Daily national Republican., 1863-03-14
ElIYEON.
FOUR O'oLOoIk, r. M.

The Distfict of Columbia and Conrr,a.
Two salntary measures were brought forward
In tho recent Congress for The benefit Of thI,
District. One failed, for which we have deer
regretsj the other succeeded, for which we are
oquaiiy thankful. ?
Mr. DEnAso, the very able and gsntlemanly
representative nom Massachusetts, rwhose loss
ffom our public counolls win boR greatly lament.
cd by our follow-citiEens,) introduced a bill
giving 70 the people Of The District the ripht 70
be represented on the floor Of the House Of
Representatives, In the same, manner as tho
Territories Of the Union arc now represented,
namely, by a delegate who shall have the right
to bring forward measures intended for Inc
good Of the District, and explain them in do
bate, without the right Of voting upon any
question. The usefulness Of this qualified and
limited Representative, to say nothing Of It's
Justice, is manifest; and we cannot doubt that,
at the next session, II will be recognized and
granted. The measure seemed TO meet with
an expression Of very general favor, and un-
doubtedly failed to pass for lack Of time In tho
midst Of great pressure Of other public busl-
moss In short session.
The other measure to which wo allude Is the
establishment of new District court, in the
place Of the old one; and we believe this TO
have been demanded and to DO Justified, not
merely by public opinion throughout the coun-
try, but by considerations most intimately con-
neeted with the pure administration Of the laws.
II Is never pleasant to discuss question Of this
kind by reference to the personal character or
qualifications Of fincumbents in Office; nor would
we do so unless forced to II by tho course of
those who arc 30 loud in their complaints that
injustice has been done TO the Judges Of the old
court, And while we insist that public consld-
erations, and not individual griefs, should al
ways be the rule for legislatures on questions
of this character, we cannot bo compelled to
shut our eyes to thU fact that there may be a
personal disqualification which would furnish
ample public consideration for utterly changing
the entire organization of any court. And there
fore, we are free to say, in the present case, It
has been well known for long time, and for a
long time II has been endured, that one of the
Judges has been, during all this wicked rebel
lion, an undoubted malignant sympathizor
with the rebels in arms against the Gov
ernment whose Constitution he had sworn
10 support, and whose laws he sat on the bench
to administer. 1t became, therefore,
q question of the safety of tho State whether
such person should be allowed to mingle in the
Of justice; and we hold It TO have been
The highest duty Of Congress to strike at 1t in
The speedlest and surest manner. Impeach-
ment was tardy, but legal, constitutional legis-
lation was speedy and effectual. II has, at
least, purified the Bench of this District, and
Iet not only hope, but have faith, that equal
lalent and equal virtues, both public and
private, may be found in the broad limits Of
our nation fitted so to hr the newly-created
seats on the bcnch, that tho hasty alarms which
arc expressed by some of our fellow-citIzens of
The District may prove to be wholly groundless;
and in the names of the judges which have
been submitted to the Senate, and by them con-
armed, we see strong Justification Of this hope
and faith. They arc entitled to our respect and
and the true loyal instincts Of
Oyery good citizen win prompt him, not merely
10 silent acquleScencs In tho change which an
Imperative necessity has brought about In the
organization Of the court, but to cordial and
generous support Of tribunal which is 10 sit
n Judgment, under the Constitution, upon the
nomentous questions Of property, liberty and
lfe. .-