Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-08-25
(From the Virginia Union Of this morning
Meeting or the Lawyers.

From the YirGtntA Union OF this morning.
Meeting Of the Lawyers.
On Tuesday night, on receipt Of dispatch
that J. F. Swift, Esq, Of California, had been
recommended by Judge Fields, Gov. Low
and Senator CONFESS for the position of Judge
Of the Supreme Court for this District, to I'll
the vacancy oceasioned by the resignation Of
Judge North, the lawyers Of this city held an
indignation meeting at the Probate Court
Room. the upshot Of which was-after fiey
speeches from Sandy Baldwin, Tod Robin
son, Judge Burbank and others-the appoint
ment Of committee to prepare resolutions
expressive of the sense Of the bar; whereupon
the meeting adjourned overto yesterday after
noon, at l o'clock.
/. At that hour, or very near it, the body
assembled at the Probate Court Room, VIM.
NJ. Stewart in the Chair.
made his report. The whole was embodied
In three resolutions. The first deprecated
the appointment Of person to the Office of
Justice Of the Supreme Court of the Terri
tory whose character and qualifications were
entirely unknown to the people and the Bar !;
and stated that it would lead to embarrass-
ment and difficulty.
Upon this ensued discussion, in which
about half dozen participated. The ma
jority seemed to be cooked and primed for
speeches-as lawyers generally are-more
intent upon multiplying words than coming
to the simple plain point Of case. But
that's their vocation, and they have but little
regard for the patience Of an audience.
Finally the resolution passed, with an amend
ment opposing the appointment Of any other
than citizen Of the Territory to the position
sought to be filled. :.
The second resolution was the " stumper,"
and upon its adoption ensued long, windy
debate. 1t was q Recommendation from the
committee that the accompanying letter to
Mr.. Swift should be forwarded to him, or
something substantially like it. This letter
gives Mr.. Swift history Of our condition
under the Judiciary which have Just resigned
and then goes on to say that they don't
want him on the bench over here-that they
are not acquainted with him, and wouldn't
have any confidence in him if he did come
over and assume the ermine. In fact, they
assure him that he would create disquiet, dis
satisfaction, and discussion among the law
yers and in the community, by assuming the
position of Judge Of the Supreme Court Of
this Territory.
From the manner Of the appointment says
the letter, and the circumstances under which
it is to be obtained, the new Judge would not
have the confidence Of the bar or the commu-
nifty, and his bed would be one Of "thorns I"
-hguratiyely speaking, Of course that some
gentlemen wished distinctly understood. The
letter is as plain as pike-staf-but il it is
respectful in language, and such as should
be addressed to gentleman, is question
"before the house." and upon it ensued the
talk.
Mr.. Hereford started out in opposition to
the use of such language in addressing one
who might be sent as an appointee Of the
President.
Mr.. Reardon moved that the name Of ]. FL
Swift be stricken out Of the resolutions wher-
ever it occurred.
Mr.. Whitman declared that strategy had
been attempted, and warmly advocated the
adoption Of the resolution.
Judge Reardon objected to the letter
thought it was insulting to the gentleman to
whom it was addressed-and stated that he
believed, il there was any strategy there, it
was on the part Of certain gentlemen who
desired to prevent Judge from living here
at all.
The discussion was further prolonged by
Judge Burbank, Claggett, Robinson, Will
liams, Campbell and others.
A substitute was offered by Mr.. Hereford,
to the effect that Judge Field, Governor
Low and Senator Conness be requested to
withdraw their recommendation in favor Of
Mr.. Swift, and cooperate with the Bar Of
Virginia in having Mr.. Mesick appointed
Judge.
Another long and tedious discussion arose,
which resulted, finally, in the rejection Of the
substitute and the adoption Of the original
resolution by vote Of % to 9. So Mr.. Swift
may expect to receive an interesting and in
structive letter shortly.
The third and last resolution was to this
purport: That this attempted foreign inter-
ference with the affairs Of our Territory was
another argument in favor Of the adoption Of
State Government.
To this that venerable Copperhead, Tod
Robinson, objected, as a matter not proper for
a meeting Of the kind to pass upon-at the
same time announcing his intention to vote
against our State Constitution. The con-
alteration Of this resolution was, after debate,
indefinitely postponed.
The meeting finally adjourned in rather a
confused state. It occupied Just four hours
for these wise fellows-the concentration of
legal, Legislative and administrative talent
to dispose Of this little business-to pass up
on three resolutions For four mortal hours
we had to listen to the arguments and elo-
quence Of these learned gentlemen-though
at the beginning any one could see how 1t
would terminate.
If the subject is properly represented to
the President, we believe that he will act in
conformity with the desires Of our people;
but we cannot, for the life Of US, see the ne
cessity of sending the letter that the Com
mittee reported, to Mr.. Swift. 1t is extreme
" obnoxious in its character-or we do not
understand the English language.