The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-02-03
First Time President Has Chosen q Member
Of the Opposing Political Faith for Such q
High and Responsible Office.
The Appointment Commended by JUS
tices OF the Supreme Court and Others.
No Opposition in the Senate to Confirming the
Nomination-Wby Judge Jackson Was
Selected-One of His Recent Decisions.
JUDGE JACKSON NOMINATED.

The President Appoints q Tennessee Demo-
crat to Succeed Justice Lamar.
Special TO tho Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON. Feb. 2-President Harri-
son to-day nominated for the vacancy on
the Supreme Bench caused by the death of
Justice Lamar. Howell Edmunds jackson,
a Democrat, of Tenness ssee. at present judge
of the Sixth Circuit Court. Tbereis little
doubt that the nomination will be con-
iirmed.
In making this nomination the President
has approached. if he has not accom- plished,
q violation of all precedents in the history
of the Supreme Court. for at this moment
no previous example of the nomination by
the President to one of the three CO.
ordinate branches of the government OF
citizen of an opposing political faith can
be found. There is q great deal of feeling
somewhat in the nature of disappointment.
among Republican members of Congress in
Washington. tonight. that the President
should have found it necessary to confer
this high office upon q Democrat.
This feeling, however. arises from
q lack of understanding of the
conditions. It was to the great surprise
that the discovery was made, within forty
eight hours. that there were at least a
dozen Republican Senators who would op-
pose any nomination he might make for
the vacant iusticeship. This discovery
was made quite accidentally by o few
Senators whose accord with President
Harrison led him to ask them to dis
cover. through conversations with Demo-
cratic Senators. what name of those pub
licly suggested for the nomination would
meet the least opposition upon that side of
the chamber. In making these inquiries
the friends of the President were surprised
TO learn that certain Republican Sena-
tors would oppose any nomination
whatever. Their opposition was based,
In part, upon personal hostility to
the PRESIDENT. but more seriously upon
their interests in various pending bills
which they thought would be imperiled by
the precipitation of q long debate and con-
sumption of much time In prOtr8cted
executive session.
In the meantime the attention of the
merits of Judge jackson. Although a
Democrat IT CHANGED that his was the
first judicial nomination for the federal
bench sent to the Senate by
President Cleveland in 1885. His action
upon the circuit bench was highly praised
Co President Harrison by Mr. Justice
Brown. of the Supreme Court. who, as a
district Judge. was familiar by personal
contact with the conduct Of Circuit Judge
Jackson; by x-Solicitor-generai Taft, at
present circuit judge. who has been for
several months an associate on the bench,
and by President Harrisons brother, Car
ter Harrison, who happens to he United
States marshal at Nashville Judge jack
sons home.
CARRIED OUT HIS CONVICTION.
Harrison has carried out his conviction
that it was his duty to his country to per-
form his constitutional function in filling
the vacancy. While he has selected O
Democrat, his choice is a man who recog-
nlzes that the civil war ended the doctrine
of States rights. as we'll as the institution
of slavery. 1t is said tonight that there
will be no opposition to his con ntirmation.
A press dispatch says: Judge jackson is
Oemoorat. ex-senator. and at present
judge of the United States Circuit Cours
for the district embracing Tennessee. In
Quiry about the Capitol shows that the ap-
pointment, considered from Judicial and
not political view, is splendid ODe About
the Supreme Court it is said that President
Harrison has shown once more O great
deal of Judgment In his selection of q man
for place on the bench of the highest
tribunal in the land. Ii Is stated that Mr..
that no doubt is entertained as to his max
ing good justice. The appointment was
great surprise to the Tennessee delega-
tion in the House. The two Republican
Democrat and States rights man, but.
when asked as TO Mr.. Jakson's per-
sonal fitness. conceded that his character
and abilities were all that could be de-
sired. The selection was politically no
more pleasing to some of the Democratic
Representatives. who recall the fact that
Judge Jackson was q leader of the Up
school Democrats of Tennessee, an ele-
ment which made warm but unsuccessful
fight within the party In favor OF the nay.
ment of the State debt, dollar for dollar.
substantially as demanded by the bond
holders. These men sald. however, that
the new judge was strong. clean and able.
Representative HOuk, of Tennessee. when
asked about the appointment. sald Il
think President Harrison has followed his
inclinatiOns and has betrayed the Repub-
lican party and committed a crime against
the Constitution by appointing a man who.
by birth and schooling. Is State's-rlRhts
Democrat. believing in strict construc-
tiOn of the Constitution and the supremacy
of the State over the Nation. l have moth
ing to say against Judge jackson as q man;
he Is just, able and humane"
Representative Enloe said: 1T is an OK.
cellent appointment Judge Jackson is
able. industrious. pure In character and q
good judge. ] have never heard his De-
GoCEaC1 uut5tiODeu.
Representative Pierce said: 1T is a fine
appointment"
The nomination came as great surprise
to the Senate. and was received while the
Senate was In executive session. There
was no comment made on the floor, but the
Repu blicans gathered about In little
groups and discussed il. With the excep-
tion of few who think the President
should have appointed q Republican the
nomination was well received.
The New Justice.
Special to the Indianapolis journal.
NASHVILLE, Tenn, Feb. 2.-Howell Z.
jackson is a native of Paris. Tenn, and
was born April s. 1882 He graduated from
the Lebanon Law School in 1853 and began
the practice of law at jackson. He was
elected to the Legislature as q State credit
man In 1880, and at the regular session of
the Legislature was elected to the United
States Senate to succeed j. T.. Bailey,
who filled out the unexpired term of An
drew johnson. jackson was q dark horse.
He served in the Senate until 1856, when
Mr.. Cleveland appointed him United States
Circuit Judge for the Sixth district. He
has been an able Judge. and his nomination
as Justice of the Supreme Court is very ac-
ceptable. while at the same time it comes
as surprise.
Judge jackson Is at home. and is hold ing
court in this city. Soon after the news of
and said he would accept the appointment
if confirmed. He further SAID he had no
information from President Harrison that