Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-22
THE NEW CHIEF JUSTICE.

THE NEW CHIEF JUSTICE
The Telegraph reports that the nom
nation of Judge Morrison r. Waite, of
Ohio. to be Chief Justice of the SUI
preme Court of the United States, was
unanimously confirmed by the Senate
yesterday. We print elsewhere a bio
graphical sketch Of Judge Waite, taken
from the Cincinnati Enquirer, and as
thatpaper is opposed to him politically,
it would of course do him no more than
simple justice in its estimate of his
character and fitness fer the position
to which he has been appointed. In an
editorial paragraph, the Enquirer said:
Judge Waite is modest and able, and
though his name is not the most shin
ing among the jurists of the United
States, his nomination viii settle the
vexed question Of the Chief- Justiceship
more satisfactorily to the public than
we have at times dared expect"
The Cincinnati Gazette says; "Mr-
Waite is lawyer of thorough training
and Of large practice, and has long
ranked with the first lawyers of the
State not lacking in high legal talent.
He has the direct and logical processes
of thought, the judicialtenper, and the
Just mind which make the jurist. With
these high professional qualities he is
distinguished for purity Of character,
for a large humanity. a benevolent and
generous nature, warm heartedness,
and a loyalty to friends and to convic-
tions. which make him beloved by those
who know him. He has long had a
reputation, and a good fame in legal
circles in other States; but his national
reputation was gained by his services
as one of the counsel for the United
States in the arbitration at Geneva.
He took laboTing oar in the prepare
of that case, and he made the oral argu-
ment on the question of the liability of
Great Britain for permitting the An
glo-Confederate steamers to take sup
plies Of coal in her ports. He viii not
suffer if that effort be taken as a spec
linen Of his logical powers and Of his
grasp Of international questions"
The Cincinnati Commercial says;
AS Ben. Franklin said of the Consti-
tuition, it did not contain all that he
should Ike to have seen in it, nor did
he consider it altogether perfect, but it
was the best that could be expected,
and therefore he would subscribe to it
and urge its adoption. Mr.. Waite may
not be the greatest lawyer in the land;
and may not upon the bench display
the qualities that have made Mansfield
famous in jurisprudence, but he is
known to be a lawyer Of solid attain
ments, possessing a cool, dispassionate
mind, and having for the foundation
upon which to build his reputation as a
iurist. the broadest common sense. 1t
is from every point of view respect
able nomination-one that viii be wide
" indorsed by the bar, and sitisfy the
desires Of the people.
The nomination finds him in 4 most ap-
propriate place, presiding over the de-
liberations of convention called 10 re-
wise the Constitution Of the State, and
dealing with many questions which he
viii have to consider III his larger
sphere Of action. He viii leave the
convention with the highest esteem of
those who have been associated with
him. and with the full conviction on
their part that he Is eminently qualified
by the judicial tone of his mind, by his
method of patient and laborious in
vestigation, and by his large and al
most uninterrupted experience as a
lawyer, for the high duties that viii de-
volye upon HIM"
These testimonials from both politi-
cal friend, and opponents, are highly
honorable to Judge Waite, and inspire
a hope that he VIII make a good and
honest. if not great Chief Justice.
He goes upon the bench under circum-
stances which very few, perhaps no
other man who has been spoken Of fo1
the position could-that Is, he possesses
the confidence Of all who know him.
while those who do not know linn, are
willing to accept him as better man
than they dared expect Grant to nomi-