Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-09-12

the range oil MIR. fieasantSs practlcc, VIZ. In the
Superior and Inferior Cour of several counties ii
may be boldly answered, he distinguished
tasryeT for there he stood in the van of the ~ o.
fession, not only sound lawyer, but handsome
orator. this is all that can be said OF any man
whose lot has not cast him in the upper regions of
the practice, where his mind would have wider
| sphere o! operation, and where all i;s energies
might be called into action by collision with the
master spirits. believe 1 shall not err in saying,
that with such men the General Court Bench, has
usually been flled-snd would it not be an in ult
upon that tribunal TO ask, 90 at what time were they
| all dis ingu-hed lawyers? Let me ask this gen
tleinan, IN turn, they not /" able exrosiors OF
the law ard upright Judges? AT ealy period
OF his lie, the people OF his county manifested
their confidence in Mr.. peasants by electns him
To the legislature; that body placed him in
the chair of their Clerk. Whilst in this station he
was appointed by tie same body, Judge of the
Court of Appeals Here might stop, in summing
| up the proofs OF his standing lawyer, unless
could bring myself to think (vth the Accomsck
Subscrber,) that ;he Legislature OF Virginia, had
disgrsced themselves and the highest Judicial
Tribunal in the State, by placing on lie bench
man totally unfit to discharge its dlles, because he
(aoouriie. 1t is true, tins gentleman dec!in-
ed the apponim ent--lor what reason cannoi
inform you postiveI very probably, however
because the post he occupied was more agreeable
to him, and did not pre-, the prosecution of his
professional avocatioGs during the recess OF the
legislature Suffice 1t To say, that body believe ed
INN 10 be qualified for the post which they assign
ed him. The voice OF hi, district, now called on
him to serve them in the Congress of the u s.
| and the call was obeyed. Here he discharged the
duties of Chairman of the Naval Committed The
estimation in which he was held by the legislature
! Of his native state was again manifested, by his
se' ton the Senate of the U. s.. and even there
in what we deem the wi-est deberaire body in
The world Mr.. peasants, as have always heard
maintained dsnified stand and possessed consi-
derable influence From thence, he was again sum
moned by the State of Virginia, 10 take the chair
OF her Governor not, your Accomack Sub
scriber lmagines, to spin out the last moments Of
exhausted POLITICIAN but in the prime of his
mental vigoar and the full career of his fame L,
is the first time it has been sad that that chair was
the closing OF politician the history of our
creates, men conradicts it. After all this could
it be said, with any sort of propre,y or decency,
that % il is not believed Mr. Pleasants can have the
slightest pretension TO distinguished abilities or
superior quaLfcafi0nS''l Perhaps this writer.
has formed in his mind some model OF mental en-
dowments, beyond the conception of binary in
tellecs. 1t would be necessary to know by what
standard he measures talents, before we could ven
ture to bring any under it but with NV pre-
sent humble notions about it, would beg leav TO
express the opinion, that the gentleman question
has slight professions TO g distinguished
abilities and superior qualifications TO Suppose
otherwise is libel upon the good sense aud dis
cernment of The people of Virginia.
Mr.. Peasants age Is considered conclusive OBJ
lection. What! the age at which the mind has
beea supposed to have arrive at the highest stage
OF human kan wledget the age (aboat 5S) a, which
our Pr esidents have, perhaps, without an exception
been placed in the highest office in the gifts of the
American people at that age is it the melancholy
and singular fate of Air. Pleasants be so stricken
in years; sunk in state of mental imbeciiity as
to be rendered hereby unable dispense Justice
to circuit OF two counties? a gentleman, too, |
who has been always remarkable for the soundness
of his constitution? 1t is true he has nor escaped
visitation from the bilious fever which for a
year two past has afflicted, in an unusual manner
The banks OF James river, little above the falls
but we may nope that this little seasoning has had
wore effect upon him than to prepare him the
better for the climate of Accomack and North
ampton.
The first objection to this appointment, no.
tice last, because deserving the most attentions: il
is this IS that ii is our unanimous opinion (says
the wriIer) that perfectly competent indse might
have been found at our bars Here lies the rub
this is the spring which has set this OPPOSE
ton 10 work; and make this assertion, without
meaning TO ascri5e, TO the good people of Acco-
mack, any other motive than one which might have
been found in the bosoms OF the people of any other
Judicial circuit in the State, under similar crcun-
es-and that motive, is territorial pride or To-
cal jeslou.y-a persuasion that they are amply
competent the management of their own affairs
and that, to send them u judge 10 preside over
them, is an intrusion, and amounts TO charge OF
incompetency. disinterested person may find
abundant motives for the conduct OF the Executive
Council, without suspecting them of this very un-
charitable one, or of iavoritism. 1t may be pre-.
sumed, that they knew perfectly well, before they
informed by the 90 Accomack Subscriber -
that The bars of that circuit could furnish not only
competent, but able judge ofIaw. Bat is that,
let ask, an ovTpowering reason why they should
have confined themselves, in their selection to The
limits of the Circuit9 Why should ii be so. The
principle of representation certainly does not APP
ply in he election of judge. So far from being
the representative of their local interests and feel
ngs, he is the impartial arbiter TO settle disputes
growing out of these feelings and interests in
great Measure; blind to all distinctions of persons;
deaf TO he appeals of friendship and kindred; and
far human nature will allow, insensible TO the
tears of penuty and despair He is not the umpire
between individuals OF his circuit alone but be-
tween them and those of other circuits. Suppos-
ing, then, a candidate without the circuit to be
p esenied for appointment, aud another within il
who is connected by consequently, by marriage,
by the ties of friendship, with large portion of the
inhabitants-or who has enlisted himself coun-
sci, by long and successful course of practice
line side of onehali the litigsn,s in the courts Of
the Circuit. All other things being equal the for
mer ought to be preferred. And suppose that
competent person cannot he found in the Circuit -
although this happily is the situation of the Ac-
comsck Circuit such case might occur and has
often occurred. For such reasons as these our
constitution has regulated the idea of the repre-
sentative principle in the appointment of udpes