Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-02-20
GENERAL SURPRISE.
Supreme Bench Vacancy
Filled by LOulSIanian.
He is QUICKLY CONFIRMED.
A Brief Sketch of the Man Who Has
Been So Highly Honored.

WAsHINGToN Feb. 20.-Ths president
sent 10 the senate yesterday the nomina-
tion OF Senator White Of Louisiana for
justice OF the United States supreme
sourt. In executive session the nomina-
tion was promptly confirmed, without de-
bate and without reference to committee,
and the president was at once notified of
the action taken.
There was no show OF opposition, and
the vote was unanimously land heartily
in favor OF confirmation.
The proceedings prior 20 the casting Of
the vote consisted entirely Of the deliver
ing Of eulogistic speeches by members of
the senate judiciary committee and by
Senator Gallery. There were two speeches
10y Democratic mem bers Of the committee
and two by Repu blican mem bers, Sen
ators Pugh and Hill speaking for the
Democratic side, and Senators Hoar and
Teller for the Republican.
How HnI Felt About It.
Senator Hill, in supporting the nomins-
tion, referred 20 Senator Whites fitness,
but expressed regret that the president
had been unable 20 make a suitable seec-
tion from among the hundreds OF com
petent jurors and able jurists in New
York state, whose nomination would have
provoked no opposition.
Mr.. Hill continued: at may be as
serted az fact that almost any one Of
the 40 judges OF the supreme court OF
New York state, or any one OF the present
federal judges there residing, would have
been acceptable TO the senate had the
president, In his wisdom. seen fit TO honor
.l.l Al
Is no dispute upon this point, but the
presidents choice, In my opinion, seemed
to have been limited to select few, for
reasons best known to himself.
IL believe that the state OF New York
was entitled to the judgeship, and had
the senators from that state been con.
suited, as they properly should have been
and as courtesy and usage required,
satisfactory selection from the numerous
eminent members Of the bar Of my state
could easily have been made.
"You well know that the senators from
New York had no candidates of their
own. Their action was not influenced by
disappointment. They pressed no favor
ties upon the attention Of the appointing
power, but whatever action they took was
impelled by their self-respect and their
loyalty to the peoples interest whom they
represented, and to the regular Demo
cratic organization to which they be-
longed."
Mr.. Hill concluded by saying that while
this appointment might be considered a
slight TO New York or reflection on its
distinguished judiciary, the senators
could congratulate themselves that SO ad-
mirable a selection had been made.
Sketch Of His Life.
Hon. Edward Douglass White, who sue
ceeded Hon. James Is. Eustis as United
States senator from Louisiana, was born
on his fathers plantation in the parish Of
La Fourche, about A years ago
His father. Edward Douglass White,
was born in Tennessee. was governor of
the state of Louisiana from 1924 to 1880,
and representative in congress from 1881
to 1884, and from 1889 to lS43.
Governor White married Miss Catha-
rine Sidney Lee Ringgold, the daughter
of Tench Ringgold, who was for many
years marshal Of the District of Colum-
bia, which Office he held until the incom-
ing of the administration Of President
Jackson.
Senator Edward White, the subject of
this sketch, was born Of this marriage.
He received his early education at Mt. st.
eoiiNso nv 4hu', uhd
subsequently at Georgetown college, ID.
c., from which he was withdrawn at the
inception of the war; He returned TO his
native state and completed his education
at the College Of the Jesuits In New Or
leans. Soon after the breaking out of the
civil war he entered the service of the
Confederates, serving during the siege Of
Port Hudson, attached to the staff of Cen
eral Beale.
Afterward he served in the TRANSMITS
sissippi department, where he was paroled
On the termination of the rebellion.
Shortly afterward he entered the law
Office Of Hon. Edward Bermudez, chief
justice OF Louisiana, and was admitted to
the bar In the year 1853.
He was elected state senator for four
years in 1874, serving during the trouble
some times leading to the final settlement
of the Louisiana complication in 1877 dur
ing President Hayes administration.
In 1873 he was appointed by Governor
Nichols as associate justice OF the SUI
preme court Of Louisiana, which position
he occupied until the adoption of new
constitution creating new court,
In politics Judge White has always
been a conservative Democrat; he Is a
lawyer In full practice In the city of New
Orleans and sugar planter.