Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-03-22
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
,WEnSEsnAY MoRNING. MARcM 2O, 1850.
nErnRM CONVENTION.


REFORM CONVENTION.
o ro,aers are aware that bill has passed both Houses
for . the ,ense of the people the proprey OF having
State Convention 10 reform the many OBNOXIOUS features
Of our present anomalous system Should the people al
the April election sanction such ,0hSeh'ioh,
will be elected in August meet In Convention In october
or v;ows in favor OF such reform have been fully ex-
we deem amos needless to shy formally that
onnroye Of The law and do not doubt that will be
hy an Overwhelming vote oil the people OF virginia
Il ,rc there are indications OF opposition 10 such Con
vcp,ion in portions of the Wesi-bnt II still has many
friends in that section Of the Stae-the Piedmont country
IL utmost unanimous for II the valley OF virginia mas,
through most OF t presses avowed an anxious oe'erma
rim N sse n nassed-and Eastern Virginia will rally to il Ill
force.
convenon in October NAV, therefore, DO regarded as
settled rejoice AT the prospect oil seeing the
Old Dominion at an early day delivered from the msny ao-
surd and mscheyous provisions which now weigh her down
and blot her escucheon that of double Young oeng the most
monsrous and ndeiensbe question OF be-
Ing regarded fixed it important 10 look INTO the reforms
which should be introduced TO give symmetry weigh,
and value 10 the order of things In ms aspect we
k special attention TO the following views OF an ardent and
sronrmnded advocate OF progress and REFORM To many
the changes suggested may radcabu the more close
IL ,hey are studied BIZ the light of reason and experience
the more firmly they will impress themselves on tho public
mind.
We have no room this morning 10 go into minute ana
yss of all the reforms therein recommended Suhce II TO
say thai In the main agree with the suggestions bans-
On one pop however which will probably give rise 10
mach discussion and controversy I'VE an Elective
Judiciary we deem proper 10 say word we are Tree TO
saw that years ago we entertained strong aouoS OIL
tho pronrie,v of such measure We feared lest party
| FNr epfia
nigh, impair the dignity and independence OF the Bench
The ermns all agree should be pure and spoess Ice and
and unmpressbe iron We feared the effects
If nop, impulse or improper influences on the Judiciary
Ru residence of five in Mississippi showed US the
admirable workings elective Judiciary In that State and
brought warmly into its support That party ioeng OF
personal bias hers exered dseteous influence In the
election Of judicial officers became perfectly manifest to our
minds. Judge Shakey the President OF the Supreme Court
of Errors and Appeals 10 of the aoest men ana pest
udees in the South He s also, very decided "hlg-ye
40 impressed the people with the value OF his services
that thew elected him tliu phany, the same time that
they gave Democratic majority OF s,0Uu In the same
manner the county of Warren Ia strong Wing county, regu
ary elected Democrat tic sheriff and clerk among the bes
we ever knew These practical results satisfied us that In
elections of Judges and other officers by the people, there was
less danger of party bias and intrigue and greater certain
" OF obtaining good officers than in submitting !he cleo
ton 10 the legislature But, this point, we ask the can
did Of the people 10 The following letter OF General
u,nan one the best and abes, men IN tie South, Tor
me-ly Chancro, and now Governor Of Mississippi TIC re-
move ro possibility OF improper bias our convention might
provide that Judge shall after term Of eight OF ten years
o. ineligible or suggested oy sonie De Ineligible IN The
same circu-,sayng II in the power OF another circuit IN
affected by his personal influence TO elect him for the same
term if he has proved himself honest ana faithful;
MancH 22 1915.
Dear SI have received your letter OF the !9t inst
requesting NV upon the operation in the State OF Mis-
ssspp the system adopted there OF eecng JUDGES by
the direct OF the people and asking my attention. par
liculary the objection urged against the system a such
elections would generally not always, turn upon party
or poca! questions. Having objections, 10 the putc
avowa OF my former opinions, present views upon ths
interesting subject cheeiuy comply with your request
"A, the time OF me adoption Of The Revised Consultation
Of Mississippi in 1892 with majority ot the bar oil
that state opposed the system Of eectng the Judges BY
the direct vote OF tho people. We regarded il us new and
hazardous experiment. beautiful in theory but dangerous in
practice Many Of did doubt the capacity or nel
gence Of the people make the best selections, but we
feared that popular excemens would hnd their way upon
the BENCH that party spirit and political preudlces would
generally determine the selection and that The Judges
would carry these predces with them upon the bench and
train Of other evils These and other objections, were
urned In the Mississippi Convention with great ability
The syetem wac however adopted ana oil course its OPP
Grafton has watched with deep interest and severe ct
cism.
"The experience and observation Of nearly thirteen years
have convinced me- and others who opposed the ex
psrment that approximations were not well founded
So far the system has worked well In our State We have
witnessed no evils attending which are not incident TO any
other mode of selection and on the contrary the develop
ment of advantages over other modes OF appointment
Our judicial stations have been filled with much ii mol
more ability learning and weight OF character Than former
IT, SO far people OF State have appeared 70 perform
this delicate duty with much intelligence und discern
ment and conceive with integrity Of purpose, than
any other appointing power We have seen the electors Of
dis,rics in the midst of political party excitement eject
Judges differing from them political questions and be-
eve no instance has yet occurred Of hs election of Judge
in our State upon mere party questions.
Upon the whole after careful observation OF the ope-
ration of our system give my decided opinion that
the experiment of elecing Judges By the votes of people
has proved ominently successful in our State.
a am very respectfully, your OBJ servant
~. A. QUITMAN."
For the ENQUIRER.