Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1873-07-12
SENATOR coNKLINa AND THE
CHIEF JUSTICESHIP.

The telegraph informs us that there
il n strong probability that Senator
Conkllug OF New York. will be offered
the seat Of ey Chief Justice Chase on
the Supreme Bench. 1t ia even as
serted that the position has already
been rendered him, bat that it Is doubt.
full il he will accept. Conklins has
higher aspirations. The Supreme
Bench Is not the goal Of his ambition.
although to our mind the most exalted
in the gift Of this nation. Neither Is
he at all fitted for the trust. lie Is not
especially renowned as a lawyer. Be-
fore being elected from the Utica,
n. Y. District, to the Thirty-sixth
Congress, he had achieved no particu.
lar distinction ut the bar. lie Ind
been Distric: Attorney for Oneida
county In 1850, and aftcrward Mayor
OF Utica, neither Of which positions
are remarkably effective in develop
Ing the qualities necessary for the po-
sition Of Chief Justice. He has served
three terms as a Representative from
New York In Congress, aud six years
rs q Senator from that State. Roscoe
Coukling Is essentially a politician.
a good stump orator, with fine phys
ique. a sonorous voice and considera-
bic fluency Of language. his successes
have been dependent more upon his
usefulness as y party advocate In the
field than his depth Of thought or
soundness OF principle. 1t is said lie
wants to be President, to succeed
Grant. Doubtless he does. SO TO
many others. so, IL dispatches
speak truly, does Grant himself.
While we think there arc many,
very miry among our promi-
nent men who would be better fitted
for and more highly honor the Execu-
tive office than Coukling, II COM
PEELED to choose, We would rather see
him occupying that elevated place
than tina. OF Chief Justice of the United
States Supreme Court. The Presi-
dency Is essentially political position.
The Chief ~Justiceship is not. An un-
worthy or incapable incumbent of the
former may be refused reelection.
The occupant Of the latter holds during
life, unless impeached, and incompe-
tency 10 very slim ground upon which
TO base impeachment charges. Both
control to u great extent the safety
and security Of the people. but In the
latter lies the final appeal from all en-
croachments OF the former. There IL
practically no remedy for imbecili,y
or corruption in the latter.
We hope the report Il untrue. IL
has been said often by the friends Of
President Grant that this position
would not be filed through any parti-
san scheming. Indeed. the President
"a reported to have said that lie would
not be Influenced thereby. There are
many good lawyers in the country
worthy the compliment and Of unques-
tionable capacity and integrity, who
are not politicians or par,isans. Such
are the men from whom the Chief Jus
tice should be selected, and in such
class Roscoe ConSiins l. not num-
bered. Let politicians study their
business and stick to their trade-for
politics Is q business nowadays let
them have In view all the Offices
and honors legitlnately attached there
to, but for the safety Of the people and
the honor Of the judiciary let them be
kept out Of the Courts, except as
attorneys or criminals. We want no
Credit Mo6ilier or Back Salary In the
Supreme Court. The bred Scott and
Legal Tender decisions were bad
enough. The honors Of tho Judiciary
should never be the reward Of partisan
services, neither should Courts be
packed with successful political
schemers. This Is the great argument
against an elective judiciary, au abso-
Lutte, %undeniabls objection to the use
Of party machinery In the selection Of
judges.