Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-05-02
MORE pe MonALlzAr,oN.


The President has appointed Judge |
John Z. King, Chief Justice of Louis |
lana, to the important position of
Collector of the port of New Orleans,
an Office worth in salary and fees $780,
600 per annum, according to current
report. This Gusts Jim Casey, who
married Mrs. Grants sister, and who
held the Office during Grants entire
administration.
The following dispatch from WASH
ington to the Chicago 1sa6une-just
now the special champion of the Pres
idents policy-will explain fully
enough the reasons for the appoint
ment of King.
WASHINGTON, d. e., April 2S.-The
President has decided to appoint
John King Collector of the port of
New Orleans in place of James +.
Casey, brothcr-in-law of Gen. Grant,
whose commission has expired. This
appointment is one of very great inn
portance. It practically removes the
only remaining obstacle to the success
of the Presidents policy in Louisiana.
King is one Of the Justices of the
Packard Supreme Court, who was
commissioned by Kellogg when Gov
crnor, and confirmed by the Kellogg
Senate. The Packard Supreme Court
has always been considered by the
President the gravest difficulty in the
Louisiana case. The best lawyers here,
including, it is said, Secretary Evarts,
are of the opinion, as an abstract
proposition, that the legality and con-
stitutionality of the Packard Supreme
Court, appointed by Kellogg, was al
most beyond controversy. A good
many of the Louisiana Conservatives,
too, have expressed the opinion that
if the two rival Supreme Court or
CARNATIONS should remain in exist
cnce until q legal issue could be made
between them, which would be bro't
before the United States Supreme
Court for determination, the decision
Of the latter tribunal would be in IA
vor of the Packard Court. The Pres
ident has frequently said that he an.
ticipated serious legal complications
if the Nichols Court should continue
to pass upon property interests with.
out definite adjustment of the status
between it and the Packard Court
The appointment of King seems to
solve the difficulty. The Packard
Court, under the constitution, should
be composed of five members. But
three were ever appointed by Kellogg
John Z. King, Leonard and Ludel-
ing. These three constitute q quo
) rum. Without the attendance of each
: of these three quorum is impossible
as the two remaining judges, who
; should technically make up the court
can never be appointed, since, even
if Packard, assuming to be Governor
: should nominate two persons, he
would have no Senate to confirm
: them. The abandonment of the Court
therefore, by any of these three mem.
bers makes it an effectual dissolution,
King will accept tho position of Col.
lectOr. This leaves only Leonard and
, Ludeling in the Court; but Leonard
is already elected to Congress from 8
district in which there Is NO contest
and would of course be seated. Now
that King has abandoned the Court
:, Leonard will claim his seat in Con.
n gress, and by that act also abandon
. the Court. This leaves only Ludeline
and destroys the Court. The appoint.
ment of King, moreover, will be sat
: isfactory to the native white element
, to the members of the Returning
Board, and to Governor Packard
King was recommended by Genera
!. Anderson, of the Returning Board
:. 1t will be difficult for the public tt
: appreciate the necessities of the pc
!, litical situation which requires tn
c decentralization and disintegration o
Q the Supreme Court of Louisiana il
g this manner, by offering its head a,
4 Office equal in income to that Of tn
President of the United States. Els
Q pecialy since it is generally conceded
and even admitted by the Chicago
: Tribune as above quoted, that tn
Packard court, Of which Judge Kin,
: was the chief, was the valid and lega
d court Of Louisiana, and held its ten
J. ure by even better authority thai
d that which made Packard Goyerno
: and Hayes President.
n It would seem at this distance tina
it would have been in the order o
: compromise to have retained a Re
y publican judiciary in that state
: since for the sake of peace and cor
ciliation the executive and legislativ
departments have been turned owe
to men who were not elected.