Wilmington journal., 1874-01-23
THE CHIEF JUSTICE.

TIEE CHIEF JUSTICE.
The nomination of Mr.. Waite, O
Ohio. ~ Chief Justice of the Supremt
Court of the United States, has take1
the country by surprise, SO the tele
graphic reports say. The nomination
of Attorney General Williams for the
same Office took the country by sur
prise, because of his supreme unfit
ness. The nomination of Caleb Cust
ing took the country by surprise on
account of his supreme fitness. No"
we arc told that Grants third choice
takes the country by surprise because
it is not known whether he is fit OF
not. In other words, it is very diff
cult for the President to satisfy h's
party, which is now ''the country" 1t
would seem, however, that President
Grant, havingappointed Attorney-Gen-
eral Williams, in the first place, TO
please his party, has. since determined
to appoint q man to lease himself,
without regard to whether it pleased
his party OF his country.
The opposition to Attorney General
Williams was because he was not com
retent. fithal q most patent reason,
the more SO as it was true. The OBJ
lection to Caleb Gushing was that lie
was not, or rather had not, been loyal,
at least had not been at all times loyal
enough for Chief Justice. 1t is true
that Mr.. Akerman, Of Georgia, who
served upon the staff Of General
Toombs, during the war, was loyal
enough 10 bo Attorney-General. Mr.
James Orr, ore OF the Secession
leaders Of South Carolina, and 4 war
leader OF the Confederate House OF
Representatives, was loyal enough to
be confirmed as Minister to st. Peters
burg. Lieut. General Longstreet, one OF
the most distinguished and trusted
leaders of the Confederate armies, is
loyal enough 10 hold an important
Federal position IL New Orleans. II
REQUIRED no research into the dusty
and forgotten archives OF the - Lost
Cause" to learn the history of these
men. Their treason was written aii
over the brief but glorious record OF
the Southern Confederacy. Yet they
passed muster. The Senate confirmed
each one OF them without Il dissenting
voice.
The commonplace letter Of intro
,luction from Caleb Gushing to Mr..
Davis, was the pretext merely for the
refusal to confirm the former as Chief
Justice. We must look farther for the
real causes which influenced the action
I'll the Senate.
doubtless that partizan body desired
tho President to reward some man for
his political services by the bestow-
1neni Of this exalted position But
their opposition went still further. A
calculation as to future probabilities
entered into the decision. Mr.. Cush-
ing was very old man. BY consult
ing the best life insurance actuaries i'll
the ordinary course of human life,
this appointee would not live more
than four or FIVE years. Mr.. EliZur
Wright Lad SO prognosticated, and it
could not lie safe 10 30 IL the face Cl
his figures. What might Ee, and had
been, overlooked III younger reen
could not be tolerated in man
who was old enough, and IN
less in violation Oh the law of
nature, would die during the next
Federal Administration, and it would
be very unfortunate if Hendricks,
Thurman, Perdleton, or some Western
Granger should nave the appointment
Of his successor. Any how it wonld
he ut least loyal to use ordinary pru-
;'ene to preventsuch contingency.
We suppose Mr.. Waite will be con
frmcl. We take it..that he is gentle
yuan, and lawyer OF local standing
;'n;i esteem. A true party man, who
does not even have the honor of ,Jeffer-
son Davis acquaintance, and has there
tore never been indiscreet IN that
direction. Ict the party and General
Grant are not Happy. Neither
are pleased with tie appointment.
The Senate has shown its disappro-
baton by repeated refusals to confirm
appointments. The President is hold
ing up Texas as threat to the party.
Governor Davis finds it difficult TO
play the i.otc Of Governor Kellogg, and
ground. The President grows weary
and the party is restiye. Hear Gener-
al Grant: Il is time for the RepuLzi-
can party ~ Uai0ad. There has been
too much dc0d freight carried bV It.
Tic success of orr arms during tic
rebellion, and The confidence that tie
Republican party u'os sto"g cnorgh
TO hoid a,ay b1udG.1 hue imposed al
TIC disappoiitynacnts "a the &oaHhc5m
States on tic administration. ! an
tired Of this 7aoliscnsc. Let LDl;siuon
fake care of hersciT as Tsrns WiN hure
10 do. Idont uant any qstarrci about
Mississippi state matters to be re-
jc'Ted to me. This nursing 81 Dsor,-
strositicS has ncGr3y trAaustea tic life
of TIC party. Tam dane miM tircsa,
1,,d MCy ,riN houe to tQk<- care of
fhcniseiCCs
u. S.-Mr. Waite has been nnan;- |
mousIy chosen Chief Justice. !
TEE NEW COUNTY. |
We publish elsewhere, circular let |
icr from the Executive Committee of |