The Morning herald., 1876-01-05
QuEER sTORY.'

A QUEER STORY.
Judge Fisher and tho Lcuisians
Ju0geAhip-The Unwr1tten His cry
or the Matter-Alo fFien9s AusIiy
Correspondent. s.tu...t .., . ~
Special to tie Herald.
WASHINGTON, D. G., Jan. 4.
Senator West left Washington for New
Orleans some time since, and 1t Is well
understood here that the object OF his mis-.
sion home was to procure the endorsement
OF Billings appointment to the vacant su-
preme Judgeship in his State. West claims
that the President has decided to send In
Billings name for the position, but there
are very good reasons to doubt the assertion.
Williamsons friends are not to be despised.
They are making vigorous efforts to
defeat the West faction, and they claim
that Billings is as far from the nomination
a. he was when the race began.
But there are other reasons to doubt the
success Of the friends of Mr.. Billings which
will NO doubt be interesting to Delaware
people.
When the vacancy occurred in the Judge.
ship in Louisiana, there were found to be
two factions In that State, who were BIT
terly opposed to each other, upon the ques-
tiOn Of Glling the position, and the fight
very naturally was carried to Washington,
where 1t has since ragged, sometimes vieor-
ously and at others with less warmth,
West and his friends were pretty generally
supported by the rank and hls Of the Re-
publican party in his State, but Pinchback
headed . formidable opposition and pre-
sented Williamson as . candidate.
F., sheppard, the former governor Of the
District, at this point slipped quietly in and
proposed to President Grant that 1t would
b . very proper and timely thing 10 do, II
he should send the name of Judge Fisher
OF this State, to the Senate for the position.
The matter was kept profoundly secret,
and the negotiations IN this direction have
nSt until now, been given to the public.
The President Immediately addressed note
through Babcock to West, asking him
whether he would be willing 70 accept Mr..
Fisher a. compromise, ,snd Sheppard went
to P.nchback with the same message. The
former did not favor the new candidate,
because he wished to advance bis friend
Billings, and he did not approve Of Judge
Fisher. Pinchback pretended not to be in
terested save ~ opposed to West and his
man, but In reality he Immediately began
to pull wires in opposition to Judge Fisher.
From this time, the nomination has hung
fire, and the struggle has been going on
ever sinee. =, s-tt~r~ i1aHtZ -it't.+,
The President, it is understood, does not
favor either Billings, the proposed judge OF
the West faction, neither does he look with
ahy favor on Williamson. Judge Fisher
he would like to advance to the position, as
He thinks we'll of him, but at present he 10
rather disinclined to take the responsibility
Of sending Q native Of another State to Lou
jsiana, for several reasons. He knows
VERY we'll that It would displease great
number of Republicans In that State, who
viii be useful in the future, and who would
decidedly object to the advancement over
their heads OF man imported from 20 dis
tant section. The natives, who are known
To be excitable in Louisiana, would also re
cent the appointment Of bran new carpet
bagger to such position more vigorously
than they would such men even as Billinga
or Williamson, But there u another res
son why the President would hesitate be-
fore making Mr.. Fisher Supreme Judge
III Louisiana, and that would he that large
number of influential journals In the North
that have openly expressed their dislike
and disapprobation Of Judge Fisher. would
raise snch q tremendous hurricane about the
head Of the Executive, as would not be
either pleasant or profitable. But the
friends Of Judge Fisher are not discour.
sQed, and they have made vigorous efforts
to carry their point. Once OF twice delega.
tsons, the names OF the members Of which
/ might name, have been sent for and have
come Il, Washington to see the President In
favor OF the Judge, and have urged BIZ
nomination to the position. Sheppard II
using afl his influence 10 the matter, and
Babcock, whose liking for the Judge is well
known, It, II understood, has been working
The enemies Of Judge Fisher In Whining
| ton and in other parts Of the State, hev.
been kept In ignorance of the turn which
affsirs have taken, and If they desired, hav'
had no opportunity to oppose him. "a
The Judge has not himself, l believe
| taken suy part In the matter, but 1t is wei
I understosd that he will accept the. position
He hss. however, in the Senate som'
opposers among the RepublicaDs,s amoul
chem, Ednunds of Vermont, and with tn
HELM of the Democratic, think he would b.
successfully opposed If his name was sen
IN. but there 10 nothing certain about this
| what the President intendg to doFcsnno
he known, as He IL always noh-commttta
about such things and aiscreetly keep
f II believed, however, that Billing
H. ands the best chance, but If he 10 not th'
\ nominee Fisher will be, as Williamson doe'
not stsnd we'll even in Louisiana. l..
| Imtsr-CelIeg1ass lsegatts.
NEW Yoax, January An adjournet
meetine OF the Rowing Association o