Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1842-05-18
JOHN HUIET
For the Advertiser.

Mn. EnIroR.-That par of the Constitution
OF our State. which elects our Judges during
their life time has become matter of question
able benefit. with very considerable portion
of its citizens The principn! object, we sup
pose. in the minds Of the trainers OF the Con.
s,i,uion, was to place those officers Of the law
as much ou, Of reach ofthe ebullitious OF pub.
lie excitement. Us is consistent with the charac-
ter Of our government. Intheir superaburdant
caution, however, 10 secure this right 10 The
Judges, they have inflicted upon the State an
incalculabIe amount Of expense. resulting from
the imbcciIity and natural dcclension inciden,
to increasing years and infirmiiies. II Is sub
jcct Of the highest consideration. to determine
whether the intcres, OF the community should
be conceded Tor the independcncy and ire
sponsibili,y oflhc Judges; wc cannoi for u mo.
men; hesitate in deciding this question in ia.
vor Of the rights Of the people, nnd we Canuot
perceive any well grounded reason why the
tenure Of the judgcship should no, be cIOsedbc-
fore our Judges decline
Into the lean and slippered pan,aloon.
With spectacles on nose aud pouch on side
His youthful hose we'll saved. world too wide
For his shruuk shank; aud his big manly voice
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in i,s sound
Ever sensible man mus: be aware. that the
mental as well Is the physical powers decl.Hc
'pari paYu and tha, il is needless To expect that
elasticity aud decision Of mind from age, which
younger minds possess; and without any great
prcicnsion on our part, We maintain llia, there
is no situation or duty, which makes greater
requisilions. and imposes more arduous labors
than that ofthc oircui, Judscship. ], may also
ie readily perceived, that under the great mul.
,plicaiicn oi laws, and the varied ll,Isa,'oas,
which cmbarTass oug Courts. il necessarily re-
quircs all the ,igor and ucumen OF mature years,
accompanied by the constant npPncai'on 10
books aud study to determine with satisfactory
correctness, the conflicting lnteres, OF all tar
ties And we do consider i, lame Ia" " our
land. tha, II does impose upon met above Sky
wears uf aye such an amount labor. rs ni!deT
the ordinary operation Of nature, they are niier
ly inadequate, beth physically and mentally 10
perform. The State has already suffer much
and been taxed severely. with the incubus OF
old age aid lncompetency. and ii is high time
that SHE should make such corrections ol an
acknowledged grievance as inr pnbi'' interest
dc,rands. The salary of omI Judges Is inrc
suiIicicni to command tho best talents oi tic
State, and it is the imperative interest OF the
community, Ia Secnrc TO her service the bes
return for such expenditure. And atthis pai
ticu!ar period, ii becomes matter ol high con
sldcration, tliateyery measure should be 5ronshl
to bear. which can rescue the Stale from the un
panclIeled taxation under which she now Ia.
bors The Creates, distress already pcr'ades
our county. and the producers OF t!ir land are
but liy prepared 10 meet the heavy cAaction'
,ha, are made upon them. We therefore pre-
sen, TO the attention OF the community the cX-
oeGiency Of abreva,in: the tenure Of the Judge
ship to the age Of sixty; and we nave no doubt
such an alteration in our Constitutions w"u d
be most conducive 10 lnc public good, an"
would save to the State much thatIs now thrown
away II Is not our intention by any means, TO
induce reflections upon the high and h""ora'
bile character OF our aged Judges who are now
presiding, Tor that IS above rcproach; but we
simply state. that they. Us all men advanced IN
life, feel the effects OF age and cannot perform
such duties. as well as younger Leads and
with all proper rcspec, wc would intimate 20
any who mag fee! such effects, an honorable
retirement aud dcclcnsion of such labours. And
we feel assured tia. IN doing 50. much good
will be done. and the interest Of our country
advanced NESTOR.