Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1895-08-22
Vol. XVII.
SUPREME COURT JUSTICES.
st, Louis Republic,

W aShlnStOn, u. o., Aug. Ia
Mr.. Cleveland may equal the
most fortunate of the Presidents,
while surprising all but a few Of
them, in the number Of appoint
ments to the Supreme Bench.
No executive since Washington
has had an opportunity to make
more than five appointments to
this high post Of daty and dig
nifty.
Washington, who had to start
the whole machine, made II APP
pointments. Jackson, Lincoln
and Grant are the only others
who ever reached as high as five.
Harrison named four, and 40
other President ever got beyond
three. Cleveland has already
made three appointments and
has vacancy to fill, while there
is one on the bench who may re-
tire before the end of this admin
istration. Cleveland is one of
the six Presidents who have had
an opportunity to appoint Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court.
The others were appointed by
Washington, John @. Adams,
Jackson, Lincoln and Grant.
Three Presidents, William Henry
Harrison. Zachary Taylor and
Andrew johnson, never had the
pleasure Of naming a Supreme
Court Justice.
During the past seven years
the mortality has been great
among these jurists. Field, Gray
and Harlan are the only ones
left whose terms date back be-
yond CIeveland's administration.
Field is the only one Of the real
old timers left. He has been on
the bench for 80 years, about two
years short of Marshall, whose
term of service was the longest
in the history Of the court. An
ambition to match Marshall is
said to be one of the motives
which keep Field on the bench
when his feebleness of health
dictates his retirement 1t is
said by his colleagues that his
age is never made an excuse tor
Sinking work, and that he does
fully his share with the rest.
In the history Of the court
there has been but one instance
Of vacancy being filled by a re-
cess appointments an appoint
ment during the recess Of Con
gress, when the Senate could
not have an opportunity to act on
it, This was the case Of the
second Chief Justice, appointed
TO succeed Jay. John Rutledge
of South Carolina, was appointed
and took his seat as Chief Justice
during the recess Of Congress.
AT the time he was an Associate
Justice. There were no imports
ant cases decided during this
time, however, and when Con
gresS met his nomination was re-
jected. This rejectment was not
a resentment of the manner OF
the appointment, but was due tC
the failure Of the appointee' IS
mind meanwhile. The incident
made it apparent how unsafe il
must be for anyone to assume the
duties of SO important an office
with his title still in doubt
Though this was the act of Wash
ington, the example has never
been followed, and it is doubtful
whether Mr.. Cleveland or any
other President will venture tc
put man upon the Supreme
bench before he has been con
firmed by the Senate.
An Indiana Democrat wht
claims to have voted three time:
for Mr. Cleveland for Presiden
Of the United States, writes to
local paper suggesting the nam'
of Benjamin Harrison of Indiana
for the vacancy caused by tn
death of Justice Jackson. i'll
calls attention to ex-Presiden
Harrison's fitness for the office
while President of the Unite
States," says the writer, 'h
was broad enough and grea
enough to ignore political con
siderations and appoint Justic
jackson, who was an eXConfeC
crate and a Democrat, to plac
upon the Supreme beuch. Th
question then presents itseli
Shall the Democratic party
through it's most distinguishe
leader, the President of tn
United States, be able to brus
aside party considerations an
appoint this eminently qualifie
patriot and statesman to the v;
cancy?" It is not likely, howeve
that Mr.. Cleveland will acceI
the suggestion Of the Indian