Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-02-17

those olany other gentleman III Tie State. however
great they might b.. lie wished Judge May 10 be
elevated 10 this high station il elevated nj I'LL! upon
his insrirsic merits. and not upon the WANT Of
suitable merit in others
Mr.. Cox asked, what are the qualifications ncccs-
sarv 10 fiji a man for scat on tie bench Of The
Court Of Appeals! What are The Indispensable re-
qulses that should be possessed BY the incumbent
Of that Office? II he knew any thing OF that office.
itrcqured talents of "A high order, extensive legal
requirements, and the willingness and ability 10 I'M
deriakc and undergo labour. As 10 whether Judge
May Is laborlous business man. he need not say
any thing to this House For the last six years il
had known and profited by his habits OF labor and
business. We have seen him here day alter day.
week alter week, month after month. and session after
session. by his interchangeable industry, comprehend
ing and controlling the business Of this House.
We have seen him here, ii not counting toll, GER
ainly never shrinking from labor As to his attain
ments rs lawyer. there can be no question. He
commenced the study OF the law when youtll in
early manhood commenced the practice; he lett the
practice OF the law only To become the Judge OF the
law; from the Judge Of the law, he became the ma
kcr oil the law, and IS now engaged in a laborlouS
and profitable practice of the law He has, i'll fact.
been welded TO his profession through life and the
best evidence OF his proficiency in that profession.
Is to be oJnd IN the success which has attended his
efforts. In regard 10 the character Of Judge May
mind. Mr. {. remarked, that ii was hardly neccssa-
~ Tor INN 10 say. that was active vigorous and
discriminating; adapted BY Nature and trained BY
education and study 10 separate truth from error;
and by Selling Oh The strong points Of every sub
Ject presented 10 IT, 10 arrive at prompt and Just
conclusions Able and willing to examine. patient
10 hear and quick TO decide all eases which may
present themselves to him. he seems endowed BY
Nature and fitted by practice, with those peculiar
qualifications which are essential 10 one occupyinga
judicial station. He had been Judge Oh the Ches-
terrified Circuit and his decisions while OH lllat cir
cult had given great satisfaction TO suitors and his
conduct as Judge been approved by the people Al
large. When he commenced his ahors on that cir
cult the docket was heavily crowded, but gave way
AT once to his talents and industry. Mr. c. said
he would TO God it were in his power TO place him
again on that circuit. or some such man he is.
II would be- comforting. not Il benefit only. but
blessing upon that people, which they would know
how to appreciate and would not easily forget.
But gentlemen seem disposed 10 make this cleo
ton upon other and foreign grounds They wish
To make il local question. and we are gravcly
called upon TO give them Western man Tor this
office. Mr.. c. deprecated the idea OF making this
election upon party or geographical considerations.
1t was the duty of the Legislature 10 look over the
whole State and select that individual who in lis
wisdom is best qualified for the Office without inquir-
ing whether he be from the East or West or whe-
ther he be Wing or Democrat. He had been 90
verncd BY that principle, and had hoped that others
had done the same. But il gentlemen were deter
mined 10 make this n sectional question. he was
ready 10 meet them OH that sub ect What was
now the constitution Of the Court of Appeals?
Why one member from the far Wcst-one
from the mountains-onc from Piedmont country,
and one from Richmond city. though. he believed.
neither born nor raised there. Not one from the
seaboard or from the South Side OF James river.
When men arc wanted TO fight your battles. or mo-
ncy 10 construct your roads and dig your canals; the
South Side has her quota TO raise but when any
office is to be filed however important or paltrv.
she has neither the talents or worth suit il. j.
this right? is il fair? is it libcral2 Gentlemen draw
too largely upon our generosity. Their drafts are
too frequent and too heavy. We shall be forced TO
dishonor them. When an Office is tobc filed BY the
Legislature the city OF Richmond rears her head.
procairning that paris is France" and she alone
is entitled 10 all the profits and emoumens office
The fourshinG little village Of Staunton. with the
bodes confidence presents her claims. and the little
town Of Winchester follows in her wake, and il is
all well. But when the town OF Petersburg, that
town which 50 gloriously won and has so noby CON
tinued 10 deserve the name Of "CDckGdc OF the
Union" that town which sent her sons during the
darkest period ofthe late 10 encounter the rosts
and SHOWS of Il Canada wintcr-lscs modesty here
and asks YOU TO confer an office upon one OF her
most distinguished sOnS-Se Is told tllat you dpprC-
ciatc her past services. but YOU want the office for
Western man. 1t is time for this state of things. to
cease 1t is unbccomng statesmen and patriots.
Let it at once be stopped BY comforting this Office
upon Judge May. No one can raise single OBJ
lection to him-lct all party spirit and sectional feel
ING then he buried i'll concentration Of the vote OIL
the House upon him.
Mr. c. said he could rot close his remarks with
out adveriinG TO an argument urged in favor Of one
of the candidates before the House. The House
had been told that it should give him lis support
because he had on a certain occasion made such an
effort as astonishcd the lawyers and coniounded the
the Judges Now, lie could claim no such merit for
Judge Nav as that, and he should not place his
election upon any such ground His friend. he
hoped and believed, had always endeavored so to
prepare digest and argue his cases. as evisccratc
the truth and TO cnlighten the iudgcs-not 10 con-
found them. As he had never claimed the credit
OF conioundng Judges 50, he hoped. il elected
Judge, he might never be COMPOUNDED. Mr.. G. said
he should not close his remarks in the usual Ian
euage Of nomination spcech-making By saying
that he hoped it would be the pleasure OF the House
to elect Judge May: but should borrow the more EN-
phatic language of his friend from Dnwlidic. used
here on certain memorable occasion, and say, that
under all the circumstances, it DEvoLvED upon the
House to confer the office upon him.