Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-03-20

responsible judiciary; for the obscurest of the tribe
doubt not of one day grazing the bench. They make
the case oftho Judges their own, because they ex-
pect in time to be judges themselves. This motive
has banded the whole brotherhood against touching,
what they are pleased to call the independence, of
thc Judges and whom We come to remember their
numbers, talents and great social influence proceed
ing from their superior intelligence and the nature
Oh thcr vocation, is matter of wonder that hey
nave inspired others with us sincere horror of med
ding with the Judges IS in their own cases, il is
fcial and fictitious. We have ney or seen or heard
Of the man. who desired to destroy the iadependenee
OF the Judges. The utmost that the most radical
DESIRE Is to render them reponsbe so as to secure
the more faithful execution of their Duties by ma
KING them periodically elective, or removable by a
JOINT vote ofthe two houses of the General Assem-.
by-gving them salaries at the same time Sufficient
to place them above dependence or temptation. -
Would not Judiciary guarded, be Independent
lott necessary to their independence, to place them
utterly beyond the reach of being compelled to per.
form the important duties, which they are SO well
paid to perform, Must they not only have high saa-
ries, but hold their offices for e and discharge their
duties or not, at their soreregn flor they are soye
reign) will and pleasure, The dreadful evils which
have flowed from, the present judiciary system-the
complete domming up of Justice in some parts of the
State the arbitrary and tyrannical conduct of one
or two of the General Court Judges-the DELAY, ex-
pence and vexation, which wait upon the system eve
rywhere Ought to be sufficient we should think to
teach every man, the necessity of making Judges re-
sponsi6fe. The want ofthat responsblity-the fac,
that the Judges now placed above public opinion
aud pupular retributionis the fruitful source of all
the numerous grievances under which the people
have smarted, arc smarting, and will continue to
smart until responsibility is introduced into the Judi
ciary system. 1t was because we were sensible of
the opposition of most lawyers to rctressing this
grevance--an opposition resulting we verify believe
from purely professional views g. feeings-that at al,
early stage of the for the convention we en-
treated the people of Virginia. not to elect aawyers
to compose that assembly We repeat the advice, and
we assure them that if they do not follow it, that
branch ofthe government whose action is most inme-
diatey upon them, and which stands most in need OF
reformation, will go without any.
70 the extent of rendering the Judiciary responsi-
Die, without impairng their independence, the At
torney General carries his ideas of reform He docs
not wish to destroy their proper Independence bu,
their irrespOnsibiy only lie docs not wish to place
them In situation, where interest may induce them
to clectoneer, nhuencethe purity oftheir decisions
AS public officers, paid and well paid, to render pub
JIG services he desires to make it their interest to
discharge their duties promptly faithfully and eff
GENTLY, and to remove them if they do not. lie
'"hnS snnn rnnrnl restraint placed upon their con-
duct, that they shall not at their arbitrary Iuea-
and without listening TO defence, say sSheri take
that man to jail" Whereas the free man who does not
concur with him, What Republican can be in favor
of toleratng the power of arbitrary imprisonment by
Judges or any other set Of men? We honor Mr. Ro-
bertson for rising superior to the preudces ana in
terests Of his profession, and thinking like free citi-
zen, instead of mere lawyer and we firmly believe
that the scare-crow of his being favorable to the
responsibility of judges, by Which it is sought alrea-
dy, to fghten the ignorant will when the people full.
ly understand the nature and the motives Of t crv
operate in his favor.
The next gentleman nominated by the meeting
was John b. Cloptcn, Esq. ofNcw Kent--the Sena.
tor from tins District Mr. Copton is so well, und
has so long, been known to the people of the district
that it superhuous to speak of him. The name of
Clopton, is identified with Republicanism, and the
mantle as well as the name ofold John Clopton, dc.
seconded to his Son. Were we to speak of Mr. Clop
ton, as we really think of him, should be accused
ofmaking Il studied panegyrc instead of speaking
our plain opinions Of the man. There arc names Of
greater celebrity the district but we arc unacqnant
ed with the man whose historical and constitutional
requirements, better qualify him for the task ofrcvs
ing the Fundamental laws of the State. Mr. Clopton
Is literally, and always has bcen one of the people
and knows their wishes, wants and prcIudices
lie is a lawyer indeed, but nc does not appear to
US imbued with the technical Formally and hair split
ting qualities of the profession. lie is friend 10
moderate reform--to reducing expenses, to getting
rid of the fifth Wheel the Council end TO some ex.
tension Of the right og saaTage
Tho last III the nomination, is Gen. VIM Cham
0erlayne, of New Kent. This gentleman is far
mer, and IN Convention, will support tho interests
and wishes Of the ho-giVing order Of which he is
member The meeting desired .ftrmer-thcy did
not want all hwycrs--they wished some of the peo-