National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-10-11
THE SUPREME COURT VACANCY.

To the Editor Of THE REPUBLICAN,;
The death Of Hon. Nathan Clifford, of
Maine, creates a vacancy ON the Supreme Court
bench. To hll this vacancy the name Of Hon.
Charles Devens has been prominently suggested,
not merely because he lives In that circuit, but on
account Of his large Judicial experience upon one
OF the ablest Supreme benches Of the Union, his
great Learning and ylgor OF intellect, his broad
Views upon national questions, the purity OF his
personal character, and his familiarity with the
duties Of the court and the character Of the ques-
tons argued before II, acquired in the four years
ofhis active practice before tas Attorney General.
Hon. Roscoe Conkling is spoken Of in connection
with II, though his acceptance was alone wanting
20 have made him Chief-Justioe. IN view OF this
fact, though eminently qualified for this important
position, his name Is doubtless mentioned In con-
neotion with II chiefly on account OF his promt-
nence In the public mind and because those who
do so admire him. but forget that he Is vastly more
essential TO the Republican party than the party IL
Judge Cooley has also been suggested, and though
very much more might be said OF him, IL was
deemed sufficient to say Of him that ho was great
book lawyer and special friend the late Presi-
, II not my purpose to dlsparsge or advocate
the desirability OF any particular appointment.
But the fact that an appointment recently madeby
tro Presidents-Republcan Presidents--could
only be confirmed by nigh vote, and could not
have been at all len solely,to the vote Of his
own party, to say nothing OF the well-known
means which were used TO secure this support af.
fords the most ample reason for the anxiety OF
every thoughtful man who loves free government
as to the selection TO be made for the present va
cancy
That grand tribunal Is isconservatve In the proper
sense OF that term. II mingles not in the current
politics OF the day aud should not. And yet the
political aspirations Of the individual member has
more than once weakened and impaired II not de-
stroyed HIS usefulness Judlcialy IL Is of the ut
most Importance that the appointec should be q
man not only OF sound but OF well-settled prino-
pies and fixed convictions, lie must be as brave
as his convictions II Is of the last consequence
that he be not O trading man.
The country ismuch exercised overthe organiza.
ton of the Senate. The probable organization OF
the House Is the subject of no little speculation
and OF some solicitude. But these things arc only
momentary. The majority Of the Senate or the
House may be changedby the accidents Of day.
But the tenure of the Supreme Court Is forlfe Not
only for life but Its decisions rules for the gov
eminent OF their successors In the construction
not only OF the statutory but OF the organic law IT.
| self which are rarely changed. More than once
has the Supreme Court annulled not only the let
ter hut the very life spirit, and intention OF the
| proved by the executive. The vote Of a member
| is but one of hundreds, Of a Senator but one of
seventy.six that of justice is one OF nine. If the
former be ofsuch Importance, of how vastly more
consequence is the latterl The wrong or the folly
OF tho one may be promptly neutraized, or at any
| rate corrected by the frequently recurring cleo
TONS but how are the errors of the supreme Court
| to he corrected2 JUSTICE.