The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-12-30
Nominations and Combinations.

The course Of proceedings In regard Y
tho nomination Of Acknowledgement WAL
fIAss to be Chicf.Jus,ice Of the United
States Supreme Court is matter OF yer!
treat interest since it has decided bearing
uron The character OF our Government
That Mr. WILLIAMS is unfit for the place fol
which he has been nominated seems to have
been asserted or conceded 10y all parties
Tic scmiotficial organ Of the Administra
zion, tho Times Of New York. declared tina
the name OF AR. WILLIAMS ought 10 re with
drawn and besides itself asserting the I'm
fines OF that gentleman for the position FOL
which he was named, it declared that The
whole bar Of New York State considered
The nomination one that should no. have
been made.
But now VIC have that same scni.ofticia
x.apAr saying that it is probable the nomina
,ion Of Mr. WILLIAMS will be confirmed
that all the Charges affecting his iniesrii!
have been proved to be "u'ter!y false" Blu
there was another question not affecting hi
Integrity that has not been controverted-
viz, his capacity and personal dignity. On
:h.s point he is unfit 10 be sent into the Su
rrcmc Cour, TO preside over that body o
venerable juris.s. There is yet another
question which is considered by large por
tioo Of the people Of the Union, and that is
That Mr.. WILLIAMS is SO bitter partisan as
80 unfit him for the duties of Judge, which
require inpartiality ard deliberation. But
t;,;s objection 10 him in these days would
BE- rather recommendation with the Nor.
roSs and somc les ovcrbeariag partisJns Of
M United States Senate.
The nomination Of Mr.. WILLIAMS i
:.nsthev evidence oC General GRANT, dtSpo-
s!;i0n TO elevate his persona! friends without
rcg!rd especially 10 their merits aud fitness.
Tire furnishing of Mrs. WILLIAMS with a
1900 carriage ri Government expense
Shows indeed that she and her husband en-
loved more Of consideration at the d;sburS-
lp2 source OF the public treasury than other
officials and their wives. 1t is certainly
I.arc than half the battle with aSpirants for
siayG tha. they enjoy the personal favor OF
sbc appointing power; out this is not q mat
&. Of momcn: where the nominee is fit and
ctG1hlc. Evidently the Senate does not
.aina that Mr.. WILLIAMS is such man.
Il The Senate does SO look upon him, how
can i. confirm Lis nomination:
Tas IS the point. There is between the
Executive and the Senate 4 relation or the
suffice: OF the Offices that was not anticipated
ty the Trainers Of the Constitution. 1t may
sc"n IT, lis nov that the Convention which
r,&de tie Constitution ought to have fore
fya, this; but men who were themselves
!fcc from corruption would not very readily
suspect others. Yet that which might have
been furesccn has come to pass. The Exccu.
tive and the Senate have the offices Of Gov.
s,rmcnt under cortrol-one az the uomina-
tils power, and the other Us the cont1rma-
,ory tody, without whose appreciation the
appointing power is held in check. So, then,
,h:t they should divide the patronage of the
Government followed rs a logical result.
The Scpa;c'1 power was not to 20 for no.
thirg. Ii must stand for what it was worth,
and CONCESSIONS were as much due from the
President to the Senate as from the latter to
the PRESIDENT. For the harmonious work.
III. Of their relations the two must not fall
out. Neither must by n captious bearing
Cl.caG the other. II the Senate approves
,lc Presidents nominees the President must
c',cw the senators to have Il hand in the
ordinations.
The mutual interests thus springing up
t,iwcen the Executive and the Senate must
C3c!ptl both TO approve names which could
e.: under other circumstances for moment
D. thought proper By one or the other. So, we
,..e il that ii the Senate approves the nomina-
tioa Of Mr.. WILLIAMS it will grow out OF q
fear Of giving offence to the President aud
teus p!ariEg many senators to disadvantage in |
9h.:r attempts TO put friends into office. In /
short, i will show that the President has q |
:,owcr over the Senate that is not TO De dis |
REGARDED.
1t has beer. nl->ady stated that General |
e;sAH- has SAID THAI if the Senate rejects MIR. |
WILLIAMS the acL will be regarded a. hostile
10 hipscif ind TO his administration.
Whether It DC so or not, the President Is
Irompt in showing scn,itiyeuess In con.
struin. the Senate's delay In confirming the
and does not hesitate to throw
.l!e responsibility of confirming or rejecting
it upon that body.
Therefore we shall not be at all surprised
20 see the nomination of Mr. WILLIAMS con-
tirmed upon the rea-ssembiing Of Congress-
1t will be asserted, in the language OF the
Times, that "the charges affecting Mr.. WILL
l1aMs's integrity are, one and all, utterly
false Of course. The thing has to be
t,as. Whatever may be said of MIR. VIII
l;.>.,'s fitness for the Office, he has not been
..uiIty " felony-that's enough.
Tia PRECEDENT will more than probably
cou,o Dct Victorious; but the event will be
Il 40 re credi,able TO the Government,
sat VIII snow that our ancestors in framing
cur Constitution little thought that such
yy,a.. - these we live in would ever come to
''S-..
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