Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-12-22
ONO AND THE q. s. SUPREMh
COURT.

During the last twenty years the
South proper has had no representa-.
tive on the bench of the Supreme
Court Judge Harlan halls from the
border State Of Kentucky. He sue.
ceeded to the vacancy left by Judge
Davis, through IN intrigue against his
partner and friend, Benjamin IL. Bris
tow, to whom the place had been
promised.
The recent nomination Of Judge
Woods in place of Strong is objected to
because he is charged TO the State Of
Georgia, where Woods has recently
resided and an attempt is thus made
to impose on the country by the false
pretence that the South gets a Judge,
whereas in fact a third Ohio man ia
added to the Court Indeed, it may
be said he is the fourth, because Har.
lan lives across the river, and Is wholly
identified with the ideas that prevail
in Ohio.
Judge Woods is in no sense an emf.
nent lawyer. Indeed, be does not
compare in professional standing with
any member Of the present Court.
Going fresh from the Legislature Of
Ohio into tho war as a Lieutenant Colo
mel, be served until its close. He then
settled down in Alabama to seek bis
fortune, as his brother.in,la Warner
did, who became carpet-bag Senator
from that State.
Through Warmers inhueace, Grant
appointed Woods Federal Judge
eleven years ago, and he has held the
Office since that time, and administered
its duties decently, but with only mod.
crate ability Contrasted with the
Durells, who shameiully prostituted
their trusts TO the behests Of party and
to corrupt uses, Judge Woods has ap.
peared to great advantage, and for that
reason chiefly he has gained the conf.
dence and the good will of the people,
who had suffered untold oppression
and outrages from other Judges.
Putting aside all sectional considera.
tions, and the bare justice of giving
the great geographical divisions OF the
Union something like equitable repre-
sentation in the Court of last resort, the
question naturally comes up whether
1t is iair to appoint onethird Of the
bench from u single State. 1t is an
open secret that Stanley Matthews is
to succeed Judge Swane, so that after
this change shall have been made there
will be Chief Justice Waite, and if con.
firmed, Associate Justices Woods and
Matthews, three Ohio men, TO say
nothing of Justice Harlan, just across
the river, and practically to be consid-
cred as fourth Ohio man.
The Court is thus to be packed in
the interest OF Ohio. This cannot be
disguised by any thin veil of deception,
such as Hayes has tried to conceal the
nomination Of Woods with. One Of
the three departments which, united,
for our system of republican govern
ment, would by the addition OF q single
vote be put in the hands of q single
State. 1t will not be pretended that
this consolidation of power is free from
the gravest dangers. Ought this risk
to be taken when tho Senate can pre-
vent it2
The point is not made against Jud, ,e
Woods personally, but against the
glaring and unjust partiality by which
one State would have representation
on the bench equal TO twenty.six
States, without including Justice Har.
Ian, who, as before said, may be reck.
oned as an Ohio Judge II Judge
Woods was the equal of John Marshall,
the point would not be at all Weakened.
OF course, the Senate will not be IN
hurry to confirm his nomination. If
nothing better than mere partisan
argument can be made against Judge
Woods, then he ought not to be reject.
cd. The case must stand upon higher
ground than that, or il should tall.
Six Judges constitute a quorum Of
the Supreme Court. With Clifford
and Hunt disabled, the nomination Of
Woods hung up, and the intended
resignation Of Swayno at an early day,
the Courts may come to an unexpected
halt. The Fraudulent President has
carried things with a pretty high
hand, and ii is about time that he was
taught that there is some restraint on
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