Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1846-03-21


idea ever entered into the Imagination Of tie
editor. We haze asserted = We now assert
and We shall continue 10 declare the una!iera.
BILE truti, that state government is the crea-
lion Of the peopls-.hat the officers minis'eIlng
in its different departments-Execu'ive. Ju.
dicial aud Legisla,ivs---are alike the servants
Of the people, however different may be their
duties and their spheres Of ac'ion-,hat judg-
es, as we'll as legislators. are but agents APP
pointed BY HE people for the performance OF
speciiic and different duties, and that oil or
none should be chosen directly BY the people.
The democratic opponents Of an elective Ju-
dietary declare their utmost confidence in the
capacity Of the people TO selec. competent and
worthy judges, but the assertion. made in the
next breath, that corrupt and unworthy men
would be elevated to the bench. proves conclu-
sively that these professions Of confidence in
IS the sober, second thought" Of the people.
are but sounding brass and ,inkling Gym.
ball." II is an absurd idea, and one as anti.
democratic as i, is absurd. that the eople can
elect their Presidents, Governors, and mem-
bers Of Congress, but are incompetent io-ss~
lect their Judges, or the arbitrators Of their
private difficulties. l. is also weak objac-
lion agains. an elective Judiciary that Judge,
if elected by the people, might be called upon
to decide upon the legality Of his own cleo
ton, since such cases could be easily provided
for By law.
To those who fear that the stability and
moral power Of the Judiciary would be i'm.
paired by giving to the people the election Of
their Judges, we beg leave TO Say that the du-
Ties Of those who minister at judicial tribunals
are regulated by law democratic gov
eminent The law is the reflection Of public SEN
iimsnt, and SO long as that public sentiment
is correct and pure-so lcng as the people re-
main virtuons and intelligent-our laws will
be just. and administered in justice and the
whitening scorn Of public sentiment would
brand with infamy, and drive from his high
elevation tho "unjus, Judge" who should de-
grade The sacred majesty Of the Law. by max.
ing it minister TO the promotion Of corrupt
purposes, and the advancement Of sefs. ends.
Let our Judges feel that they are directly re-
sponsible TO the people for the faithful per-
Torrance Of puolic acts, and, depend upon it,
the ermine will be less frequently soiled, and
the fountains Of justice less frequently polut-
ed. Let the people remain virtuous and in.
tellsen,, and let public sentimen, be KEEP.
sound, and the people may be safely entrust-
ed with the election uf their Judges. Law
regulates the decision Of Judges as well as
the conduct of individuals. and SO long as that
invisible and intangible. yet mighty and ma.
jes,ic Power. is suffered to emanalo pure from
pile, and walk forth untrammelled upon its
high mission of ju slice and mercy-so long
as. alike in the darkness Of midnight and the
glare Of MONDAY, the silence Of widespread
solitude and the hum Of the crowded city, its
sleepicss and uniring eye beholds tbs secret,
as well as the open acts of the transgressof, and
searches out his pa.hs-so long as i. weaves
its strong and hidden meshes for the feet of
the goi',y-so long, and SO long only, 10 there
safety for lives, persons or property. "A Judi
ciary elected by, and responsible to an enligh.-
ened and moral people, is the only one in
strict accordance with democratic principles
the only one which can be pre.eminedly pure
and useful.
! CANDIDATES FOR CONVENTION. Charles
Nealley, ESQ, is the democratic candidate for