Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-01-29
aur ryTn .oRpISARYsEss

We have lust witnessed one OF tn extraordinary
scenes which has taken place IN the Legislature
| of Virginia Indeed, it is unique The struggle io'
the election of n Judse has heei unprecedented. -
Tbrce DAYS have been devoted 10 tie contestand two
of those DAYS have run into nigh, after o clock
There has been series Of II voes-6 on "Wednesday
| and on Thursday, and ION FRAY. II hnaliy re-
suited Yesterday al o'clock, IN lie elecilon oil zen
Briscoe c. Baldwin, of the Delegates OF the coun
ty of Aurusta-a gentleman who Wis, during the IRE
sidcntal Election of 1910, Tartzan, but slngu-
larly amubl in all his social relations, and respected
for his attainmcnts al the Bar
The vicissitudes of the election have been various
and most remarkable. As the Delegate rom Dlnwu'
die remarked Immediately after the contest was over,
the result has fully realized the words q Scripture
uThe first shall be ast'-for il turned olt sn2u
lar feature in the whole transaction that ont OF the j.
votes, Gen. Baldwin was seriously volei Tor ohy on
the first and on the last On the first vote, on Wednes-
day. he was the lowest candidate on the lst, ana by
the rule Of the House, was dropped from the can
sass but when the patience of the Legislature was real
~ exhausted and when the other candidates, who had
started ahead with brighter prospects before them, mac
been run for the two first days he (Iei 81 was re-
nominated by hrs colleague (hlr k'nney) ana recon
mended by Mr. Brown Of Preston the Oiire Branch as
compromise To all sides Of the llouse-and was voted
for on the last ballot of yesteFday--and finally came
out triumphant by majority Of two
The yIcissitudes Of the Election were no less re-
markabe in other respects Each Of the i've candi-
dates who were nominated on the first day, had run up
nearly 10 the goal, with the exception Of Cen BALDWIN
On Wednesday night, when Messrs. AlcComas and
Leirh ran together, Sir. McComns within 0! a
msiority Of The votes. The next day, MIR. Leigh was
within three of an election. On the same day, alter
Mr.. Leigh was withdrawn, the contest was lie be-
tween Messrs May and MARSHALL - each-and some
scattering. Yesterday the first vote, MIR. James
Marshall Of Winchester within six OF an cleo
tion-he having received II out Of 1880 being ne
cessary to choice. ii in this Crisis OF the game
that Judge John Robertson CT Richmond who liza
been nominated the vote before by Mr. foniane OF the
Senate became ofthe prominent Candda.es-lt was
nj this crisis, that Mr.. Kinney appealed TO the friends
Of Nr Marshall 10 give General baldwin a fair chance
for run-and tina, Mr. Scott of Fauluier, the leading
advocate of Mr.. Marshall consented 10 withdraw hm
for the next vote from the canyasss,ang at the same
time that his candidate might be elected al the next VOTE
fthe friends Of Gen. Baldwin would not bring him into
The field; but he was willing that the friends Of Mr. Mar
shall should give Gen. B. the chance which his friends
eauestcd--and hoping that in all good faith, when
the friends Of Gen Is. should find his prospect hope.
less, they would unite Mr.. NJ. and termiuate tins
prolracted contest.
After various remarks had been made by Mr. llola-
day and General Bayly in favor Of Mr.. Robertson and
upon the scene then going before the ilouse-and
other gentlemen had addressed the Chair IN few short
and pointed speeches, the final vote taken, and IL
resulted in the election of Gen. Baldwin BY the follow
ing vote:
Robertson O.
Scattering l5-of which Mr. G. W. Southall of
Williamsburg received 6, William Taylor &c. &c.
Whole number Of votes given l5o of which 90 was
ccssary 10 choice
The House immediately adourned-n very good
humor-but with chagrin on lie part Of some Of
the friends Of some of the candidates. The friends Of
MIR. Marshall seemed 10 be peculiarly disappointed
They had scarcely calculated on the success Of Gen
Baldwin on that hope-on the presumption perhaps,
that as he appeared to be the weakest he could
receive sufficient votes 10 insure his election. They
had, however, not scattered votes enough-and Gen.
Bald win was duly elected Judge OF the Court Of Ap.
peas.
We are glad the whole scene is over. 1t was some
times amusing, at others disgusting. There no
little finesse pracl:scd during the transaction Sevc-
raj members chung 10 their own favorlte candidate,
der the most fororn circumstances We 90 not com
plain of them, although the pertinacity of some Of
them has prolonged the election almost against hope
but what deserves the sternes OF pandeal
ing and enlightened people s, that members were found
voting time after time, good faith for candidates
whom they did wish to eec, for the sole purpose of
so scattering their votes that the most prominent
ddale might not have the necessary majority and then
their own special favorites might have another oppor
tunty Of being brought upon the field
We ere sorry 10 such spectacle exhibited in Tie
Legislature of the Old Dominion. We hope never to
see il arain Ii is not impossible bat that this schem-
its political morals and blot upon fair cscuch-
con- We would not say more-But cannot say
less.