The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-04-01
rsE SUPREME coysr Avn rnr


strength of Judge David Davis before the
people. and fearful that the Democrats
may make him their candidate for the
presidency, has begun to talk common
places about the dangers that will result
from tran stating member of the ST.
prcne court from its bench into the cliei
executive Office OF the Republic. The
conclusion It arrives ats. that no men,
Der Of that court should ever bc per-
mittc'l to become a can iilate for any
other office.
While We admit that an oficc-seeking
judiciary would be u great
evil. we cannot Ike convinced
that the presidency should not
be permitted to seek good man even
though he does occupy seat upon the
supreme bench. Let II once become the
inf'exible rule that acceptance of the
commission of justice of the supreme
court Is perpetual Punishment from pub.
lie life-tlIat the moment the silk robe
falls upon mans shoulders he need not
care for public sentiment-that in that in
slant he must abandon all hope of ever
again hearing the voice of the people say.
ing to him: "Come up higher, let this
rule be established, and the supreme
court Will thus be forever handed over
to the surliness of disappointed ambition
and the stolidity Of mediocrity that will
look down from the bench astonishcd at
the great highth to which it had been
enabled to climb. TO this bench. saws
the Tribune, more than one person who
entertained vcxatious aspirations to the
presidency has been banished-- Mclean.
Woodbury., Chase. Indeed, II the Tribune
| scOrrect, the supreme court is even now
used rs aplacc to which our political
parties Danish their importunatc as
pirants to the presidency and the
question to DE asked is not sin
what particular manner did Justice
Waite distinguish himself so
much that he became worthy of place
in this high court - but "In whose
way was this MANI" Is ii not to be
presumed that court thus composed of
troublesome politicians will long continue
to have the respect of the pcoplo-that
1t Will long be composed OF good law
yers. Lincoln, says the Trijun,, cNtin.
guishcd Glasses presidential aspiration.
by sending him into the supreme court.
IL this is true, would president like
Grant. IL appointment to the supreme
court were Punishment from the pre.i-
dency, hesitate moment to put on that
bench a man like Blaine, although no law.
yer II by doing so he could get
him out OF the way: But |
ct II become a recognized fact that he
who enters the supreme court as u mem.
Der, leaves behind him hope of future
prefennent, and the Glasses, McLeaus.
and voodbuiys will not submit to such
Punishment. They will remain out OF
the court, and 1t will be given up TO the
Willianscs Of tie bar.
Such rule would remove the court 50
far from the people it would become Il
curse instead Of q blessing. 1t is n la.
mentable fact, that our greatest political
danger lies concealed in the United States
courts. The Judges OF these courts.
careless OF public opinion, thinking in a
'ut, Decone seli-constituted legislators.
They make more laws than the legisla-
lures OF the country, and the laws they
do enact arc too seldom in the interest of
the many. Step by step they walk in the
direction of consolidated power. Hence
We do.not wish our judges to be raised en-
tirely out of the atmosphere OF popular
influence, as they would he IL the rule in
sisted upon by the T'iJm, were estab.
lished. Public opinion, If excluded from
thecour room by rule. would break down
the doors, and entering with a firm step
crush the judges with its power. 1t re-
versed the bred Scott decision; it will
yet reverse the Dartmouth College decis.
ion 1t will always, as it always should,
triumph over all opposition. 1t is more
powerful than supreme judges, and the
sneer Of the Tribune that II has not been
unhceded by Judge Davis does not take
from that gentleman any of the high re.
spcct in which We hold him.
"