The North-Carolina standard., 1844-04-10
SUPREME COURT NUDGE

which met in this City on the 18th utimo, unaa
imOGsly rejected the name of Mr.. Badger anl
confirmed the nomination of Mr.. Nash. of Hills
borough, as one of the Judges Of the Suprem
Court In announcingthis fact, we took occasion
to congratulate our friends that the highest leea
tribunal of our State was not to be occupied bv ar
individual whose talents, however exalted. wer,
yet dimmed and weakened by the bitterness and
rancour of his political animosiiies" Here, so ia,
as we were concerned, the matter might have rest
ed but subsequent events-denuncfation of a
most enlightened and patriotic Council indulged
in not only here but elsewhere, render it our duty
to allude to it again, and to add to the remarks we
then made such facts and reflections as will com
pletely justify the spirit in which the nomination
of Mr.. Badger was received and treated
The Register, the organ of the Federal party.
and whose Editor is an intimate personal friend OF
Mr. Badger, says:
may not be known to distant readers or at
may not be remembered by hem that the Council of State
In North Carolina Is appointed by the General Assembly
and that the accidental Loco Foco majority ia that body
at the last session. selected bitter partisans TO
pose the Council OF these, four composed the recent
meeting to which the Governor submitted the name of
Mr.. BADGER as Judge of the Supreme Court. There is
not of them, indeed the whole party in North
Carolina, who doubts that geneman's entire fitness for
the station and their vote of rejection dictated by
teness of party maEgnitY (which, in this State we
have had few examples. and considering the Judicial
character of the Office, signally marked by the
unforgvng hate of Loco Focosm towards those who op
pose with zeal their party men or party measures"
Give US fair play, Mr.. Register. The last
Legislature ao0s not "Acc1DENrALLY" democrat
ic, unless majority of twenty-six on joint ballot
hoo u
ter partizans" selected to compose the Council
They are not bitter partzans but liberal and high
minded democrats, and this truth is shown by the
fact that the nomination of Judge Nash, FEEDER
alst ofthe old school, was accepted and confirmed
Do these Fedora lists want all the Offices for Mr.
Badger2 But this is beside the question
Here is the thorn that goads and tortures them
and they show where the thorn is by the false and
unfounded assertion, that not a member of the
Council, nor of the democratic party in North
Carolina, doubts the entire fitness of Mr. Badger
for the station. In making appointments of this
character, to doubt as to the fitness of nominee
is to ensure his rejection. And were there no
douhts2 Were there no eertainties2 Did not
the Council know, and does not every unpreju-
diced man in North Carolina know, that the only
qualification possessed6y Mr. Badger for the office
IS, legal tearning2 The members of the Coun-
Gill; acting under the solemn sanctions of an oath.
and welding influence which might act upon
the property and lives of their felow-citizens for
the space of entire generation, felt that it re-
quired something more than mere legal Learning
to constitute Judge; that so high an officer of
the law ought to be above the atmosphere of per-
sonal animosti' and resentments that he ought
not to be the slave of strong passions or preudices
or that, if he unfortunately possessed them, he
ought to labor 10 control them; that he ought to
be grave and yet not haughty-severe, and yet
not unduly So but easy of access, and attempered
by the genter qualities that he ought not TO be
too proud to treat his interiors with respect, his
superiors with Difference, or his equals and assoc
ates on the Bench with that kindness and forbear-
ance which so well becomes Judge. and feeling
mus, and seeing many other things not necessary
% be mentioned. they performed their duty faithful
" and fearlessly, and now await the calm and de-
iberate Judgment of their constituents. There
vas no "party malignity" whatever in their action.
On the contrary, they rejected one Federalist and
another, when they might have remain
I'd in session for days, and insisted, as they had
light to do, upon at least one nomination from the
anks of the democratic party The truth is, lit is
Gov. Morehead who has shown a "littIeness Of
party maligny"
But, says the Register-and this mark you, is
he most extraordinary portion of the article
had The office been rendered, 1t ucOuld not haze
'eem accepted By Mr.. Badger )" andit goes on
o state thatMr. Badger had deliberately prepared
letter, to be delivered in the event Of his confr-
nation, in which ne declined to accept the office
Now what does this amount to- Mr.. Badger is
IN intimate friend cf the Governor. They were
ogether but short time before the Council con-
vened, and he mast have known that the Govern
IF intended to present his name. But according
o the case which the Register has himself made
'ut Mr.. Badger, with sufficient knowledge of the
Governors mind on the subject, had not only de-
ermined to triAe with that high public functional
ry, but had deliberately prepared a letter to the
Council declining the appointment. But who be-
ieves that he would have declined? When has
le been known to let go one piece ofmeat without
It least some prospect of grasping at a better
He desired the office. If he did not, why this af-
Wherefore these efforts to make it ap-