The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-22
The Counts in Louisiana.

" The Supreme Court set up by Mr.. NTcH-
Oils" says President GRANT in his recent
telegram 20 Gen. AUGrR, lean receive no
more recognition than any other equal num-
Der of lawyers convened on the call Of any
other citizen of the State" but he ncglccts
to say anything about the other supreme
Court set up by Mr. PACKARD. As the State
courts may bc expected to bear prominent
part in the settlement Of the questions lc-
tween the supporters OF PACKARD and those
Of NICHOLS, provided GRANT does not
finally conclude to settle the whole business
by a free use of bayoncts, the claims of the
rival Supreme Courts to recognition as
legitimate tribunals become of interest.
The former Supreme Court Of Louisiana,
established 10y the carpct-baggcrs, was no.
torious for corruption. Its Chief Justice,
LUDELISG, had been denounced rs swim
dlcr by the Supreme Court Of the United
States in n decision which will be found re-
corded in the official reports. This court
PACKARD undertook to rcorganizc. with
LrDELING at its head, and he made the
number Of nominations requisite for that
purpose. These were submitted for con-
irmation to the Senate of his spurious
Hence the appointments are invalid while
the court cannot claim authority on the
ground OF holding over. since tho nomna-
tion Of candidates for Judges to the rump Of
an Illegal Senate was an acknowledgement
that vacancies existed.
The manner in which this question Is
viewed 10y some of the leading Republicans
In Louisiana maybe seen from the following
remarks by Col. GEORGE w. CARTER, who
stumped Ohio and this State for HAYES aud
WHEELER during the recent canvass In a
conversation with a reporter OF the Picdyr,c
In relation to the claims OF the LUDELISG
Court, Col. CARTER said:
Tho Governor nomins'cs. hu' The Senate CONFIRMS.
and while the crcauon the court may he supposed tob
iy derived from The senate rather han tho Governor
and tie legal character o. confirming hoiy tainted
Oh, creation would be- void AMI iout authont, Of law
70 the fAcKAnn supreme Court had iesai quorum ad
body that confirmed their nomination.
On the other hand, the vacancies existing
in the supreme Court We're filled in the legal
and constitutional manner by Gov. NIGH
Oils and his nominations were confirmed
10y the Senate in the NICHOLS Legislature,
The Judges thus appointed are men of the
highest character, they have been duly in
stalled in Office, and their authority IS rccog-
nizod by the best citizens in the State Five
District Judges elected by the people have
also entered upon the discharge Of their du-
ties, holding commissions from Gov. NICu-
Oils.
There was formerly another court In New
Orleans, known as the Superior District
Court, which was abolished by the last Leg
stature An attempt to replace this by a
tribunal called the Superior Civil Court was
made through the passage Of Il bill by the
PACKARD Legislature purportlng to estab-
lish such n court, and vesting In 1t extraor-
binary powers intended to be used for the
benefit Of the usurplng faction. But as the
Legislature which passed the bill was clear
ly an illegal body the pretenccs of this court
t. exercise jurisdiction over anybody or
anything excite only derision.