The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-03-01
The High Courts at Washington.

Mr.. Justice Hunt will probably never
resume his seat on the bench Of the Su-
preme Court His condition Of health q
year ago almost forbade the expectation
that he could long survive the chronic all
msnt which bad undermined his strength
before the recent attack Of paralysis com
pletely disabled his remaining vigor. II
will fall to the luck Of the Fraudulent
President, therefore, to appoint another
Judge to fill this coming vacancy, TO be
made by voluntary retirement aud spec
ial pension, or by sterner demand to
which all things human must bow.
Of the present nine members Of this
tribunal Mr.. Justice Clifford, appointed
by Mr.. Buchanan in 1858, holds the old
est commission. Although long ago enti-
tied to pension, he is fully resolved neith-
sr to die nor to resign until Democratic
President can appoint his successor. Mr..
Lincoln appointed Mr.. Justice Swayne in
1862, and he, by length of commission
aud by age, is also entitled to retire, but
he is disinclined to cblige Hayes with a
vacancy, as he was Grant, who overslaughed
him rudely with the present Chief Justice.
Mr.. lincoln also appointed Mr.. Justice
Miller, Mr.. Justice Field, and the present
Senator David Davis, who resigned last
year.
Gen. Grantappointod Mr. Justice Strong
and Mr. Justice Bradley in 1870 to over
throw the decision of the Supreme Court
declaring greenbaeks temporary expe-
7 dent Of the civil war as legal tender
and in favor of sound constitutional cur
rency. He thus wilfully prevented the
resumption of specie payments nine year,
ago, which that decision, as pronounced
by Chief Justice Chase, himself the father
Of the greenbaeks, would have enforced
{ The immediate object to be served by th,
packing Of the Court at that time was tt
relieve the Pennsylvania Railroad ant
other corporations from the payment o
their contracts in gold, when gold was a
, high premium. Gen. Grant also appoint
! ed Mr.. Justice Hunt in 1872, and Mr.
Chief Justice Waite in 1874 Finally
: the Fraudulent President appointed Mr.
Justice Harlan to succeed Senator Dayi
in 1877.
As the Court is now constituted, fou
, members were appointed by Grant, thre
I by Lincoln, one by Buchanan, and one b,
Hayes. With tho retirement Of Judg
Z. Hunt three Of Grants appointments vii
remain, as will two Of Hayes's The Soutl
/ has no representative on the bench, 70
D Harlan is even more partisan and unscru
!. pulous than Miller, and of an easy virtu
& that is well adapted to sit side by sid
a with Bradley and Strong, who rejected a
. testimony by which fraud could be estat
!. lishcd and brought home to the Rcturnin
!. Boards, as dliunde, and the first of whom
!. after writing an opinion on one side Of tn
\ Florida case, voted on the other withou
the least hesitation, when ordered to cor
tradict himself by his owners in New Jel
sey and Pennsylvania
4 OF the FIVE Judges who constitute tn
e Court of Claims, Gen. Grant appointe
s Chief Justice Drake, when he dropped ou
of the Senate, and Justice Richardson
g whom he was obliged to turn out Of th
a Treasury, and therefore turned him on I
!. this life estate to soothe his wounded sci
/ sibilities. Mr.. Lincoln appointed Justit
v Mott, and the fraudulent President al
. pointed Bancroft Davis, commonly know
+ as the bribe-taker, and Justice Hunt
q Louisiana. Grant aud Hayes therefor
Q named four out of the FIVE members of Il
e Court, which passes upon the great bod
IS of claims not carried before Congress
referred to special commissions, and oper
e rich field of practice to Judges lii
n Dayis.--N T. Sun.