The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-01
vIRGINLaN FOR THE UNITED
STATES SUPREME COURT.

AZ THEIR JOlnL meeting last week at
Hot Springs, the Maryland and vir-
GINA Bar Associations unanimously
passed resolution requesting Presi-
dent Taft to consider some person liv-
ing in the Fourth Circuit for one of
the vacancies now existing in the SUI
preme Court of the United States
This request will shortly be communi-
Gated to him. The Fourth Circuit is
comprised of Virginia, West Virginia,
Maryland, South Carolina and North
Carolina.
1t was pointed out at the session of
the Associations that Roger 8. fancy,
of Maryland, was the last appointee
representing the Fourth Circuit The
latest of the Southern Chief Justices,
he was appointed in 1886 by President
Andrew Jackson
Peter V. Daniel. of Virginia, was
| appointed an Associate Justice in lS41.
and his was the last nomination from
| the circuit made since Taney's selec-
ton was five years earlier. Taney
served until 1864; Daniel served to
1860.
In other words. no appointment has
been made from this circuit for sixty
nine years, while 1t has been forty
six years since 1t has been represented
on the bench. That great interval of
time is itself a good argument for
representation again on the bench
from the Fourth Circuit.
AS the Supreme Court stood at the
time of the death Of Chief Justice
Fuller. the nine judicial circuits of the
Court were thus represented: Two
from the First and Sixth Circuits, and
one from each of the following: Second,
Fifth. Seventh, Ninth. leaving the
Third, Fourth and Eighth Circuits I'M
represented
Since there has been an appointee
from the Fourth Circuit, the other
two districts now remaining unrepre-
sented on the Supreme Court bench,
the Third and Eighth, have had men,
bers of the Court chosen from their
confines. The Third Circuit has had
four appointments; while the Eighth
has had one
1t is plain, therefore. that the
Fourth Circuit has q claim of prece-
dence over all other circuits. Since
1t had representative on what has
been fifty called the highest tribunal
on earth" every other district has
furnished justices to the Supreme
Court, and, as at present, some cir
cults have two members on the bench
at the same time. 1t certainly seems
reasonable that If the Sixth and First
Circuits should have mad two repre-
sentatives each on the Court at the
same time as they did have up to
d lew days ago. surely the Fourth
Circuit ought by this time to be en-
titled to at least one Justice.
There is good Supreme Court tim
per in each of the States in this Cir
cunt but it seems to us that a Viz
sinian ought to be selected. There
are a number of men in this Com
tnon"ealth any one of whom
would MI a seat on the Supreme
Court of the Nation as creditably
as any other living member of
~ There are men in the Old
dominion who are just as learned in
the law. as sound. as broad, and as
brilliant in their legal Scholarships as
are to be found in the length and
breadth of the republic. Not in ou,
TIME shall we see man of tho mold
OF Marshall, but there are living yir.
sihlans who would be not unworth,,
~ the traditions and of the standards
" "hlch ne was SO illustrious guar
o'ah' There are those of the presen,
virginia Bar who would walk wI,h
aieAity and ability in the footsteps Of
"oHh Blair, Bushrod Washington
rhii'p 2 Barbour and Peter V. Danlel
N''sln'a's Associate Justices OF the
supreme Court in the past.
1t was virglnlan. John Marshal,
Y WHO was The greatest, judicial main
stay that this nation ever had, VINO
gave It's Constitution yisallzne ma
nonal impulse, Could II be unw,se