The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-30
NOT OF HIS SEEKING.
THE RECENT INTERVIEW WITH
ATTORNEY GENERAL LEA.
An Attempt to Use a Simple, limo
cent Conversation 10 His
Injury, FOiled.

On Tuesday last the APPEAL con-
tanned an interview with Attorney.
General Ben. j. Lea, which some per-
cons are endeayoring to use to his dis
advantage by striving to make il sp'
pear that it was solicited by him. The
fact is as stated in the introduction to
the interview. The reporter met Judge
Lea for the first time in the office OF
Justice j. M. Coleman, who intro
duced them to each other. The con-
versstion naturally turned upon poll
tics, Judge Lss being candidate for
Judge OF the Supreme Court, and,
while nothing was given in confidence
on one side or the other, nothing was
said by either about publishing the
conveu aion as an interview. 1t was
not until several hours after that the
reporter decided to write IL out. The
following letter from Judge Lea, CIV
ing the substance of the published in
terview and explaining parts OF it, is
cordially Endorsed as strictly correct.
To the Editers of the Appeal;
My attention has just been called TO
an interview with me published in
last Tues days APPEAL, which 10 liable
to be construed as an attack upon the
members of the Supreme Court. Such
YVES net my intention, and what / did
say was not liable TO such construc.
ton. was passing through Memphis
on Monday and did not know or sus-
poet that | was being interviewed,
What did cay, and all did cay, was,
upon being introduced to gentleman
l was asked il had heard any talk OF
clean sweep, and said ~ had, but
more here than elsewhere; but some
OF those urging clean sweep are
making a very unjust accusation
against the court-that is, that they
do not work. They hear cases from 9
to o'clock; in the evening examine
the records, sometimes Of many hun.
bred pages, and at night write opin'
ions, sometimes until very late.
Whatever might be eaid in criticism
OF their mode and manner Of
trausactiDg business the aocus alton
that they did not work was unjust. ]
had thought at times they were over
working themselves. I thought q
remedy for this, and which would
also facilitate the hearing OF the
docket, was for the Court to dec de
more cases from the bench. Where
the Judges, after full argument by
counsel we're Satisfied a to the result,
the case should be decided from the
bench, and then there would be fewer
opinions to write and fewer for publi-
cation. My opinion was to decide all
cases from the bench where the
Court was satisfied of the result and
no new principle was involved. In
cases where new questions were in
volved, then, Of course, there should
be written opinions, but where an adj
Judged principle was applicable to the
facts OF the case | thought the opinion
OF the Court should DO announced
from the bench" was then asked
if the statute did not require written
opinions in all ca7es, and eaid: "The
Court often decides cases from the
bench, and, while 1t would be more
gratifying to lawyers to have writer
opinions in all their cases, yet
felt satit6ed that II the tria
OF causes could be thus faCiliia &c
they would not object" | mentioned
the name of no member OF the cour
as an exception. was then askeC
whose rame was more frequently
heard as q candidate for Governor.
remarked that having been lately a
court had not heard the subjec veI
frequently mentioned. The papers, a
saw, had been more, frequently dis
cussing the merits and dement's o
Taylor, Dibrell and Looney. Further
/ during the conversation, said as
Tennessee would very earnestly CLAIM
the Governorshjp, aud would propose
the names of several good men. |
was suggested that some OF the news
papers were charging Gen, Dibrell t
East Tennessee as a part OF his OLE
Congressional District was in Eas
Tennessee. / remarked that did mo-
think East Tennessee would hsrdl!
care to be charged with 4 candidate
living in another division. The can
didates were net discussed, and M
preferences expressed. | did not at
tack theco1rt Or any member there
of, nor any candidate for thu
Supreme Judgeship, and shal
make the canvass without doing &c
and shall endeavor to keep out o
everybody's fight excspt my own. Fo
the members Of the court, both as in
dividuals and as judges, / have th,
highest respect, and whenever 1t ]
necessary to my success to at'acl
them, or any one Of them, or any can
didate for the judgeship, then shall
decline the race. Respectfully,
BENZ. J. LEA.