The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1894-02-22
The New Supreme Court Justice.

The nomination and confirmation of
Senator Edward D. White Of Louisiana
to be an Associate Justice OF the Supreme
Court in the place of Justice Blatehford
deceased, terminates the unseemly con-
test in the Senate provoked by Senator
Hills bitter antagonism upon personal
grounds, to the Presidents previous
nominations for the same position. 1t
avoids rather than settles the momen-
tous issues raised by the action of the
Senate in the cases of Messrs. Horn
blower and Peckham. The President,
with equal Judgment and dignity, has
declined TO allow high Judicial office to
be further bone of contention between
himself and the Senate, or the ermine of
a Supreme Court Justice to be dragged
through the mire of a contest with
Senator Hill
For the country, the immediate guess
tion-that Of filling vacancy upon the
bench OF the Court-has been happily
settled by the nomination Of a lawyer
and jurist of high character, unques-
toned ability and judicial experience
having been an Associate Justice of the
Supreme Court of his own State. The
Supreme Court gains by the acquisition
of member, who, in addition to the
other learning of his profession, pos
sesses that of the civil law and of the
Code Napoleon, which is tue basis of the
law of Louisiana.
New York loses the representative
upon the bench of the Supreme Court
which the Empire State of the Union
has enjoyed continuously with but a
single break of IA few years, since the
appointment OF Chief Justice John Jay
upon the organization of the court III
1889. The New York bar-that is all the
qualified and reputable portion of that
bar-is disqualified, apparently in the
eyes of Senator Hill and a majority OF
the Senate, by its Inability to appreciate
the merits of that Senator and his ju>
dicial favorite, Judge Maynard. The
President has declined to undertake tC
find New York lawyer who would be
acceptable, or, if found, to elevate hin
to a judicial position. Thus the APP
pointment which naturally belonged tc
New York has gone to louisiana. Fol
this New York has to thank Senator Hill
The promptness of Senator Whites con
firmation is due to Senatorial Cour-
tesy" Ii does not indicate that the
Senators who voted against Hornblowel
and Peckham are not prepared to be
quite as discourteous again to the Pes
iden, when the consideration due to
colleague is nor involved. Upon the
nomination Of Mr. Hornblower, and
subsequently upon that of Mr.. Peckham
Mr.. White voted for confirmation Dur
ing the fight on the silver bill, he stood
almost alone among Southern Senators
in his unwaving support of the Pres
ldent and of the Silver repeal bill, with
out compromise or qualification. AS WE
have said his confirmation only adjourn,
does not decide, the question of tn,
right of an individual Senator, or both
Senators together, to dictate to the Pres
ident what nominations he shall make
when the Office is or the nominee resides
in the State which they represent. II
may be renewed at any time unless the
Democratic Senators who have allie(
themselves with Chandler and Hoar
see the danger to the Democratic party
from a continuance of such an alliance
or become convinced of the folly ane
futility of their attempt to rob the Pres
1denE OF constitutional powers.-Ba1td-
more Sun.