in all national Territoris.
During Mr. Fillmore's administration
thu Judiciary Committee recommended
the rejection or pos.ponement or with
drawal of the nomination of Z. a. Brad.
ford, Of Louisiana, one of the most dis
tinguished lawyers Of that State, and also
the Indefinite postpoDement Of the nomi-
nation of William c. Micou of the same
State, on the same day tie nomination uas
sent 10 the Senate. Mr.. Micou was at that
time a law partner of Senator Benjamin,
of Louisiana. aud distinguished mem.
Der Of the bar This was disposing Of q
man summarily. These nominations we're
made by Mr.. Fillmore, as was also the
nomination of Hon. George E. Badger, Of
North Carolina. whose confirmation was
refused and the consideration Of it post
poned on the recommendation of this com
mittee BY test vote Of &c TO 25, simply
because he believed, with Henry Clay,
that Congress had the power to exclude
slavery from the Territories. So close
was this vote, that the slave interest were
compelled to telegraph to Alabama for
Senator Fitzpatrick to come on and aud in
his defeat by postpOning the eonsidera-
tion of the subject until the Inauguration
of Mr.. Pierce. who at that time was elect.
ed. Aftet Mr.. Pierce came into office he
submitted the name of John A. Campbell,
Of Alabama, and he was confirmed. This
committee were Butler Of South Carolina,
Downs Of Louisiana, Bradbury Of Maine
Geyer Of Missouri, aud Badger of North
Carolina, 1t will be observed that on
this important committee but one momber
was from the free States, and he sup
porter of the Administration. -
How many Of the best and most distin.
guished men have been rejected during
the past twenty years, after having beer
nominated for seats on the supreme bench
the public have no means of determining
as the official action Of the Senate is lock
cd up in the secret archives, into which
J the people are never permitted to look by
the leaders of the Democracy, for fear oil
. being called to an account for their base
betrayal of the interests and wishes o
their constituents. Many things hav,
been said and done in the secret sessions
of the United States Senate, which, i
made public at the time, would have
, consigned the utterer to the shades Of pri
!. vate life, and the party TO hopeless mi
. nority. This practice Of holding secre
, sessions of the Senate Is feature in oul
system of government for which hav,
) no partially. and for whichy there is, il
my Judgement, no justification, excep
perhaps when the country is engaged in !
J foreign was, or discussing the proposed
ratification of treaty. No business
: touching or affecting the interest of .ht
county at home shOnld he done in secret
| and kept from the people. The followin!
are some Of the names which | remember
although there are doubtless more, Of tn
persons who have been nominated 70
places on the supreme bench and eithe
! rejected or their names withdrawn Joh
G. Spencer, Of New York, Ruben Wal
worth for many years chancellor of the
9 State of New York; Edward Key, GeOrg,
: W. Woodward and John NJ. Read, o
t Pcnnsyltunlaj E. a. Bradford and WI
Q liam C. Micon, of Louisiana; George E
c Badger, of North Carolina, and other
r whose names | cannot now recall. =,
o And in the places OF such distinguisho
!. jurss and most worthy and learned cit
z zcns, We have to-day, as the result an
D puccess Of the Calhoun conspiracy. Ne
= son of Nsw York, Grier, of Pennsylvapi
r Campbell of Alabama. Daniel of Virgins
! aud Clifford OF Maire; some of whoT
certainly would never have been though
+. of for seat on the Supreme bench, bu
a for their loyalty and devotion to the in
y ,eresi and wishes Of the slave power