The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-28
THE SUPREME COURT.
Some Of the Justices Whose Play Is Hard
Work.
NMehinEtOn IletIer |

The Supreme Court OF the United States re-
| assembled here this week, Each year. as this
body reeonvcn"s ln the fall, tho old habitues
| OF the court expect to see at lpast two OF the
| nembers missing One Juatice Is absent from
tho bench this fall, Judge Hunt, of Now York,
and 1t Is not probable that he will again take
| his seat with his associates; but the two gen
t)emen whose presence ts constant surprise,
| even to their friends, are Mr.. Justice Swayne
| and Mr.. Justice Clifford. One OF these gen
tlemen is, believe seventy-six years Of age.
the other, | think, seventy-tive. ANY time
within five or six years they could have both
been retired from active service on full pay,
rs they have filled very much more thnn the
term which u Just and proper law provides
| Tor active judicial service on this bench and
could live the remainder Of their declining
years In case on full pay. But they are not
inclined to 90. Age docs not seem to have
their ability 70 work. In 1874 Mr.. Justice
clifford could have retired on full salary. He
Is There still. to tho annoyance doubtless, OF
younger men within his circuit who are aspir-
ants for hia position, and to the great satis-
faction OF himself and OF his friends. -Four
years ago 1t was thought that his time had
como He lay at Portland, No. his home,
during the summer, too sick to be-
moved But whom tho fall days came lie
announced to his family that he was
going to Washington Hoa,id that he should
go II he had to be lifted to the ears He did
go, and was lifted to tho cars, and every hour
ns he rolled on toward the capital city bis,
strength came buck Judicial routine is the
habit Of his life as ii Is Of I'LL old judicial Off
GERS. One reason. probably, why they decline to
retire To make way for younger men Ia because
they dread to lot go. No one may tell what
might happen to the physical machinery
should the accustomed routine be abandoned
IT has been tho experience of many old men
that the years OF ease, to which they looked
forward, we're In fact, the years which they
should most avoid. and that health and hap
pincss, and oven life itself, depended upon
running smoothly along with correct habits
In the well-worn old ways This seems to be
the belief of the two oldest Justices OF the 5l,-
pieme Court. They are there because theydo
not care or do not dare to stop Yet tho DO
sition Of Justice Of the Supreme Court Is one
oil the most arGuons within the range OF h1i-
man effort. Chief Justice Chase, In speaking
OF the duties Of the bench. once said to q
friend. When ! was Secretary OF the Treas
ury thought 1t was the hardest position In
the government. This was u grent mistake
There were scores Of bureau officers always
ready to render me assistance. | could at a
detail n skilf'll man to report upon
any special subject. There were experienced
hands to do all the formal part OF the work,
SO that my dtuies there we're mainly Of n d.
rectory character. But la this place of Chief
Justice there are no duties that can be dele
gated Everything must be done by ones
own httad'