New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-12-21
THE INTEREIEW WYE THE PREsTDENT.

is in his common sense and simplicity.
Judge Campbell attacked him with his
most fowery rhetoric, ford defamation
and impudent assumption, but made no
impression, for the President was armed
with right and honesty.
! But it was singular spectacle to see an
ex-judge Of the Supreme Court of the
| United States, claiming to represent the
best people of Louisiana, boldly demand
I ING that the President shall commit those
acts Of ugurpation in their behalf and for
their interests which they have SO strenu-
ousIy condemned He is coolly asked to
interfere with the judiciary Of the United
States. Judge Durell has found the law and
the facts to be against Judge Campbell's
| clients, and they demand that he be set aside
as an obstacle TO their ambitious designs,
and two other judges sent to try the cause!
The learned counselor backed up his re-
/ quest by citing precedent furnished by
7 ms own action when he was on the ou-
preme bench. He had twice gone az the
dictation Of the President to squelch dis
trict Judge who was not rendering deci-
siong in the interest Of the Democratic
party, and he had gone voluntarily on
three otheg occasions upon similar mis-
sions. Howeyey that may have beeps we
I never heard Of such scandalous proceed
ings before, and we think it quite likely
that these judicial missions of Judge Camp
bell we're carefully concealed from the
country. Il is very evident that such
practice is not likely to be followed by the
Republicans. The confession Of his own
pliancy to serve his political friends at the
expense of his character for Judicial dig
nifty, does not seem to have impressed the
President very favorably. And he utterly
refused to interfere with the movements Of
United States courts upon any such IN
tenable sanction for the usurpation.
Now, let US inquire what was the matter
that Mr.. Campbell went to Washington to
complain about to the President. VIII
our readers credit us when we tell them it
was simply judgment Of United States
Circuit Court? Tt is one of the many as
tonishing things Of modern politics, but it
is nevertheless true, that distinguished
member of our bar, a former associate
Justice of the Supreme Court, backed up
by forty-two men claiming to be wealthy,
intelligent and respectable, and all protest
ing that they speak in the name Of the
people Of Louisiana, actually ask the Pres
ident. of the United States to interpose his
authority to subvert federal court, next
in rank to the Supreme Court. And what
is the occasion for this extraordinary re-
quest? It is simply this, ard nothing
more: In the course Of a proceeding il
chancery before him, Judge Durell found
it necessary to decide contest between
two boards, each claiming TO be the State
officers. In passing upon this
controversy, Judge Durell followed strictly
the State law, and its Interpretation by our
own State courts. The same question had
been involved in a case before
the Eighth District Court, be-
fore the expulsion Of the lawful
Judge, and came before the Supreme
Court, when Mr.. Ogden offered his com
mission as Attorney General, which was
refused by the court, and also when
SIessrs Harper and Field offered their com
which had been issued under
Of the retiring board, recognized
by the Circuit Court. On the disputed
point as TO which was the legal returning
BOARD, our State courts are in perfect ac-
,ord with the United States Circuit Court
and yet Judge Campbell asks the Presi-
lent diving at distance Of twelve hun
hundred miles" from che scene, to do what
he Supreme Court of the United States
'efused to do in the same case.
1t is 20 be remembered that the party
has makes this singular demand have not
ct ceased to censure Congress for repeal
ng a law which in some measure affected
he McArdle case, holding it to be an in /
erferance by the political department. Of
IC s5ONSlHAICAG NlGn VIC Adt4SS VI Gli6 Jd~ |
iciary. May the President do what they
eny the right Of Congress to do? or can
ny authority legally interrupt due pro
ess Of law
These modest demands were urged with
L the ffourishes of rhetoric and heated g
The President quietly re
lied that he did not think he had the au- {
lority to interfere in the matter at all;
lat he would not interfere in contests for
zeal Offices, even though he had been
'eely charged through various channels
18th having done so. His duty was merely q
} see that the orders of the Circuit Court i
re obeyed, and this duty would be per I
rmed. T
Now, we ean not see what these polit- y
al pilgrims expected to gain by intro 0
acing Judges Bradley and Woods upon II
le scene Of the conflict. They would be
ound in making their decisions by the e
me laws, both State and federal, that 0
overned Judge Durell and no doubt {
leir conclusions would be the same. And :
ldge Campbell himself is far too good 9
wyer to assert that Judge Durell's judg- Q
ent is not correct and perfectly in ac- 1t
,rdance with the law and the facts. The h
Use, moreover, has got to be tried on its 3;