Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1849-12-20
Election of Judges by The People.

Our Locofoco friends, the editors of the Demo-
cratic Union, and the Keystone are silent as The
grave 10 regard TO that great Democratic measure,
The election oi Judges by the People. We hear,
{ also that II has been pri, ,atey determined by the
WIRE workers and legislative tricksters and 5orers
of The LueuocO party. 10 keep this measure back
IN the next Legislature Having a pretty large
maiorityin the two houses OF the General Assembly
they thnk It altogether more polite and prudent to
let the subject pass without any notice whatever
Should it be introduced and discussed, they would
be held responsible the party in the majority.
for the fate OF the measure And not being pre-
pared to adopt it, and thus confirm in practice
what they preach npon the Tostrum, silence has
been adopted as the best policy. We wish the
people, therefore, to understand the true position
OF the majority whom they have honored with
their confidence IN the present Legislature. There
afe agencies at work In the secret conclaves at
Harrisburg. which they little understand Lepis-
alion is here cut and dried uefore hand and all
the lines of party tactics marked out for the ses-
sion with the precision of square and triangle
In this secret and underhand arrangement Of the
few who manage all the affairs Of the party, the
great popular measure of tho election Of Judges
by the People was the first TO he prescribed. The
reason Of this is obvious. A large majority Of
the Judges now IN Office, are, or have been active
members of the Locofocu party, and no doubt
using the influence of their high position to adj
vance the interests OF their political friends. Tn.
Ill the election OF the present Executive, the ine-
quality of division was much greater than is
now, there being, prior to that time. but one single
Wing upon the Bench in the whole State, out of
more than thirty Judicial Districts, and upwards
of one hundred judges
The Locofocos OF Pennsylvania are not mate
rally different from their more aristocratc COM
peers of"Old Virginia : They are all agog for
popular Reforms and popular privileges, when they
can reasonably hope to augment their power by
securing them, but under no other circumstances.
Consequently the Election OF Judges by the Peo-
pie it is very nice and very profitable thing for
them to talk about before the pe0be on the eve of
All election, but thing 10 be utterly eschewed
and l." inconlinently thrust under the table" when
comes to discussing it in the Legislature. Here
they would be called upon for action we'll as
words, and action which would be consistent
with former pledges would result in the loss OF the
Judicial power. and the many fat Offices and great
political influences connected with It,
We would now say to the Wing members Of the
Legislature that whatever may be the course ol
our opponents. you have also duty to perform in
reference to this important measure, and we trust
it will not be disregarded. You are in the minor
iiy, II is true. but you can, nevertheless, hold The
dominant party up to their engagements with the
people upon this and other great questions, and
the great Wing constituencies OF The State VIII
tolerate no derecton Whatever in this respect
1t is The duty of Wing members TO urge this mea
sure forward with as much zeal and spirit as
though they held the majorities in the two houses
Let our opponents understand that they can take
the responsibility of defeating it in open day they
choose, bot that they cannot Smother II III caucus.
Show them that though constitute but minor
ty Of the Assembly. we will yet watch over and
protect the rights and liberties OF the People -
Every man should consider himself sentinel
upon the ouler walls Of the citadel and be ready
10 sound the aafn upon the slightest approach OF
danger. whether from the siy. nsilious and covert
vaccinations Of an unseen and apparently passTe
treachery. or Inc ooen and daring assaults OF
more determined and desperate opposition.
Harrisburg Telegraph.