New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-23
SOUTHERN CLAIMS TO THE CABINET
JUDGE HUNT FOR ATToRNEY-GENERAL.

| JUDGE HUNT FOR ATTORNEY-GENERAL.
| VALUE OF SOUTHERN REPRESENTATION IN TIKI
| CABlNET-sKETCH or BRILLIANT AND LOYAL
CAREER-THE RECORD OF JUSTICE W. II. HUNT,
| OF THE UNITED STATES COURT OF CLAIMS.
| TO the Editor OF The Tribune.
| SIR No act will be moro becoming to Pres
Ident Garfield when he enters upon tho duties
of his office than to appoint one of his adyis-
ors in the Cabinet from among that faithful and
lOng-suferlng class, the loyal Republicans of the
South. Indeed. there are intelligent political OBJ
servers who attribute much weight to the report
that it has been already determined that the Sonth
is TO have the Attorney Gcneralship, and that GER
tain names have actually been considered and die
cussed in connection Herewith at Mentor. 1t is said
in influential Republican circles that the name Of
Judge William Fl. Hunt. Of The Court If Claims Of
the United States. is spoken of with much favor
the new ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and this makes 1t a mat
ter of than ordinary interest for the readers of
The TRIBUNE to have some acquaintance with his
history.
Judge Hunt has been n member of tho Court of
Claims for two years past The published reports
of the Court show him TO DO upright and learned as
magistrate. He is possessed of an excellent judi
cal style HIS reasoning is compact his logic
strong, aud his illustrations well put and often fe-
hctOus He IS q ready and able writer. and has
proved a valuable addition to tho Court to which be
belongs. Tho Senate OF the United States Judged
we'll when, notwithstanding the well-known Rcpub-
lican politics Of the Judge. he was. under a suspen
SION of the rules. unanimously confirmed on motion
of Senator Thurman. P1or TO his accession TO the
bench. Judge Hunt Ia practitioner Of law IN tho
City of New Orleans. His Union record dates all
the way back to the Modification War" of South
Carolina, At that time no and the family to which
he belongs removed from South Carolina be-
cause they disapproyed of tbs political course
of the state OF which they were natives
aud rejected the hereses Of Calhounism. They went
to Louisiana, where Judge Hunt settled, and where
for thirty-hve years he practised his profession,
until he was appointed to Office under the present
Administration. At that time he had earned cou-
spiCuous standing aud distinction among his brcth-
rem of the har of his adopted State The records of
e. Federal and State Courts show that his engage
mcnts INCLUDED all kinds Of legal business in the
admiralty ana maritime jur. sdIction he appeared as
proctor IN important causes He was also frequently
heard IN the discussion Of commercial cases aud
arising under the pccu lar system of Louisiana
now often under consideration IN tAe Supreme
Conf of the United States aud taken from the
Roman civil law; and he moreover recognized
TO be thoroughly trained criminal lawyer and an
able solicitor IN Chancery For a period he dis.
charged the duties Of Professor Of commercial law.
school At ew-Orle1us. and achieved not only sue
cess but much applause a lecturer.
In the Iys OF the Wing party JIdrc Hunt adj !
hered Ia the political fortunes of Henry Clay aId
his well-kuown Opinions formed Oh study of the /
school Of Hamilton and The ItderaiS and hostile
he later popular sou bern doctrines of States Rights
and Secession. naturally FOR Of his IucInarious
pa we'd the way for his nomination "a Attorney /
General on thr Republican Starc ticket on which |
Packard fau for Governor. II Is altogether foreign |
10 NV purpose 10 rcnearsc the stormy political ms
fory of Louisiana ~ the memorable campaign Of !
1876. II su0ice- 10 SAY That when the Nichols
Democratic state Government was finally estab-
hshed, Judge Hunt MAS uecps-lrlly separated from
the Office of AttOmcy-tt al of Louisiana, m
which he had for tNc acted, aud was
brought 10 live in Washington. When Justice Strong
retired recently from the supreme Court Of the
Imed States the bar Ci Louisiana. without respect
to parfy, iOIned IN recommending Judge Hunt as
jIrist emIurntly qualified b. his personal and pI0-
fcssiOual character to fill the vacancy. Tie an
polnlment II is truc fell 81 last 10 the lot of jus
ticc VI Gods. but President HAYES, ~ view OF the
great importance Of tho Cu1Wt Juige ship. tb0uRdt
the promotion of Woods.
II vii! not be denied that it, ne seems not improh-
able. the choice % President Garfield Tor the office
pf Attorney General Of the United States should tall
Oh person of the antcccdonts winch have now bern
sketchcd such u selection must meet with the gen
cra appreciation OF the party. and of the country at
large. A REPUBLICAN.
Atlc- York Feb ~ 1881