The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-10-06
THE VACANCY I'M THE UNITED STATES
SUPREME COURT.

Editor Democrat In view Of the near meet.
ing OF Congress we deem it well to direct at
tention to the question who shall fill the va
caney caused by tho resignation of Justice
Davis.
For many years the South has been un-
represented upon tho bench of our Supreme
tribunal, and an opportunity is now oifered
to the Executive OF performing, not only O.
graceful but q just act in calling to this court
one of the lawyers OF the South, In this So
lection craftsmanship should be- silent, and fair
ness and patriotism be the controlling mo
tiyes Of choice We deem it unnecessary to
give elaborate reasons why the South Is en-
titled to the homer OF having one OF her soIg
summoned to this high magistracy. 1hes@
| reasons are evident at q casual glanea.
We desire to show why this distinction ig
especially due to LUusiana We intend np
detraction from the merits OF any OF the
eminent citizens Of other States whose naniies
have been mentioned in connection with this !
exalted dignity. We suecincty place before
our readers facts we think convincing for the
preferences of Louisiana. Our eolorists left
rs d heritage the civil law; the prevailing
Jurisprudence OF continental Europe, q jnris-
prudnnce whose philosophy has received the
admiration OF the adherents Of another SyS~
TEN and ELECTED the eneorniums OF enllght~
ened minds. A knowledge Of this system as
| well rs of that uf the common law Is requisite
for practice in the State and Federal courts OF
anee that the judge who is to administer the
law should be familiar with both systems
For this reason only the claims OF this state
should not be ignored.
But we desire to make use Of o statistical
argument which Is uuanSwerable
The two volumes of Woods reports OF cases
determined in the Fifth Judicial Circuit, COM
prising the states Of Georgia, Florida, Ala
bama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas,
| afford the following exhibit:
Volume one contains q hundred and nine.
teen cases, distributed as follows: District VI
Louisiana, sxty-thTee cases Eastern District
five; Southern District of Georgia, eightsens
Northern District OF Georgia, six; Southern
District OF Alabama, ten; Northern District III
Florida, three; Southern District of Missis-
sippi, three.
This volume has 6s2 printed pages, egclu-
sive Of induces. OF these pages $50 arc do
| voted to Louisiana cases.
Volume second Of said reports contains 120
| cases, as follows:
District OF Louisiana, ,fifty-five cases Eastern
| District OF Texas, eight cases.. Western Dis
trict OF Texas, six cases; Southern DistTictO.
Georgia. seven eases; Northern District or
Georgia. ten cases; Southern District OF AlH~
baIna, thirteen cases; Middle District of S. Aiaf'
baIntl nine cases; Northern District of Flori-
| da, six cases; Southern District Of Misslssip-
pi six cases.
OF the 6s3 pages Of the second volume with
out adding indsees) 262 are given to Louisiana
| cases.
| The other districts take up the following
number OF pages respectively:
/ Volume Eastern District OF Texas,
eighty-two; Western District OF Texas, TWEEN
Northern District Of Georgia, forty-fourss
Southern District of Alabama, sixty-sixs
Northern District of Florida twenty; South
ern District OF Mississippi, seventeen.
Volume H.Eastern District OF Texas, six
| ty; Western District Of Texas, thirty-four,
| Southern District Of Georgia, fifty; Northern
District of Georgia, sixty; Southern District
Of Alabama, eighty eight; Middle District OF
Alabama, sixty-six;, Northern District OF
Florida, forty-two; Southern District OF Mis-
sissippi, twenty one.
Nothing that we might say could add TO the
effect OF tine above figures. x.