Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-03-31
The Proof

The course Of the wings in the canvass
for judges now going en-, reminds us Of
their predictions with reference te an
elective Judiciary. Both while the Jul
dietary article was pending before the
Convention. and the Constitution before
the people, they argued that its tendency
w.uld be, 10 prevent all competent and
upright members Of the bar from seeking
the Judgship, and to bring forward for that
Office, host Of unprincipled demagogucs,
totally disqualified by their moral charac-.
tiers and want Of legal knowledge.
This part Of their prediction is fully
verified. Though it does not follow, as
they then argued, that we must necessa-
rily have weak, incompetent and corrupt
Judiciary, YET. in the first proposition, as
the sequel proves, they reasoned wellfrom
cause to effect. The same motive which
inpelled them TO oppose the incorporation
oftrue democratic principles into our con-
stitu,ion, they knew would also impel fed
eralists who were united for the bench,
| to seek tina, highly responsible post; and
the propensity to undertake popular INTEL
ligcncs whic!l emboldened them to declare
that the people were incompetent to choose
| their own Judges, also emboldens some Of
their number TO attempt to foist them
selves upon the people, as Judges.
We will not at present 60 beyond our
own district for instances. Mr.. Carleton,
the democratic candidate, was presented
/ to the people by a convention Of his party.
Being convinced Of his superior quallfica-
tons, (Which, by the way, no one will
deny, )they selected him as their candidate
and presented his name to the people for
their suffrsges. He was not SO arrogant
as to announce himself, on his own re-
sponsibility, a candidate for that important
! post.
How stands the case with Mr.. Garlic
toms opponent? Mr.. Mckay, federal
Isl or modern whig, of Polk county, a
person Of whom we had never before
heard, acting upon the federal presump-
ton that The people are supremely igno-
rant and incompetent to judge of mans
qualifications fol the bench, thrust himself
for ward as an "independent candidate
/ for JUICE Of this district. He will find,
however, that tie people are too enlight.
ened to choose hin as their law-giver.-
We venture to predict, that in each Of the
four districts inthe State, such federal ar
rogance will receive rebuke which will
not soon be forgotten. The people will
teach them that, though the tendency OF
| an elective Judiciary is, far as our op-
ponents are concerned, to encourage men
| poorly quaiifed,to seek The Office of Judge,
yet they are fully competent toselect such
as are every way we'll qualified for tho
! Office.
P. Some fact which we omitted 10
notice above, serves still more forcibly TO
illustrate our position, and ts show the IN.
consistency of the wings in still more
striking light. We allude to the fact, that
while Mr.. Carleton has not stirred from
home since his nomination, to electioneer
for himself, Mr.. Mckay, the wing candi-
date, has been perambulating the district
on an eiec'ioneerins tour. Having, as ,ve
suppose, secured every nook ard corner
in the. western portion of the district, he
is now in this city on that business.