Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-04-02
Justice Hun. and Senator Einuris.
The Washington correspondent Of the Chi
cago ntd-Ocean telegraphed that PAPER as
follows on the 18th of March

cago Inter Ocean telegraphed that PAPER as
follows on the 10Th of March
II is proper now TO give bit of inside history IN
connection with the mooted retirement Of Justice
Hunt from the bench of the Supreme Court some
months since and the proposed appointment O SEN
atOr Elmunds TO iii tne place. Justice Hunt hal,
in view of hi. physical iuiirmities couclu Led to re
sigh and on II being communicated to Senator Ell
muntis that the place would be al his disposal he,
/ after due consideration, concluded 10 accept IL
There Is No question lh'ti the state OF vermont VIII
| continue Mr.. Edmunjs IN the Senate as long he
lives. If he desires, aud the point tO be considered
| by him was whether life tenure the Senate or
on the bench of the supreme Court was the most
desirable. He decided IN iivor oil the ia'ter. not,
| II Is believed, because the compensation - double,
for that not of material consequence 10 hiIu. 1ut
because his tastes incline 10 the bruc and lie hdi
an idea that once there he could introduce >Icn
forms and improvements as would VCry mich cX
petlte and simplify the business OF the court it
this point Senator tunkllEy stepped IN. Judge
Hunt had been appointed bs Prcsd"rf Grant a his
Instance. II Judge Hunt was 10 retire, Mr.. CpuS-
ling wanted another New York man. and aur.her
personal friend. As he could moi exprcta.y fiyors
from the Hayes administration, the ncNi best Thing
he could do WAS Ia Keep Judge Hunt n AMI II Is the
understanding that, through his influence. Judge
Hunt abandoned his Intention Ufresigning-
The St Alhans .UeSseagsr says:
One of the most prominent Iaen in vermont, who
had recently been IN Washington ami sad he had
received his Information from very high source,
but not from Senator Edniunds. stated the ease
like this: Justice Hunt don't resign because Sena-
tor Conkling don't want HIM 20 resIgn- The reason
Mr.. Conkling don't want HIM 10 resign nnw l. be-
cause he wants the place himself He KNOWS thai
President HAYES Will appoint senator EdmuniS-
lie has no objection 10 EluunlS except thai Ell
mupdi Is nor himself H.. wants keep Hunt along
until after the Presidential election. although busI-
Is suffering in Hunts circuit Iitohklln. can
nominate and elect Grant h. knows that Grant
viii appoint him Ii he thinks he cannot nominate
Grant, or doubts # 1t Will be safe 10 do So thrn the
question with HIM will be- whether 10 nominate
Grants friend. MI. .Walhburne, and expect The ap-
poIntment from him, or whether To nominate seni-
tor Edmunds. thus getting him out OF the way ui
the judgeshp. and at the same time placing Eiil un
der obligation TO hand the iulge-hIp tn Cpuk-
ling lie did not claim 10 be possessed OF positive
Information that this was the way Mf. CunEl4ng
reasoned 10 himself, hui he was certain Is 10 the
facts, and from them he thought the reasoning nat
ural and probable.
Another of cur prominent men, who claims 10
have more or less knowledge OF the plans ana
wishes of the administration, has since tO!i Us ti
the reason Justice Hunt don't resign Is because. On
reflection. the President W sh ham nui %. AMI me
motive that govern, the President l.. Keep MI
Elmunds the Senate until the troubles and ilr-
gers of the Presidential election and count are
over. because there Is no other senator who ~oaij
be likely 10 be able To checkmaie The Democracy
lii any scheme of fraud or revolution
We presume that the story told by the
Inter Ocedas correspondent is the more cor
rect of the three When it got ont (through
the White House that Judge Hunt was
about To resign, Mr. l. ". Stuusht'n n
once made push for the place. There Is 10
doubt that he supposed that h. had the tacb.
ing of Mr.. Conklins for the appointment,
and he Stoughton) is prohahlythe persona!
friend alluded TO by the Washington CORES
pondent 1t is not very likely that Nj.
Conkling was playing double with Nlr-
Stoughton. nor is it likely that Mr.. Conlline,
lust reelected TO the Senate. would, iii view
of the prospect Of the election Of Repuh'i-
can President, exchange his commauiing
position Us the only Republican Senator from
the Empire State. and as m acknowledged
leader in the United States Senate, for the
quiet and lahOrious position OF 4 justice oi
the Supreme Court. As for the President.
he may be well suited 10 have MIR. Edmunds
remain in the Senate as matters are gong
but We have some grounds for very distinct
belief that it was not his wish or expectation
that induced Judge Hunt to reconsider his
determination to resign