New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-12-17
THE FEDERAL OFFICES VACANT.

intervenes as the partisan of any man il
the controversies which arise in its owl
as in other parties. Its influence is re
served for the success of Republican prin
ciples and for the adjustment of all sucl
teuds as may threaten the unity of tn
party and the defeat of its principles.
Hence we have been silent and impair
tai observers Of the competition waget
by the friends of various nominees TO
some of the most important federal Office
now vacant and await ng executive nomi
nation.
We have nothing to do with the accept
ance or rejection of these nominees, con
tident that the friends Of each will so rep
resent the merits of their candidate anG
the dement's of their antagonists, that the
appointing power will be pretty well ad
vised and fully prepared to do the best fol-
the country aad for the party.
We have 10 hesitation in saying, how.
ever, that it is important to the ends Of
justice that the vacancy in the federal
district bench should be speedily filled.
There are vessels awaiting adjudication in
admiralty which have been nearly eaten
up with law charges and demurrage, and
there is much other important litigation
in which tie parties suffer from the want
of an active tribunal
From the days of Deborah, who Judged
Israel, and whose "heart was toward the
governors of Israel judges have been
always appointed or elected in conformity
with the political principles of the APP
pointing power. This rule has prevailed
in the United States ever since the adop-
ton OF the constitution. Judge fancy,
an upright and able man. was Democrat.
and his constitutional rulings carried out
the principles of that party Those rul-
ings have been all controverted by consti-
tutional amendment, and Republican
judges equally able and equally just turn
the current Of decisions into the consti-
tutional channel which the people have
opened. The judges are but the iettias
of the land The people, however, ex-
peet that the judges appointed by
any party shall be men of IN
exceptionable character. The people
may rightfully expect Republican rulings
as far as the principles of the constitution
may come under the scope of judicial &C.
ton. They have right, however, to de-
mand that the judicial incumbents shall
be men of pure lives, OF unimpeachable
integrity, of superior ability, and of exact
punctuality in the performance of all their
official duties. While there is a party
strength in such an appointment, there is
likewise party responsibility involved in
the nomination and confirmation of
judge not merely steadfast in Republican
faith, but wholly unexceptionable in ex-
pounding and maintaining the law.
The President has taken a stand in
which ne is sustained by the whole Amer
lean people. 1t is to convict dishonest
men, disguised as Republicans He will
remember that such offenders would not
require prosecution, if they had not been
appointed in ignorance of their character.
An increased care of nomination is then |
essential, to relieve the Republican Presi-
dent of the annoyance of thief-taking,
and the Republican party from the re-
proach of having unconsciously recon-
nended bad men for office.
1t is in this spirit that we insist on in
creased caution in nominating, confirm
ng and watching executive appointments
% office. The next presidential election
Will involve a responsibility for the ac-
'umulated transactions Of many years in
peace and war. Our antagonists will
parade and exaggerate all the exceptional
men and measures of the past. We can
ietend the principles and policy of the
republican party, but we do not wish the
lose and conclusive campaign to be in
by the political bushwhackers
whose depredations require argument
md evidence. Leave the Republican
'ress and speakers to contemplate
md display the glories of republic
which has established the grandest
principles ever advocated by freemen and
'hilanthropists. Do not compel the Re-
publican press to interrupt this glorious
Worship for the pursuit of the vermin who
My infest the affairs of liberty for the
at and flour of its sacrifices. 1t will be bet
er to mediate with the great Law Giver
n the mount, than even to STAY the
ervitor who dishonored the temple, or
courge forth the money changers who
rive their sordid and infamous trade in
IS vestibule and portals.