Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-12-08

with the chief. iusticeship, General William
: was considered the most Insignificant an
least likely to obtain the prize. .
We had hoped for better things an
cherished the belief that the President would
in this instance at least. lay aside all fayOrit
J ism and partisanship and make a nomination
OF which the nation as well as himself nigh
! be proud He has failed 10 do so, and the re
suits OF that failure Will be felt and lamente'
long after he and his fortunate friends ar
under the sod.
From the Louisville Courier-Jo Journal.l
= 1t is said that when Jerry Black wa
asked the other day why. Roscoe ConklinG
declined the chief ustice hip, he replied: q
don't know, unless for the same reason
would decline being emperor Of China
derSfAnd the language Of the Mandarins," hC
dryly replied. What the grizzled old lega
warrior thinks of the appointment OF vii
| liams we cannot tell. He Will accept, we sup.
| pose, because he does understand the Ian
| guage OF the Mandarins and no other.
from the Chicago Times independently
The conviction thai will instantly impress
| itself upon the mind of every candid and
| informed person is, that the selection Is a very
! bad one; perhaps the worst that could have
/ been made from the list of these even whO
nave been suggested for the position. That
Mr.. tfrant should constitute his cabinet OF OBJ
| scure weaklings can be endured because their
/ reign is short; but that he should place one
life In the position OF chief Justice Of the su-
prene court is a national calamity and ma
tional disgrace that is hard TO bear.
From the New York Times (Repubhcan).l
There were very few men eligible for this
post, and II must be admitted that the Presi-
dent has risen above mere party considera-
tions in nlling 1t, and has appointed man
whose abilities are unqueStiOncd, and whose
character is above Teproach.
From the Indianapolis Journal {Republican). I
There might easily have been better man
selected for the chief iusticeship than Mr.
Williams; but 1t Is fair to say of him that he
Is a gentleman OF extensive legal and general
learning, while his integrity has never been
so much as questioned.
From the New York sun independently
This Is a selection unit to make. II is on
par with the composition of the cabinet and
with General Grants system Of degrading the
offices Of the government; but it is un1ortu-
nate that this system should be extended to
the high functions of the chief-iustice Mr.
Williams is deficient alike in ability, learn
ing and character. g He is the inferior
Of every other man on the bench TO which II
is proposed to elevate him. His appointment
is an insult 10 the respectable bar OF the
country.
From the New York World.
The bestowal of so great an office as the
chief,justiceshtp upon so undistinguished and
mediocre lawyer as Mr.. Williams is a piece
of indefenSible personal favoritism. IL is q
reward of the attorney generals service and
serviity last year in furnishing official opin-
ions to sustain the Outrageous action Of Judge
Durell in louisiana. Mr.. Williams will make
about as capable chiefjustice as General
Grants President. This is the highest COM
pliment any intelligent man can possibly pay
him.
From the st. Louis Globe.I
Some of the papers are foOlisaIy discussing
the probable action of the Senate ON the nom
lnation OF Mr.. Williams TO the chief ustice-
ship. There need be no doubt about
it. II is the custom of the SEN
ate TO confirm the nomination of one
OF its former members without reference to a
committee. CoWan, of Pen lvania, was re-
jected in Andrew johnson s time after he had
served in the senate, but that was an extraoT
dipaFV RpVprdV TOhnGOn was
ed as minister to England by a senate politi-
cally opposed to him. In the case of Mr.
Williams there can be no reason for oprosi-
tion, except that he was not eyerybOdy's IA
vortte for the place. For that matter we do
not know Of anybody who was.
From the st. Louis Times (Democratic).I
To call Judge Williams a great lawyer
would be to assign him a rank he does not
himself aspire to. To place him beside such
men as Curtis, O'Conor, OF Evarts, would be a
suggestion OF comparison not fiattering to the
new chief-justice But he is far ahead Of some
who have been named in connection with
the high office, that the country may be con-
tent in having chief justice who, although
he is partisani is yet supposed to be above
the whispers Of caIumny.
From the Washington Chronicle tRadieaDl
In his nomination President Grant has but
followed the precedents set by several of his
most illustTiOus predecessors, who made seIec-
tions outside OF the members of the court it
self, selecting comparatively new man, who
Sgreed in political sentiments with the execu-
tive who made the appointment. 1t is not
doubted that Attorney-tie Williams Will
make an excellent chief justice,
From the Charleston News and Courier Dem
Ocraticl.l
As lawyer, any member OF the supreme
court is his superior, according TO common
report; and it Is difficult to believe thS BE-
viii be able 10 maintain the reputatj"-' q.
dignity and ability which men lik Eales-
and Chase gave to the tribunal OF whiyr RS 4
now the head.