Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-09-05
To the Editors of The Enquirer.

ubscriber," which ought TO be noticed. The wri-
n complains of late Executive appointment of
Edge for the Eastern shore district. The indi-
dual who has received this appointment, and it
hoped and believed will hold it, for the good
the country, WILL Con seeing these complants,)
no emotion incompatible with perfect charity
the writer. But others have read them, and
approve or condemn, as they may think pro-
-. For my own part, must frankly de-
clare, tina, think them novel IN their character,
and injurious in their etfects-insultins TO the
derstanding and an outrage on the repeatedly ex-
pressed public sentiment OF Virginia. You have
given the columns of free Press to the COM
plants of free people;' and am perfectly assur-
ed that YOU will not refuse them TO one, having NO
private resentinents friendships to crafty, in
this matter-no hopes 10 be realized or defeated -
, and looking Only To the good of the Common
wealth, wishes to shew that these complaints are
wholly unfounded.
Your Accomack Subscriber seems 10 have had
one of two objects in view-To induce the amia-
BILE, honorable, and virtuous individual, who has
rvceive ed the appointment of irdge of the General
Court TO tcithhold his acceptance ofthot Office or
resign it, ifhe has already accepted. If his sense
of duty will not permit him to crafty the wishes
of your subscriber; then and in that event. the OBJ
ject is TO excite early prejudices against him. and
poison the public mind by insinualions, or direct
charges, of incompetency, through want of legal
knowledge, old age, & consequent debility of body
and mind which insnuations and charges, he and
hi. friends will not condescend to reply to; and
therefore it is hoped they will operate po,oert1lly
in efsctins his removal from office by the neat
Legislature. Are these legitimate objects?
mean, in the estimation of men who wish to act
with candor and magnanimy; as | am sure the cit
liens of Accomack do.
will not ask who is your .dccOmack SuJscyi-
Der? What motives dictated the remarks to which
these are sresponsve? What are the irres ;siible
IL; ,ba
it is generally understood were competitors of the
successful candidate, before the executive? Nor
will ask what decisive proof they have given of
splendid talents and pre-eminent qualifications for
judicial Office. The Governor and Council no
doubt, made some of these inquiries, and were bet
ter qualified 10 decide upon them than am. The
public have nothing TO do with the motives of your
Accomack Subscriber, and | do not wish TO i'm
peach them. 1t Is not my wish or Intention to
institute comparison OF the respective preten-
sions and qualifications of Mr.. Peasants the
Judge elect and the two Eastern shore candidates,
for this judseship Yet, must be allowed to
say, that mean disparagement of these candi-
dates, or of the other respectable practitioners OF
the law in Accomack and Northampton, when
express the wish, in their behalf that, should it
hereafter be their fortune TO fill the highest Offices
in the gift of the people. they may retire from them
with the gratuaons of their friends and the reluc-
tant testimony of their enemies (if they shall have
TGSDecfU-
bly;' but above all, with the self-approving con-
seriousness OF having done their duties to their
country.
The complaints of your subscriber are ola two
fold character that is TO say--GgainSt the Exec
ufire of the State and against the Judge an
pointed by them.
Is not the charge of fsvoritism, which is made
against The Executive, uncharitable illiberaI and
totally unfounded in fact? Certainly, it can no
where be found. Has James Peasants (this man
OF whom, 10 use the language of your subscriber
90 it would be difficult TO speak in terms of COM
mendaton, which would be considered too
strong" sc who has enjoyed every honour which i,
was in the power of his country to confer" who
flied the highest public stations, always respecta-
by'') say, has James Peasants such small claims
10 the Office Of Judge of the general court, and
are the qualifications of the candidates who oppos-
ed him, and of the other Easern-shore LAWYERS, so
transendenty great, that fduOrifiSm must of ne
cessity have decided for him, in this contest be-
tween him and them? No man in Virginia relieves
it, Because " most of the Councillors had served
with him for three years; and they loved him as all
men do who know him. does it, therefore, follow
that he has been selected and promoted by fduo,.r-
itisl, without regard TO bis merits? Away with
such frivolous accusations. Ii is almost as unbe-
coming to repe, to have made them.
1t is no trivial matter to charge public officers
with fauouritiSm If the known talents, integrity
tive branch of government furnished no pledge of
honesty and fair dealing in making appointments,
under the Constitution and laws, ought not the
Accomack Subscriber to have reflected that they
are S,oOrn officers, acting for the good of The
country, and therefore impartial, in judging of the
merits of individuals who before them All
liberal men will admit that in the total absence of
proof 10 the contrary, they ought TO be considered
impartial. Some there are of such unhappy
tempers, that they suspect fraud and reachery, or
some kind of unfair dealing, in all transactions with
their fellow beings. They truly to be pitied:
but you can not reason them out of their frailty
The assertion made by your Subscriber, q" that it
was thought abuse of Executive power to
pension him off NTH an Eastern Shore
Judgeship," borders on the ridiculous. What
bestov pension, of an Office the duties
of tDhich according to your Subscrber) require
\ an Hercules IN body and mind to perform them!
a this pension, too, given by the Governor and
Council of Va. Whatever your Accomack Sub
scfiber may think on the subject assure him that
al rejecting men, who have read his remarks have
read them with " unqualified smazement,' - and have
passed sentence of condemnation on his baseless
nsinuation or charge-that the Executive were
Influenced in their choice by faUouritism.
proceed 10 take some little notice of your Sub
scrber's objections to Mr.. Peasants as Judge
" He has not Otis ssid) the slightest pretensons
10 distinguished abilities, or acknowledged supe.
ror qualifications" How is this Has he in
deed given no evidence Of distinguished ability in
his long political life Have all the honours,
which bis country has, time after time, conferred
on him, been gratuitously bestowed Would he
have filled for a series Of years, some of the high
est Offices under the government, if he had been no
q