Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-10


srnments ought TO be the work of time AMI
elaboration and the fruit of sober debate
aud much thinking. In that way we get
permanent and stable government. There
are MANY questions now of great impor.
lance upon which the aspiring statesman
may exercise his powers and expend his
efforts. Why aotP Jefferson said the Su-
tjreme Court was an eternal thing, for a
| Judge never resigned and never died. The
Judges could be divided into three classes.
to 60 out in rotation; one class elected at
| first for six, one for twelve and one for
eighteen years. The Presidential term
might be extended to six years, so That he
would have the appointment of one-third
of the members of Haas
THE SUPREME COURT
| each term. If any should prove rotten.
then their term, expiring in a short time,
would leave the country free of an
drop out when their time was I'D. and
better men could be appointed in their
places. A term of eighteen years on the
Supreme Bench would secure competency
upon which man stricken in years could
comfortably retire to spend the fag-end of
bis days in quietude and repose. This sys-
bOAh WOuIA l1lfC dioO Tile merlG
OF securing the retirement of judges from
the bench, when all the good would be
worked out OF them, and the country would
be spared the aflliction of seeing man on
the Supreme Bench in his dotage. Then
APPOINTMENTS TO OFFICE
could be made from the Congressional dis
tricts in the same way that cadets are sent
to West Point and the Naval Academy.
This would insure fair distribution of
offices all over the country, and the misery |
OF sectional government would never be |
witnessed. 1t is such questions as these,n |
said MIR. johnson, "that ought to occupy |
the attention of statesmen and engage the |
energies OF parties; but, alas! what a spec |
tacle have we instead? A host of people |
engaged in wild rush for place, and every
politician inquiring How will it pay? is |
there money in it% and what effect will it |
have on the next election| Where is the
dignity and glory of Congress? We see the
whole three departments of government
rapidly merging into one, and the Congress
to be the army and the navy,
THE LEGISLATURE, THE JUDICIARY AND
THE EXECUTIVE,
all at once. There are no constitutional
checks; there is no balancing of coordinate
powers, but instead hydra-headed ruler
and tyrant, known as the Congress of the
United States. In the midst of ali this the
is regarded as useless instru-
meat, and those who revere and uphold it
IS the basis and guarantee of the peoples
iberties as "old fogies."
lie spoke long and earnestly about the
uture OF Tennessee in the government, re-
,ailing "reminiscences of her former grand
lame and position in the affairs of the
lation. MIR. johnson mentioned, incident
lily, the apparent absurdity of the people,
10Th North and South, continually denounc-
ng the military, and at the same time Sc
Getting military men for civil officers. He
aid
THE PEOPLE, NORTH AND SOUTH,
lamored against all military displays in the
oVernment; and yet whenever they get a
nance they select military men, regardless
I fitness, and thrust them into positions
reward for their services. l remarked
nat the people meant well and thought
hey were. doing a good thing in each of
hose cases. "Let us, said Mr.. johnson,
be logical. The people of the United
tates take pride in being thinking men.
Why not act as such all the time
DUB INTERVIEW
.sted over two hours, and would have
cen prolonged, had we not been inter
lpted by the advent of some towns
eople, who had arrived to consult MIR,
ohnson about local matters.
By the time this reaches you, Mr.. John
N may be in Nashville, and short time
terward you need not be surprised to find
in among you once more, waking the
,hoes by the thunders of popular applause
hich his splendid and powerful utterances
ever fail to produce. He is the same .
ndy johnson that led the Democratic I
asses twenty years ago, and no doubt will
} it again. NJ,