New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-17
THE CHIEF-JUSTICESHIP.
LATEST VIEW OF THE SITUATION.

THE PRESIDENT NO NEARER A DECISION THAN HE
WAS ~ aIDsUMMER-SO NOMINATION EXPECTED
BEF0RE THE MIDDLE or NEXT wREK-r1iB PREs-
IDEST DETERMINED THAT HIS THIRD CHOICE
SHALL BE CoNFIRIED-REGRErs EXPRESSED THAT
JUDGE wIIJIAMss NAME WAS WITHDRAWN.
iBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16.-Although the Cabinet at
its session to-day had long and earnest cODsnlta-
ton on the subject Of the Chief Justicesbip, 1t Is
positively known tonight that the President ~ no
nearer decision than he was in midsummer. There
the best of for believing that no Domi-
nation will be made until the middle of next week,
or at least until after the Cabinet meeting,
which assemblies at Tuesday next. In
the time the President is glad 10 receive the
views of Senators and Others and since the with
drawal Of Judge Williams he has talked with a
great number of the Republicans on the subject
The President is not disposed to make another NOM
nation until he is satisfied that it will be confirmed,
without all the opposition and abuse which have re-
shifted from his first and second choices. TO tins
end the President is diligently consulting with all
friendly Senators who call and it is said that next
time he will at least try to satisfy all who are inter
ested in the question.
More than dozen Of Republican Senators have al
ready given the President to understand that they
deprecated the withdrawal Of Judge Williamss name,
az they sure he could have been confirmed
MANY Republican members of the House tho know
Mr. Williams regret his Withdrawal, and many say
chat more than majority could be found to sign
recommendation for a reappolntment. Judge WI
liams, since his withdrawal, has been constantly
busy with his private papers and the accounts OF the
Office and also has collected all bills checks, etc,
which relate to his Official duties, giving affdavits,
etc, and making a so clear on its face that
his friends believe the only reason he
hin aH hlF
the Committee was because the Committee did not
read bis papers, as some of them confessed to the
President they had not done. 1t is said to be Judge
WIlarns's intention to submit these charges aud
explanations to the Senate in Executive session.
and 10 the members of the Cabinet when it will be
seen whether the judiciary Committee did their
work fairly when they failed to read his defense OF
the charges and yet kept his nomination day after
day. and week after week. without making any
recommendation 10 the Senate
As the case rests now the friends Of the Attorney
General think he has been unfairly dealt WITH mas
much as all the charges against him have been given
to the world and not line published OF his defense
The reports SO mdustrOusy circulated for day
or two to the effect that the President had teie-
graphed to gentleman rendering him the appoint
ment of ChefJustice, are without foundation, as 10
also the additional statement chat the place has been
accepted.
MR. CONKIING AND THE CHIEF-JUSTlCESIilP
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF HIS PRosPECTs-THE sEHA-
Tor GOES TO NETWORK TO CONSULT WITH Ills
FRIENDS ABOUT NOW ACCEPTING IT.
lrRox An OCCASIONAL. CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRinuSEl
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16.-it Is understood here IN
intimate Administration circles that Gen. Grant, IN
his perplexity. has turned once more to Senator
fha MI Of ha
head of the Supreme Court. which he declined sew
eral weeks ago. There are many reasons why the
Senator should listen moro kindly to-day
than formerly to such an invitation. 1t is
well known that bis reasons for declin-
ing were altogether political. He had his
dreams of a loftier at least more conspicuous
place TO which he rightfully thought the Chief |
Justiceship was no stepping-stone. de was also
under strong obligations of featy to bis friends and
supporters In New-York. He is almost the only |
means of communication which is left between the
President and the Republican party in that State,
the eccentrcities Of Gen. Grant having estranged
many of bis leading partisans so far AZ to
interfere somewhat with their free personal
intercourse with him. When Mr.. Conking was
weighing the subject in his mind last Autumn he
was most exercised in regard to the question whether
he could arrange to have Mr.. A. B'Cornel elected
effecting this was considered to have had great
influence in inducing him TO renounce the appoint
ment The situation has materially changed within
the last few months. The prospect of Republican
nomination for the Presidency is by no means 30
brilliant and desirable thing as it seemed short
while ago. The position Of the first friend of Pres-
dent Grant and the leader Of the thick-aDd-thn
majority in the Senate has also lost much of its at
Effectiveness since the President has shown through
what devious and miry paths he is capable OF lead
ing his faithful partisans. As the worth
and the amenities of his political position
thus begin to fade 10 his possession, Mr. Conkhngs
thoughts turn naturally to the solid and enduring
honor of the place which he has once refused. he
has gone TO New York to consult with his friends,
and il he finds that they willing to release him
from the obligations which influenced his former de-
cisiop, he Will accept the Chief-J usticeslp.
IS JUDGE DAVIS RIGHTFULLY PRESIDING
JUSTICEi
TO tht EDITOR OF rae Tribune.
SIR Is Judge Noah Davis properly qualified
A. Presiding Justice" Of the General Term In this Dis
tr,ct The Act Of April a. 1870 under which the desig
nation made by the Governor provides that the Gov
ernor sha designate from the whole bench Of Justices
OF the Supreme Court Presiding Justice and two Asso-
cste Justices each department, to compose the Cen
era Term therein" rays further: In oil cases any
person designated Presiding Justice shall act a. such
during his official and any person designated as
Associate Justice shall such for Ave years from
the st Of December next after the time OF MIS- desgna
top or until the earlier close Of his ofncial term"
Judge Davis was designated Associate Justice some
tune ssj year. and therefore has not served Ave years
M Associate Justice. Tie words are Imperative" shall
ACT ns such for years. Does the ACT not render
Associate Justice" ineligible TO be designated as Pre-