The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-12-17
The New ,Iudge.,.

It was announced III tueSc
.ertlay that ROBERT W. HUoHEs haa pcen
nominated as Federal District Judge % 1 sue
coed Judge UspERwoop.$ It would be dis
eu;sing in very shallow manner TACT 10
say that different nomination bad not oeeo
expected by the people Of the district a''e'
the announcements made concerning frank
interviews between President GRANT anu
Colonel J. S. MosBY. In the reports Oh those
interviews we we're led to believe that the
President would in his appointments to I'M
,ortaut offices in the southern States endea
yor to select men who were not ultra anu
no, prominently partisan. but who were Gu
pablc aud so well known for their reiiaoie
character as to command the general conn'
dence in them. g..
So the appointment Of some other person
than Mr.. Hrants TO be judge was cSpecteo.
Previously TO 1871 be bid not followed IN.
law rs a profession for some twenty'odd
years, aud yet was regarded by tue EAecu'
tive as fit for a high judicial ofhce-h tness
for which, it is generally thought required
long and practical familiarity with laws ana
with the practices of courts.
Eo, il is protilcss to discuss the question
in This view. 1t may be unjust to expect
General GRANT toappoint to Office any othcr
than partisan Of bis administration. for
that has hctn the rule for long years in This
country.
We submit. What else can we do? Even
Indignation. as TooMns says. Is eXhauS'eo'
and we can only take to ourselves the con-
ISOLATION that may be extracted from eSi-
gcucies as they arise.
We'll, then, We may lind much in the noml-
nation of Mr.. HUGHES for Judge. True, be
has been rejected by the people OF virginia
by the largest majority ever given against
any candidate; but it has been the custom OF
Administrations to put the defeated On STATE
elections) of their partisans in ONCE anu
therefore there is nothing new in the ap'
min lnenL Of Dir. HUGHES. Considering
that gentleman, We may say, first, he mas
brrn so defeated that he can have no hope Of
reversal of the judgment against him, and
will not shape his conduct in the idea that
hat change is possible; secondly, he has 8
place for life if his ambition should not
tempt him to seek Il higher position, anu
will not make his place uncomfortable
and aggressive by any attempt to use it fol-
political objects.
We know Mr.. HUGHES we'll. He Is gen.
tleman Of liberal attachments, Of refined
taste, gentle disposition, aud genial and
social temper. Such man cannot suffocate
his own nature. and while we believe he has
talents and requirements that will facilitate
his adaptation TO the duties Of bis office, he
has that social bias which will make hin
alike proud of administering justice and win
ming tie favorable opinion of his tellow-clti
ZenS.
So We feel that towards him we may dis
miss our party prejudiCes with as much ia
cilitv as we can since he will himself natu
rally ignore his own and look to the fail
and decorous and just administration of hi:
Office Us the only way to win the intelligent
applause OF his country and to discharge
his own duties.
| We think we ore fully warranted In say
ing this, aud hope, with decided expectation
of being gratilied, that the official conduct
Of Judge HUGHES will not only soften the
asneritics so naturally excited towards him
| but win for him the reward of public ap,
nrnilaiinn