The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-13
Views OF Eminent Lawyers
in illinois.
OcoNoR, EvARTs AND conK1MG
Qualifications Necessary in a Chief JUS
tice Of the United States.
THE BREATH OF THE HERALD fame. -
Critical Examination Of the Most
Prominent Candidates.

CHICAGO, Sept. Q, 1879
'Tnterview the prominent lawyers In your Sec
ton regarding their views as to who would be the
best man for Chief Justice of the United States"
| was the order from the corner of Broadway and
| Ann street. AS such mandates receive ready and
cheerful obedience, the HERALD correspondent put
the tablets Of his memory in order and sailed
| forth.
THE FIRST VICTIM
OF the inquisition was Mr.. Charles Hitchcock
lawyer Of large practice and of eminent respect
ability. He has not mingled much in public life,
but his appearances have always been in the high
est degree credtable to himself and beneficial to
his constituents. He was President of the late
Illinois Constitutional Convention, and. for the in
terest OF the people, consented to serve for time
as q county commissioner.
Desired to talk Chief Justice, Mr. Hitchcock
said:-'T have supposed that the appointment
would be q political one, and have therefore given
the matter very little consideration.
CORKESPONDENT-lt would, OF course, be i'm
mensely better to make the appointment indie
pendent Of political considerations
Mr.. MISUNDERSTANDING. But that is too much
to expect had supposed that Howe Conkling
might be the man. Carpenter would be glad to
have his colleague out Of the way In order tnat
Senatorial honors might be made easy for Gov
future. This view would unite Howe, Carpenter
and Washburne for Wisconsin Justice. But as
Washburne may now see chance OF becoming
Senator without providing for Howe perhaps his
appointment weuld not be urged. Evarts of New
York. would be good man, but that State has
representative on the Supreme Bench, Ward
Hunt, recently appointed. Why not take Davis, of
Illinois, already on the Bencha Then, again, where
is there better man than DrummOnd of this cir
cult, who has been mentioned in cOnnectiOD with
the placer
CoRREspoNDENT-we all know Drummond's
worth, but his comparative obscurity Is against
him.
Mr.. HrTCHCocK-I suppose 1t is, and it would be
hardly seemy to raise him above Davis, who Is in
the same circuit with hun. BY the way, why would
not Lawrence. recently OF our Supreme Bench,
make an excellent Chief Justice
CORREsPONDENT-Hs recent defeat would mil
itate against any chancesh he might otherwise have.
MR.. HIBBARD, THE REGISTER IN BANKRUPTCY
of this District Is whoe-sOuled man, with brain
full of law and a heart full of humanity. He was
captured by the HERALD correspondent just as he
(Hibbard, Of course) was descending from his new
suburban mansion. which Is big and broad,
partaking of the Hubbard order of architecture.
The Chief Justice matter was mentioned.
Mr.. HIBBARD-I am in favor OF the appointment
Oh u lawyer, not pOuClClan. QOuC ike COukllng
for the place. but do like Evarts. He is known in
Europe, and no appointment would give the salts
faction the world over that his would. But we have
| q candidates. modest man, Of und0ubted integrity,
| OF extraordinary capacity. No jurist is more
esteemed and respected than Judge Drummond,
OF the United States Circuit Court. 1t Is worth v-
ing for to the reputation that man possesses
With all his learning he has the simple manners of
| child. l have the warmest regard for Judge
| Drummond IF his appointment Is not possible,
| then Evarts is my choice. Evarts would give more
| satisfaction at home and abroad than any other
man prominently named for the place.
JUDGE VAN HIGGINS,
for many years upon the bench Of this circuit has
retired from active practice in the courts, but not
| from busy participation in affairs. His private
business occupies much Of his time, while the man.
agement OF the affairs Of an extensive corporation
| give HIM additional employment. His leisure Is
given In experimenting in mechanics and ne has
| now nearly completed pet project that of III
remember) making the steam OF an engine work
and rods The Judge SAID relative to the Chief
Justiceship, II think that William M. Evarts, OF
| New York, Is the most available man."
| CORREsPONDENr-Bu it is objected that New
| York is already represented on the bench.
Judge VAN HIdalNs-i do not regard that as
and is entitled to full representation. Appoint
I ments should be made to the Supreme Judiciary
regardless Of all considerations other than the
fitness OF the man. A candidate for the place
| should be above suspicion OF any kind. man who
has been active IN politics can hardly bear that
| Ceptable. have never heard q word breathed
against the integrity Of Evarts and he is certainly
| great lawyer. He Is the most available man
| mentioned.
i Observation-Disclosures is some talk in the West
Judge VAN HIGaINs-He can hardly be appointed,
! but he Is an excellent man; he has been upon the
Bench for twenty years and has given universal
| satisfaction, but he Is OvershadOwed; Davis might
| be promoted, in which case Drummond ought to
have his place as associate justice; there Is Trum-
| ton, but he has the requisite talents do not
know how he may feel about the matter his record
on the supreme Bench OF this State secured him
| but he cannot be appointed; on the whole think
| Evarts is the most available man.
| LEGAL COD CATCHER.
Mr.. Leonard SWEET, one OF the lights of the Chi
| cago Bar, has just returned from cod catching on
HERALD correspondent. When questioned as TO the
CHIEF Justceship he said that he had little to do
trouble to form an opinion. To spur his mental ma.
| chnery into activity the correspondent suggested
tnat. p TnaInoG w. had .i been named in the
| most cordially, showing his singular fitness
for the place, ar, and asssYing that nom his
| good Judge as could be found in the world.
Drummond had never been anything but Judge,
voted himself to nothing but the law. Davis was
great lawyer, but Davis had been in forty things.
Chase was am eminent Justice, but politics could
| was great Judge. He had no predictions and
| settled questions upon their legal aspect only.
| Drumm0nd's slngeness OF purpose would make
| him efficient. He would not make as good com
missioner to Geneva as Evarts he might not write
as rhetorical decision; he not the man OF the
| world that Evarts is; but he would make better
judge. Mr.. SWEET feared that politician would be
| given the place, and lamented that such an ap-
| pointment was possible.
THE LADY LAWYER.
| Among the many intellectual ladies that dis
| tinguish Chicago Mrs. Myra Bradwell, wife OF
| Judge Bradwei and editress Of the Legal Nescs,
| holds foremost place. She Is woman OF mari ed
ability, and, although In years past she to be
| prominent in the woman suffrage agitation, the
| tone OF her speeches were of practical rather
| than a utopian character. Consequently the
HERALD correspondent Thought that Mrs. Bradwell
| would be q very 1T person to interview on the
| question OF the chief Justiceshp. He found the
lady at her desk In the Ne'os office and stated the
object OF his call win the customary journalistic
brevity. Mrs. Braowe paused for moment and
| then REPLIED
'sThe matter of selecting an enicient man for
| that high Office is o grave responsibility or the
| many candidates mentioned should favor Mr..