Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-01-04
The Interview with the Presi-
dent.


Confederate diplomats, as be sreved
too strong for the Confederate gener'
ais. His strength is in his common
sense and simplicity. Judge Campbell
attacked him with his most fiowery
rhetoric, ford defamation and impu-
dent assumption, but made no impress
sion, 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 re-
present the best people of Louisiana,
boldly demanding that the President
shall commit those acts usurpation in
their behalf and for their interests,
which they have so strenuously con-
demned. He is coolly asked to inter-
fere 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 councillor backed up his re-
quest by citing precedent furnished
by his own action when he was on the
Supreme bench. He had twice gone
at the dictation of the President to
squelch district judge who was not
rendering decisions in the interest of
the Democratic party, and he had
gone voluntarily ON three other occa-
sion upon similar missions. However
that may have been, we never heard
of such scandalous proceedings before,
and we think it quite likely that these
judicial missions OF Judge Campbell
were carefully concealed from the
country. 1t is very evident that such
a practice is not likely to be followed
by the Republicans. The confession
OF his own pliancy to serve his politi-
cal friends at the expense Of his char.
acter for judicial dignity, does not
seem to have impressed the President
very favOrably. And he utterly re
fused to interfere with the movements
of United States courts upon any such
untenable sanction for the usurpation
Now, let us inquire what was the
matter that Mr.. Campbell went t.
Washington to complain about to thu
President. Will our readers credit III
when We tell them it was simply ;
Judgment of a United States Circui
Court 1t is one of the many aston
ishing things of modern politics, bu
it is nevertheless true, that distin
gushed member of our bar, a forme
associate justice of the Supreme Court
backed up by forty-two men claiming
to he wealthy, intelligent and respect
. able, and all protesting that they speal
in the name of the Louisiana, actual,
ask the President of the United State
J. to interpose his authority to subvert
federal court, next in rank to the Su
preme Court. And what is the occa
sion for this extraordinary request' !
is simply this, and nothing more. L
the course of proceeding in CHANGER
before him, judge Durell found
necessary to decide contest betwee
) two boards, each claiming to be tn
8 State returning officers. In passia
Q upon this controversy, Judge Dure
followed strictly the State law, and il
: Interpretation by onr own State court
3 The same question has been involve
l. in a case before the Eighth Distrit
t Court, before the expulsion Of the Law
!, full Judge, and came before the Supren
j Court, when Mr.. Og0en offered b
o commission as Attorney Genera
T; which was refused by the court, an
!. also when Messrs. Harper and Fiel
Y offered their commissions, which ha
IF been issued under authority of the +
is firing board, recognized by the Circu
l. Court. On the disputed point as
= which was the legal returning boar
&c our State courts are in perfect accol
ID with the United States Circuit Coul
y And yet Judge Campbell asks Il
j. President, "living at distance
n. twelve hundred miles" from the seen
Re to do what the Supreme Court of t
ID United States refused to do in {
~ same case.
~ 1t is to be remembered that the par
n. that makes this singular demand ha
ne hot vet ceased to censure Congrt
n for repealiaga law which in sol