The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-01-21
THE CHIEF JUsTICEss1sP.

The chief justiceship tangle may now be
considered as unrayellcd, and, we think,
happily so. The President, Monday, sent
to the Senate the name of MORRISON H.
Waite, of Ohio, for that office, aud there is
not much doubt that he will he confirmed.
If so, Ohio will continue to have as has
been the case since 1864. two representa-
tves on the bench-the chief justice and
an associate Justice. In the minds of some
This may be an objection to the appoint
mcnt as many believe in Il geographical
distribution of offices. This is something
like the idea or custom which has become
of late years almost imperative in Vermont
that the governor should be selected altc:
nately from the east and west side of the
mountain that ono United States Senator
should reside on each side that members
e Congress should be selected from one
county after another and that state scna-
tors should be selected, in turn, from dit
icrcut towns We subscribe 90 no such
doctrine The right man for the place alone
should govern. Let the fit and proper per
son he selected for national, state and
county offices, no matter what may be the
geographical location Of the town. county,
or state of his residence. There is another
possible objection to the nomination. The
appointcc has not in one sens, q national
reputation As general proposition. it is
meet and proper that this consideration
should enter into appointments to national
Offices. hut only for a single reason. The
fact that Il man has achieved Il national re-
putation. without spot or bcmish on his
character, serves to inspire confidence in
thc man - appointed, and the people are
thus, enabled to Judge of the propricty of
the appointment and the fitness of the Off
Ger. before he has an opportunity of show
ing what he is in his new position. Bat Is
there not. after all, an objection to select
ing only men of national reputation for
these high positions, in that its tendency is
to retain an individual in Office for life
Although Morrison r. Waite has not
achieved a national reputation, he has
'done the state some service" and has
every qualification for the chief justiceship
He is in the prime of'life being some fifty
years old, a hard student, with a vigorous
constitution, and with every prospect Of at
tanning the Psalmist's limit OF life. His
whole life has been devoted TO the study
and practice of law, although he has found
time to make himself familiar with the his !
tory Of diplomacy and politics of our own
country, as we'll rs of foreign nations ill |
deed, it is said that very few lawyers have |
more profound knowledge Of the consti-
tuition of the United States or of nterna-
tional law. So faithfully has he pursued the
study and practice Of law, that he may be
said to have almost cschcwcd politics. Al
though he has always been q republican
believing in the principles and policy Of
the party; doing all in his power 10 uphold
the cause of the Union during the rebel
lion never neglccting his duty as a cii-
zen and always believing il duty TO see
that the best men were nominated at the
caucus and convention, and supported at
the polls, he has repeatedly and persistent
- N''NiiiINNt W DN a NalNIIitt LOT INC lilNllN
political offices which have been rendered
to him. Law has been his mistress, and
she is an exacting mistress as every success
full lawyer knows. Only once has he been
persuaded to come ont of his retirement.
On that occasion, his legal training, study
of the constitution and understanding of its
construction, and familiarity with the law
OF nations, induced the President to APP
point him one of the counsel Of the United
states before the Geneva tribunal. His
course there justified the selection. He ac-
ccptcd the position because il was in The
line of his profession. We trust that, for
the same reason, he may accept the chief
Justicesfp. In this nomination. the Presi-
dent has honorcd himself, the court. the
legal profession and the country 1t is a
happy solution of the judicial muddlc. We
trust that it will meet with no opposition
in the senate-more, We hope that the
nomination may be confirmed ere this
reaches our readers.