Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-12-05
THE CHIEF.JuSTICEsHIP.


From the New York Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.--Durlng the
session of the Cabinet to-day, Attorney
Cep oral Williams, for the first time
was informed Of kls appylnt-
ment as Chief Justice, and was
warmly congratulated by his asso-
ciates. It seems that during Friday
or Saturday of last week all the mem
bers of the Cabinet except Judge VII
Hams were called together for the pur-
pose Of considering the question of the
Chief Justiceship, and they decided
unanimously in favor of the appointee.
Some of the Cabinet officers favored
the appointment from the Bench, but
when the President announced his de-
termination not to make such choice
they all favored the Attorney General
The nomination of Judge Williams
has been very severely criticised to-day,
especially by the most experienced law
yers of both Houses, not ON personal,
but on. professional grounds. No one
doubts his honesty and sound sense.
and everyone believes that he will give
to the duties of his new office the most
conscientious study, but many hoped
for the selection of lawyer of much
greater experience and professional
training.
From the Cincinnati Commercial.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.-The nomina-
ton of Attorney General Williams to
be Chief Justice does not meet with
approval here He is not considered as
a fit man for the bench. and it is urged
that the fact that he has sprung sud
denly into notice from obscurity, and
has not hitherto been distinguished as
man of high legal attainments ought
to be sufficient to prevent his promo
ton over the heads of the whole bench
of notably able jurists. 1t is also
charged that he had in a mysterious
way grown very wealthy since his APP
pointment as Attorney General. 1t is
said that when he was appointed to that
Office, he was SO poor that he was COM
PEELED to borrow money to furnish
apartments to live In, and that is con-
trasted with the fact that he has built
magnificent house and furnished it re.
gally, which he has but recently moved
into. As he has been Attorney
General but two years, this rapid ac-
emulation of wealth is looked upon as
an interesting circumstance.
The Indignation at the appointment
extends to the Senate, where an opposi.
ton is springing up, headed, it is said
by Mr.. Pratt, of Indiana, which threat.
ems to defeat his confirmation. With
these gentlemen the ground for opposi.
ton rests upon a belief in the charges
made against the Attorney General, il
the letters printed in the Capital, last
Sunday, the substance of which was
telegraphed you. Williamson, who is
charged with mail robbery, the subor.
nation of witnesses, the corruption OF
jurymen, and other crimes, is still IL
the confidence and employ of Williams
AS it is supposed that the Senators who
oppose the confirmation because they
believe these charges to be true, must
have some good proof for their belief
the case looks serious.
From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.-The opposi-
ton to confirming Attorney General
Williams as Chief Justice continue:
very strong. There is strong Opin-
ion among leading Republican lawyers
that the appointment Ought not to be
made. Personal charges have beer
fled by John W. Wright against Mr.
Williams, but it is believed that he
will finally be confirmed.