The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1877-02-02
ILLINOIS IN THE SENATE.
Election OF Judge Davis ofthc Supreme
Court,

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.-The cleo
ton of Judge Davis to the United
States Senate by Il combination of DEM
ocrats, independents and moderate
Republicans in the Illinois Legislature
was not unexpected, but it nevertheless
caused some excitement. The leading
Democrats here douhteu tho propriety
of his nomination by their friends in
Illinois and rather hoped that he would
be dropped after Il few ballots. 1t is
not true, however, as has been stated,
that they telcgraphcd to Springfield in
Republicans We're rather pleased yester-
day when they learned that he had
been nominated by the Democrats, be-
cause they thought this would alone
prevent him from being selected us the
nth Judge on the electoral count COM
mission On the other had, two or
three OF the shrcwdest Republicans did
not look upon his nomination with
very great serenity. They realized the
fact that after the 18th of March thnir
! majority in the Senate would be small.
even with 4 Republican returned from
Illinois. With the Democratic Seua
tors elect from Louisiana and South
carolina admitted, the two parties. in
the senate would be nearly equally di-
vided, Viz: forty to thirty-fivc. IL the
democrats secured one from Illinois
their majority would bc reduced to
three; and, moreover, this majority
could not be depended upon, on even
strict party questions, il Iilden should
be declared elected. 1t would be Il very
easy ntattcr for the Democrats to cupturr
aco"pic OF carprt-baggcrs like Dorsey
and Spencer. Indeed, it is II well known
iict that both of these Senators have
hr"n anxious for some time mtst to
make terms with the Democrats cOntin-
gent upon iitdcn's inauguration. For
theSr reasons, therefore, the shrcw,lcst
Republicans did not get much comfort
yesterday from Judge Davis's nofuiuu-
ton.
When the news Of his election was
received to-day of course there was
great anxiety TO know whether he
would promptly accept and resign his
position on the Supreme Bench. The
democratic mctnbcrs of the House from
Illinois called upon him this afternoon,
shortly after his election had been
'nauc known, to congratulate him.
me interview was pleasant, but the
Judge WAS very guarded in his express
Stnus save on one point, his resignation.
nc sal" cmphatica!ly, 81 certainly
shalt not leave the Bench before the
fourth OF March," Ia an interview had
sa'cr III the day with Il representative
OF inc SuH, Judge Davis said that he
felt and appreciated the high compli-
ment paid him by the representatives
! Of the people Of Illinois. He had nei
ther by word, act, nor sign iutiniatcd
| to a member of the Legislature his will
'lgnc$s to accept this high honor, and
nobody had been authorized to speak
Tor nm. The honor had come unsol-
lcltch, aAd IL was altogether uncXpect-
Ell. lie did not believe that the Dem
ucrat5 ana independents could unite
upon. Tic was therefore not prepared
10 say whether he would accept or not.
Many OF bis nearest friends had already
urgei hIia not to leave the Bench, and
thtif "tf'.aiS could not be treated light
~. There was no necessity for imme-
diitc decision. Moreover, there were
causes which had been argued in the
supreme Court in which the prepara-
tion OF the opinion of tho court mad been
assigned to him, and this was II duty
nc could not shirl<, no matter what his
inclinations might be.
ms determination Of Judge Davis
To delay his resignation will not be
pleasant news to the President, be-
cause he had II man for the place.
Judge Thomas Settle OF North Carroll
ma, whiting. Had Judge Davis resign
cd Immediately, Settle would undoubt-
cdiy have received the appointments
to the vacancy. Had Davis been ac-
commodatinE, Grant would have had
the making Of The majority of the Su-
pr"me Court, as he has thus far up-
pointed three Justices and the Chief
Justice.