Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-06-09
For me enquirer.
TO THE EXECUTIVE OF VIRGINIA.


Appeals, occasioned by The death OF The Hon
Roben Stanard, renders it probable that the Exc
cutiye may feel constrained 10 appoint ad .nferim
another Judge 10 supply the place OF The late IN
cumbent, until The Legislature shall, at It's next
session. Ill the post permanently And since The
appointment adverled 10, is considered somewhat
recommendatory the Executive will undersia nd
H. onrpose OF The writer in directing lis attention
ne honorable gentleman whose name he takes
the liberty OF using.
Ii has been source of unteigned satisfaction
o The profession in Virginia, 10 witness the deli
cacy which has restrained The ardent friends OF
many, who are well worthy that distinguished po-
silion, from entering into disSraceiul scramble
for The vacant Office, and it should be remember.
ed al. an honorable and generous trait in that pro-
lpssion, which has received more OF cen.ure than
Of commentator from The public. And this Gre
ditable iorbrarance will account too Tor the iact,
that one who is comparatively stranger, is found
urging the claims OF gentleman, whose advoca-
cy he has Observation-Disclosures by no other
motive than sense OF duIy to the publ and from
desire 10 paw deserved tribute 10 learning, abb
lily aud exalted worth. He pleads too, the ex-
ample OF others who have preceded him in
directing attention 10 the claims Of other gen.
temen, and in initiating Them in that parli-
cular, he will endeavor 10 emulate The libe-
raj and manly tone which has marked their
communications, and carefully avoid dispara-
eng other nominees. He is by no means
sure that John Robertson, Chancellor of The Rich
mpnd Circuit, will thank him Tor thus bringing
| his name before the public, without his know
edge or consent; and 10 him, he bess leave 10
say, that unless he conscientiousy believed there
was not Judge in the Stale who presented strong
! u. a.. ctfir rbau tub bp
| advanced in his behalf, and unless he honestly
thought that The judicial fame OF Virginia would
! be illustrated, and public Justice more eilecually
| secured and expedited, By his appointment, he
would be silent now. Nor are these sentiments
peculiar TO himself; and he feels assured tina, he
| but gives expression 10 opinions which are COM
mon to The whole Bar, over whom Judge Robert
son presdes, in saying that one more worthy OF
Executive or Legislative appointment 10 The high
uust in question, more capable OF discharglns
the arduous and responsible duties which attach
10 it, or more deserving thai elevation, TO which
honorable and difficult service have entitled him,
cannot be found in Virginia. He has already
given the highest proof OF his ability, diligence
and legal research in bringing literally order oul
of chaos, and in combining The ''disjecta men,
bran OF the Chancery Court Of this Circuit into a
harmonious and efficient system. When, IN
consequence of the inability oi a single Judge 10
preside over both the Common Law and Chan
ccrv Jurisdictions Of his Circuit, Judge Robert
soa was elevated by the Legislature 10 The bench
as Chs bpich an he Ordinary mind would have
shrunk In di>may The Augean fable OF clas-
sic story could furnish no parallel 10 the i'm
| mense mass Of accumulated matter which,
| stamped with The dusty features OF antiquity,
| had collected about The Chancery Court and,
from mere slolh and immobilily, was daily in
in MIR ,t,,to- .,tI nd rA
cases-whch, when aroused from their Van
Wrinkle slumberS, may be supposed 10 have
shared the surprise OF the buried toad, when the
| rock in which he was entombed was suddenly
blasted from about him. The wag who suggest
| ed 10 the Commons OF England that Buonaparle
should be put into Chancery for So &c keeping,
was thought 10 have given birth 10 puneent and
| tacelious conceii; but The suorS in that Court
found that fancy had become fact, and, once in
| ChaDcery, there seemed 10 them no hope OF ever
getting out By this Renaissance, it is not in
! ,ended 10 cast censure upon The predecessors OF
| inc presen, chancellor The blended duties of
| the Two present Cour,s eonld not have been dis
charged BY any single Judge.
| Now, however a complete and happy Ies.rn,
has been effected through the unweared assiduity
and patient and prompt labor OF the presiding
| Chancellor Justice is certain, and speedy
causes are decided without deay-thal sickening
of the heart from hope deferred, no longer comes
| over the sutton in Chancery and that sentiment OF
satisfaction, which judicial forums Should always
difiuse, is general throughout the entire Circuit
| Confidence in the Court respect for It's wisdom, a
conviction Of The propriety and justice OF lis de-
cisions, universally prevails. But The mere Dor
10 which The Chancellor has been subjected, is not
alone 10 be considered, when viewed in compa-
rison with The profound research, comprehensive
legal learning and penetrating sasacily which
have characterized the decisions ofJudge Robert
son. No cause comes from his hands until
every fact relating 10 it has been thoroughly in.
vestigaed; until every legal proposition, how
ever remedy connected with ii, has been care.
fully and perfectly elaborated. His decisions
from these causes, and his own high character,
have carried moral force with them, which has
MOI only slenced, but convinced those who were
disposed 10 differ from them; and The public has
been satisfied that Justice, according TO law, has
- imparliay and strictly administered.
II Is unnecessary Tor the writer To dwell upon
the judicial fame OF Judge Roberlson-,hat which
is The subject of such uniform panegyric does
moi require 10 be enlarged upon; It's part Of Vr-
ginas history and part, too, OF her property,
which will be cherished and valued while her
records-lhose living and imperishable memo
rials Of his career-shall remain. To other
qualifications which this distinguished gentleman
possesses in an eminent degree-quallicalion
which, above all others, are most 10 be desired in
those who wear The judicial ermine-let The wri-
| ter briefly advert. And first among these moral
attributes stands a pure and spotless integrity, a
| lofty and delicate sense of honor, a manly indie
pendence OF character and 6rmness OF pur-
pose, which no fear OF consequences can shake
or swerve. Acting upon those convictions, which
flow from the 'meas abi eonse,o recii, his charac-
ter is open, frank ingenious and firm. He has
borne his bIigh, escuicheon through the dark,
and dangerous and corruping strifes Of political
warfare, unsuled. He has triumphed upon the
hus,I gs and served in the hall Of Congress and.
10 his lasting honor be it said, the tongue of
Slander and the eye Of Envy, sharpened as they
both were BY The vindicliveness Of party feeling,
| have been unable 10 detect stain or a cloud up
on its glowing brightness. II has continued 10
shine with brighter and increasing luslre, as RI
pcning years and additional honors are gathering
around him. He has noby won The merit which
entities him TO The honor OF place in our highest
judicial forum, and worlhily will he wear The
honor and discharge the duties which belong 10 il.
OF all our public men, too there is about him
less preiension, and less mannersm, than about
any other, so distinguished as be has been by
high and important trusts. There is about him
no humbug and not particle of cant. That in.
flexible honesty, that sturdy, oak-like uprighsness
OF purpose which might be broken, but would not
bend 10 the dictates OF expediency and is deaf TO
the prompugs Of seltinierest, are incompatible
with the vain and ridiculous coxcombry which
disieures The conduct Of some Of our public cha
racicrs.
OF his politics, tested BY The party standard Of
this day. the writer knows nothing. His past 20
tica history places him among The old Virginia
Republicans: body oil men, whose wisdom, pa
trio'ism and disinlerested love OF country, won
for VIRGINIA those lanrpls vhirh nnce adorned her
brow. He belongs 10 race Of Vrginia's sons
which is fast passing away-ihose bright Jewels
which once sitiered so numerousy and 80 ra-
dainty in the coronet which adorned her. He
has done honor to her, and won renown for her ;
and il is but just that he should receive the re.
ward Of long and faithful service.
A MEMBER OF THE BAR.