The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-12-22
The Circuit Judges.

The President has completed his llst
of Circuit Judges of the United States
under the recent act of Congress.
These Judgeships, being above the
District Judgeships, are of great i'm
portance, and the dignity and emolu-
ments of the office would have secured
the best legal talent in the country.
This the country had a right to expect.
But in this the country has been most
grievously disappointed. The Presi-
dent and his advisers had friends to
reward and enemies to punish, and
their former reputation was sufficient
to warrant the opinion that the er-
mine is not too sacred to be soiled in
the accomplishment of their dirty
work. Hence these high judicial Off
ces have been parcelled out among the
different village politicians who have
shown the most zeal in carrying out
the principles of the Radical party. To
60 no further than our own circuit, our
new Judge may be taken as q fair sam
pie of General Grants appointments.
1t had been given out that the position
would be rendered to the Hon. Thomas
J. Durant, OF New Orleans. Now,
while Mr.. Durant's recent political SEN
timents may he of very cratic nature
he is known to be a gentleman OF vast
legal learning, and one whose private
character is above rcproach. Men OF
all political parties were delighted at
the prospect of seeing him in posi-
ton which he could not fail to adorn.
But Mr.. Durant is unfortunately not a
Carpet-bagger, and there was great
danger that if he were on the bench he
would decide the questions which
should come before him according tO
law and not according to the dictates
of the Radical politicians. Here Gen,
eral Grant passed him over for Car,
pet-bagger who was truly loyal, who
had fought the union battles as Col.
onel, and who had come South to de-
your the substance of the land which
his soldiers had overrun. The lucky
individual is named VIM. d. Wood
} He has, of course, been a freedmen.
bureau agent, and has selected Ala
bama as the scene of his future oper
J ations. The majority of the cases tt
: Court at New Orleans, the great com
mercial metropolis of the South. Now
the new judge. fresh from the bach
woods of Michigan, knows about a.
:, much of the laws of Louisiana as h,
does of the Talmud or the Shaster
Hence the new Court, which was in
tended to afford greater protection
to property, will only expose it in Lou
isiana, to greater dangers, and such
we presume, will be the case, to ;
! greater or less extent, in all the otlle
Circuits. Hence, it is not unlikely tina
5 as soon as the Democrats get in power
} the system, which really has many
merits, will be abolished. These in
dividuals will not be allowed to dis
2 grace the bench during the whole O
: their natural lives.
By the act creating the Circui
Judgeships, it is provided that an.
. Judge Of the Supreme Court over til
age of sixty may resign and retire i
full pay. Judge Grier, who is yer
old and infrm, has recently availe
\ himself of the privilege. This leave
two vacancies on the bench, whic
c will he filed with Radical appointecs
The Court will then be so thorough
!, Radical as to render brakes bill wllol
ly unnecessary. The Radicals wi
I then have unlimited authority in n
the departments of the governmel
4 and if they do not send the country t
the dogs it will not be for want of til
power or inclination.