Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-02-25
The New Circuit Judge.


When Mr.. HARRISON appointed Judge
HOW'LL l.. JACKSON, a Tennessee Demo
crat, TO be an Associate Justice of the SUI
preme Court of the United States We
ventured 10 guess that there might he
some favorite of his own whom the Presl-
dent desired TO appoint TO fill the Office Of
Federal Circuit Judge thus vacated. But
1t appears that we did the President in
Justice. Tho selection Of Mr.. BENTON
HAscHKrr. Of Michigan, TO succeed Judge
JACKSON does not prove that we guessed
Alright.
Saginaw, Mich, is pretty far north ;
and there il was that Mr.. HARRISON found
his new appointee, whose circuit in
cludes also several southern States. In
diana and Michigan, Mr.. HARRIsoN's and
Judge HANcHETT's respective States, are
not very far apart; and no doubt the
President. though he did not personally
know him, had heard from Mr.. H,NcHETT's
friends good reasons for placing him upon
the bench of the Circuit Court of the United
States.
The appointment of Mr.. HANcHErr re-
minds us Of some Of those made by Mr.
CLEVELAND. Tho new Judge has never held
political Office except that OF elector Of
President and Vice-President of the
United Ststes-no Office az all. we might
say. When appointed be was. as we have
Just said. personally unknown TO tho
President; nor was he known TO the
Attorney General. IN whose department
the appointment was made. Yet he is I'M
donbtedly man OF ability.
II is surmised that the Senate may pos
sibly refuse to confirm toe nomination of
Mr.. HANcHErT because it was sent TO that
body at so late date: but. as We have
heretofore said in speaking of Mr.. Justice
JAcKsoS's case, it Is as truly and unques-
tionably the Presidents night to fill va
oancies in Office a month before bis term
expires as TO I'll them year before his
term expires. If not, where shall the line
be drawn? May he properly appoint new
officers two or three months before his
retirement from the presidency, and yet
not appoint them one month before he re-
tires? We accord to Mr. HARRISON. as We
did 10 Mr.. CLEVELAND, the right to per-
form the duties Of the Office Of President
of the United States just as long as he
occupies that office. Four years hence Mr..
CLEVELAND may have to follow Mr.. HAsRI-
SONS example and appoint new judges
just befote he retircs TO private life.
The New York papers exhibited their
proyincialism f" whom MIR. WAITE was ap-
pointed Chief Justice Of the United
States (es Mr. CHASE liked to be styled
by belittling the new Chief Justice be-
cause they did not know him and by say
ing that some such lawyer as WILLIAM NJ.
Evans, Of New York. ought to have been
appointed. Mr.. WAITE made = better
Judge than Mr. EvARrs would have made.
We trust that no Democrats will be guilty
% such blunder or discourtesy rs the
ehe Jrst mentioned. The experience Of
we country in tho matter Of Dir.
"LfiIAsD's appointments ought to
seach Us oil that as there were brave men
oeiore AoAsrnsos. 30 there are great
mer IN The United States Of whom CON-
p"sUVely lew peopls--eyen New York
peopie-hase ever heard. Who In New
YORK had ever heard Of Mir. Villas, Of Wis.
cousin, before hs was made member of
~. ClsvELASD's frst Cabineti And yet