Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-10-16
RIbMEE9T0E, DEL.
Thursday Afternoon. October 10.
THE cHANcEIIoRsBIp-AND BEYOND.

THE CHANCELLORSHIP-AND BEYOND.
The resignation of Chancellor Bates has
stirred up no little political dust, beyond the
fact itself. First, who is there in the State who
combines the two qualities of fitness for the va
cant place, and acceptability to the appointing
power, the Governor of the State Governor
Ponder is not known as one liberal enough to
rise above the most CONSTRUCTED ideas of party
obligation, and it is therefore hardly likely that
he will take what is one Of the very best courses
open to him namely, the selection of Hon.
Nathaniel B. Smithers for the place. Mr.. Smith
ers has both the legal training and the judicial
character which are peculiarly needed in the po-
siti u, and his appointment would be eminently
satisfactory to everybody who views the subject
inpartially. But il Governor Ponder looks in
to his party lists only will he be willing to ap-
point such men as Edward Rldgely. or Joseph
p. Comegyss Mr.. Ridgey is fine lawyer, but
in the campaign of 1870, he was 'Polly Nc
Matt" Can the Governor condone that Mr..
Comegys, too, is not of the Governors intimate
company, and has not the exact streak Of De-
mocracy from which We fear the election must
be made.
Is it, then. to be an arrangement something
like this, which we hear discussed, and perhaps
foreshadowed? A? 1t is said that Senator Eli
Salisbury does not care so much for his seat in
the National Senate and he might prefer life
tenure on the State bench. Suppose, then, Gov
ernor Ponder were to appoint him Chancellor {:
his acceptance of the place would leave Sena-
torial vacancy to be filled by the Governors ap-
pointment, until the Legislature shall meet in
January 1875 Suppose, then, Governor Pom
der himself resigns, and leaves the Speaker of
the Senate, who happens to be Doctor Allen
Voorhees, Lesley, Of New Castle Town, in New
Castle Hundred to become by virtue of his Of
fce acting Governor, and who, in pursuance Of
previous understanding with Mr.. Ponder, ap-
points the latter gentleman to the Senatorial
place Presto, you see what neat little ar.
raugement this would be Eli, Chancellor fol
life James, Senator till January, 1875 i; and the
Doctor, Governor till the same date.
But more than this, such double-or triple
shuttle would put Doctor Lesley into a pusi.
ton pretty sure Of the Democratic nomination
for Governor, next year. Cove Salisbury, who
being Speaker of the Senate, became Governor
when Mr.. Cannon died, was again nominated
for the place. at the election of 1865, and DR.
Lesley welding the influence of the appoint
ment Of county officers, squires. and constables
would doubtless do as we'll as Cove, and secure
his party nomination. next Summer, upsettinf
all the work already done for Mr.. dupont, fol
Mr.. Bright, for Mr.. Newton, and Mr.. Biggs ant
others. This would be pretty piece of bust
ness, indeed, and one Of it's prettiest point
would be that DR.. Jump or Lewis Thompson
or John Pilling, or Mr.. Fooks, or whoever th,
Republican candidate may be- would have
still easier job in beating DR.. Lesley, than i
Mr.. dupont or some other strong man was op
posed to him.