Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-01-14

FOR TIE ENQUIRER.
To the Members of tie General assembly IF Virginia.
IL will soon become your duty 10 elect n Judge for
the 9Th Judicial Circuit fill the vacancy caused by
the death of its talented Judge the late William Dan
lei The names OF many gentlemen emncntly quail
fed for the Office have been suggested and their merits
canyassed in the papers.
have seen with surprise and regret the claims of
gentlemen residing out of the Circuit brought to your
notice, and their election warmly advocated. As 10
their qualifications, have nothing to say They are
preeminently qualified for aught know. They want
the most essential quality to justify their election They
are not OF u.s. they belong not to Judicial COM
munity. Why was it considered wise and expedent
tor Governor to be ctizen-for candidates for Con-
gress to reside in the district from which they are
elected, and for Senators to be members of the State
Locality has but little, if any, Influence upon the
qualities of the heads and hearts which capacate them
for these offices of trust and honor Other
duced the trainers of our Constitution make citizen
ship necessary to their eligibility Are not men of the
same community more identified in feeling, in interest
and IN sympathy and does not this social relation
enable them the better understand the true inter
est and policy of that community, and thereby the
better to represent it, and to promote its views,
These rcusons apply with much force to the Judge
Ship and they should be respected by all who de-
sire to maintain entire the spirit of our institutions.
The most important principle of our Government,
and it is one, which is at its foundation is the SUI.
premaey of the popular will. In all elections the
wishes of those most Immediately Interested can
not be dsregarded without violating this cardinal prn.
ciple The constituent body through the polls has the
power to control its Representatives, and TO protect this
principle This circuit has such influence, but it is
confidently believed, that it will be held sacred and
that your votes will indicate your respect for it.
The mere suggestion Of name out of the circuit has
given rise TO much opposition and excitement. Ii is
viewed as ndignty offered TO Our pride and talents
Necessity only could excuse violation or the above
principle and Justify election out of the circuit and
this arises from the nadequacy Of sufficient talent and
integrity to constitute Judge. If such were the case
would with becoming humility, accept profered ia
lent, and be grateful for your kind aid supplying our
deficiency. We proud that yet we have no cause
to feel this humiliation, and that aJundantY rich
in those qualities of head and heart that especially
suited TO our judicial wants. In the papers, have
many names suggested, and high eulogiums passed up.
them would respectfully bring to your notice the
claims Of our talented citizen, William Daniel, ir He
is known TO most Of you and all must award TO him Ia
Tents of the MGhGS order and heart overowing with
the purest feelings of nature. can assure you
with the most perfect confidence that for this Office he
is more popular than any other-and could the cleo
ton be decided by the people, his majority would be
very great His is not the popularity of party, but
that of all pnrties-and this you must consider
conclusive evidence of his claims to your support,
when you learn the violence of party feeling in Camp
bell. Had he not the strongest pretensions and the
highest merits, his political sins would be remembered
against him. at least by those who were brought d.
rery in conflict with him. So far from this being the
fact, they his warnest and most jealous advocates
The manifestations of popular sentiment in his favor,
obvious as not to be mistaken. They were evil
dent to member of your body as lie passed through
Lynchburg. To use his own language, in a
ton with me, he said he bears down all opposition be-
fore him." If the principle which, as Republicans we
highly venerac, to wit, the will of the People who
are Immediately Interested is to be respected your con-
duct is plainly indicated and his election ensured
Acknowledged to be well qualified as any one who
has been nominated, he possesses decided advantages
over most. Unlike older asprans for office, whose
minds will be gradually cnfeebed, his will progressive
y improve and acquire additional energy and vigor-
and being susceptible of patient investigation and la
borious research he will continually increase his store
of legal knowledge, and thereby will be enabled to
take the highest stand among the Judges of the State
and soon become ornament to the Bench
CAMPBELL