West-Jersey pioneer., 1870-05-06
HON. JOHN T. NIXON.

The appointment of Hon. John T. Nixon
as Judge of the United States District
Court, for the State of New Jersey, is one
of those exact adaptations which while
everybody recognizes their fitness, yet in
the exigencies of politics are so seldom
made. General Grant has displayed won-
derful amount of common sense in the APP
pointments he has made, and although Con-
gress has snubbed him in some of them vet
in the main their fitness has been afterward
acknowledged. Among all these none more
fitting has been made than the appointment
of Mr.. Nixon to the Judgeship, made va
cant by the illness and resignation of Judge
Field. At the retirement of Judge Elmer
from the Bench, it was generally hoped that
the place would be rendered to Mr.. Nixon
by the Governor. But Governor Randolph
decided differently, and now that the place
of higher importance has become vacant We
are glad that matters took the course they
did at that time. The new incumbent of
the Office is in the ripeness both of matured
years and matured judgment, with legal
status which commands the universal admi-
ration and respect of his brethren. The
Digest" of New Jersey laws compiled by
him, has been universally received as the
best exposition to be found of New Jersey
practice, and is esteemed Invaluable by the
practitioners of justice. He began polit-
ical career in the Legislature of the State
in 1890, and during the latter year was
Speaker of the House, and after an interval
of ten or twelve years served as our Repre-
sentative in the 37th and 3sth Congress.
Mr. Nixon is now in the prime Of life.
He graduated at Princeton College in as4
with distinction delivered the annual ad-
dress before the Literary Society of the col
lege in 1864, andhas served as a member of
the Board of Trustees of the college for the
past fifteen years. m
Senator Cattell. Secretary Robeson, Hon.
F. T. Frelinghuysen, Hon. VIM. Moore,
and other distinguished Jerseymen concur
red in asking for the appointment which
General Grant promptly made. Mr.. Nixon
has made for himself not only well earned
reputation for ability, but for incoruptible
integrity No stain of corruption, political
or otherwise has ever even been imputed to
him, in the course of political and legal
life running over long series Of years. He
will not be harsh and Implying. for his
heart is as gentle as that of a woman, but
he will De sternly determined to thoroughly
and fully execute the law. We are gratihed
that our distinguished townsman has been
recognized by this appointment, and think
the authorities have done themselves high
credit by making Mr. Nixon its recipient.
If the President steadily pursues the princi-
pie which he has adopted in this case, of
putting the best man wLo can be found for
the appointee of an Office, the country will
return him an amount of grateful confidence
not often meted out to the ruler of land,
and whether he desires it or not, it will be
impossible to prevent his nomination for the
office of Chief Executive in 1872. 1t is
simply necessary to contrast this appoint
ment with those made by the partizans OF
New York to vacant Judgeships, to let the
people see the vast advantage of an honest
man of common sense at the head of the
affairs of the nation. e