Year: 1873

THE CHIP JUsTICEsHIP - JUDGE WILL


LIAAs' PROBABLE CONFIRMATION.


We are glad to learn from Washington some
important facts concerning the nomination uf
Judge Williams to be Chief Justice. 1t is stated
frat that the postponement of a vote in the
Senate, until after the Holidays, must not be
accepted as evidence that the Judiciary Commit
tee will report unfAvorably to confirmation.
Tue Committee were agreed to report fAvorably.
when certain charges were made affecting his
official integrity. These have been under inves-
tgation, the Senators favorable to Judge vii.
liAms believing that a searching inquiry would
result In his complete vindication. Thus far.
nothing has been shown to affect this confidence
and the probable end will be that the groundless-
ness Of the charges being shown, the Committee
will approve the nomination, and it will be con-
irmed. A Senator who has made canvass
says there will be but few votes in Opposition


The President, it is further stated, has author.
lied the understanding that he will not with
draw the nomination He has sal / that he had
thoroughly considered it, before making it, and
had concluded that Mr.. Williams was the best
man that could be named for the Office, and that
it is Low for the Senate to determine whether
his Judgment was right or not. TIE nomIns-
tion was before them. and there it would remain
until confirmed or elected


Setting aside all charges sgAinst his integrity
for these must be probsd and searched into
We remain firm in the belief that the President
has done well in his nomination OF Judge Will
lams. II is said that it is not an ideal ap-
poin,ment. Possibly not. But where is the man
Nbn uNulh ha - h. -, a.
selections might be made, perhaps, from smong
the Associate Justices But to take any one OF
them would appear like an invidious distinction
Asd would be sure to cause heart burnngs and
jeAlousies on the bench. Tue Presidents res.
oluiion not TO discriminate among the Associates
10 taking one OF them for Chisf j Justice was both
ind!eious and just. in our opinion. on the bench
then, whose selection would have satisfied every
body In New York. some clamor for Mr. Ev-
Arts. But MIR. EVArts nouoLs OF constitutional
construction are not such as commend HIM to
the men who pu. down the Rebellion and mean
to keep it down. He accepted Cabinet place
st the invitation Of Andrew johnson ; he has
proved conservative when progress was demand
cd he is not constructed by character or train
ing to be safe Chief Justice, during the next





who then, is there Not Charles o'Conor
or Judge Curtis None of the Hfty good law.
ySrs Of local reputation and experience who
could be named, each in his own locality None
OF them would satisfy the people, and with
most Of them. the selection would simply be an
experiment, which might, at the test Of some
great issue, prove disastrous. Il is too much
to say, of course that no other man SO fit as
Judge vii Jams can be found, but what we do
say is that the name Of another, as acceptable
in all essential qualities is not generally known.
There NAV be score Of them, but their metal
is as yet unproven before the nation. Judge
Williams is experienced as a j1rist for nearly
ten years he has dealt with national questions
both in the Senate and as Attorney General .
he acquitted himself with credit in
the High Comm ssion which adjusted our con
troversy with England and added most
important chapter to the International Code
heis known to be thoroughly imbued with Re-
publican theories cf government, and entirely
sympathetic With those truly Democratic princi.
pies upon which the free aud eqrsl citizenship
of all men is established. That his character is
other than that of the highest integrity has uey.
sr been charged, 80 far ss we know. until the
objections now uuder inquiry were preferred in
the Senate. That they vii be all found with
out foundation are quite assured.


We conclude, then, that the President has
made il net an idea" selection q coed and
worthy one, and that tie Senate Will confirm it
and the future Justify it;