The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-07-26
CHIEF JUSTICE FILLER.

that Mr.. Fuller's mind was SO warped
then in favor OF States rights that it
would be unnatural to suppose that he did
not, even to this day, uphold in a
large degree States rights, and that
it would be dangerous to place such a man
in position as responsible as the
one for which he was nominated. He
imp.ored the Senate to run no risks. warn
ing it that the position was one for life,
and that it was the highest judicial Office
within the gift Of the Government
Senator Edmunds was followed by Sen
ator Eyarts IN. W, who touched upon
many Of the subjects spoken Of by the
Vermont Senator, and then entered into
an elaboration Of the charge that it was
extremely dangerous to place man in the
chair Of the Chief Justice who entertained
the State's-rights doctrine.
Senator Stewart (Nev) came in for o
strong attack en- what he termed the con
stitutional infrmities !" of Mr.. Fuller. He
declared that the nominee, in paper read
before the Illinois Bar Association, had
given his Interpretation Of the legal value
of the various forms of money au-
thorized by the Government, and
that he had declared that green
backs were better legal tender in every
avenue of trade than silver, because green
backs would always demand Of the Gov
ernment their redemption at their face
value, and silver was subject to the con.
stant fluctuations of the market for silver
bullion. Senator Stewart held that one
who was firmly on record in opposition to
the popular standard Of money value was
unfit to occupy the position of Chief Justice
Of the United States
Senators Cullom and Farwcll I'll alone
conducted the defense of the nominee.
They spoke of him as citizen and q law
yer. and gave him certificate OF character
which would recommend him to any
Office in the land. Senator Farwell
said that if Mr.. Fuller had ever been
what his enemies had designated as
q "copperhead," if he had ever opposed
any of the Union measures, il was during
his youth, and that his life since the war
has demonstrated that he was as loyal and
as patriotic as any man who had been
rendered position under this or any pre-
vious administration.
At the conclusion Of the speeches the
yeas and nays were called on the question
of confirmation. Although the proceed
ings were held under double injunction
of secrecy, it was learned that ten Repub.
ICAuS VOIcu lOF ullcE
and they were rs follows:
Cullom and Farwell, OF Illinois; Cameron
and Quay. OF Pennsylvania; Hale and Frye, o
Maine: Davis, Of Minnesota; Jones' OF Neva-
da; Mitchell Of Oregon, and Riddlebcrger, o.
VirQ MIA.
All Of the Democrats present voted fol
confirmation.
The twenty Republicans voting agains
confirmation were:
Blair, Bowen, Chandler, Dawes Dolph, Ed
munds, Eyarts, Hawley. Hoar, Ingalls,, Nun
de son, Palmer, Platt, Sabin, Sawyer, Sher
man, Stewart. Siockbridge, Teller, and Viii
sen. OF Iows.
The commission OF Chief-Justice Fulle
Is expected to issue next week, an,
he will have an opportunity to take tn
oath of Office Immediately after the com
mission ia delivered to him.
Melville Weston Fuller was born in Augusta
Me-, on February II. 1888. His father wa
Frederick A. Fuller, his mother Catherine Mar
tin, daughter OF Chief-Justice Nathan Weston
Melville w. fitted for college in Augusta an,
graduated at Bowdoin In the class of 1859 hi
classmate being F. J. Phelps, now Minister t
England. Mr.. Fuller, after leaving college
began the study Of law at Bangor. After o,
tending lectures In the law department Q
Harvard University he began the practice Q
his profession in Augusta in 1885, Will
waiting for clients he acted as editor 0
the Age and won his spurs in journalism. Feel
ing that his true field OF work was the law
and realizing that his native city did not affor
that scope for effort which he stood IN nee
OF, Mr. Fuller went to Chicago. There he d
not have to wait long for practice. His abilit
was speedily recognized and properly rewarded
For thirty years he has enjoyed lucrativ
practice aud has won distinction among tn
foremost At the Illinois bar. In 1851 he wa
elected member OF the State Constitutions
convention. In 1852 he was chosen to the Lee
islature, and, although Democrat runnin
ench time in strong Republican district b
was victorious by large majoritiea. He was
delegate to the Democratic National CONVEX
tions OF 1854 1872 1876 and 1850. In 1860 h
was selected by the citizens to deliver the I'd
dress OF welcome to Stephen A. Douglas. /
1858 Mr.. Fuller MARI ed Calista o. Reynolds
and. after her decease, Mary Ellen, daughte
OF the distinguished Chicago banker, Williar
F. Coolbaugh. He has eight daughters. In hi
practice In tho Supreme Court OF the Unite
States Mr.. Fuller has repeatedly come in cor
tact, both as colleague and as an oppt
nent with Messrs. Edmunds, Thurman, Hoat
ly. Ingersoll, and other admittedly great Law
yers, and has never failed to hold his ow
against the greatest OF them.