The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-06-04
not convey, the denial of the right being
manifestly intended.
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, d. c., May "a, 1889.

SlR-You are hereby removed from the Office
OF chief justice of the supreme court OF the terri
tory of Utah, 10 take effect upon the Appointment
and qualification OF your successor
To Elliot Sanford, Salt Lake City, Utah.
But the startling feature of this business
is that President HARRISON has policy
which he wants to be pursued with refer
ence to Utah affairs, and the policy must
be followed by the judiciary. Heretofore,
the Judge on the bench was presumed and
generally admitted to be above and
beyond all dictation and coercion from
anybody and everybody. The only policy
which judge was supposed to have was
the policy of administering the law as it
read. The pursuit of any other policy
should be followed by the prompt impeach-
ment of the judge, and the outlining or
suggestion of another policy than that to a
judge by the President of the United
States, should call for the impeachment of
the latter If the judiciary can be con-
trolled in its policy by the President or
the attorney general, if it can be APP
preached by either of those officers, if it
can be forced to recognize either of those
as having any right to influence, much less
control, decisions and interpretations,
than the judiciary is no longer indie
pendent, and is not only a dangerous insti-
tuition, but thing to be despised. Pres
ident HARRISON has no more right TO die
tate policy to a Judge in Utah, than he
has to go to the chief justice of the United
States and command him to decide a ques-
-,
matter seem more awful is the fact that
the attorney-general,t the man who writes
this letter, is talked of for the vacant seat
on the supreme bench of the United
States. If his unftness for the place were
not before known, the above letter would
fully expose it, for man who recognizes
the right of even the President of
the United States to interfere in any man
ner with the independence of the bench,
and to make the following of the Presi-
dents policy by a judge the condition on
which the latter shall hold the Office, is not
qualified to occupy a position created and
for the protection of the people
in their rights. We imagine the statesmen
and press of the country, without regard
to party, viii not take kindly to the threat
here put forth against the one department
Of the government which is free from DO
itics and on which all rely with confidence.
Whether or not President HARRISON has
given Judge ZANE instructions as to his
policy" it is manifest that no such in
structions were ever received by Chief |
Justice SANFORD, and it is equally clear
that he would have brooked no such i'm
oudent and outrageous interference. The |
letter, which closes the CORES
has the right kind of ring to it. |
The late chief justice seems as clever with |
lis pen as he is regardful of the prophecies. |
Whether or not it was intended, there is a |
sharp sting in his final letter, which will |
oe very apt to penetrate deeply the Presi-
lent and his subservient encouragement.
md elhaps bring them to realizing sense
# the Offensc they have committed, through |
heir rank stupidity or their innate wicked |
less. Here is Judge SANDFORD's letter:
SUPREME COURT OF UTAH TERRITORY,
SALT LIKE CITY, UTAH,
June l, 1859.