Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-06-17
From the Louisville Chronicle,
ELECTION OF JUDGES.

1t is said, with a great deal of truth that habit
is second nature, and hence the great reluctance
OF the people OF Kentucky to cast off the old
iIonarchlcal forms Of government. The very
able speech OF Judge Brent which we nub1ishea
in the Chronicle some weeks sjlr'e! ans answers
fully and fairly all the leading objections to this
mode OF choosing judiciary; but as we deem,
tnis matter OF the utmost importance to the peo
PIE OF this commonwealth at this time. we will
point ont some OF the evils Of the present mode
OF appointment, and endeavor to answer soraa
OF the objections urged against electing them by
popular vote.
Under cur present constitution, the executive
nominates and the Senate confirms all iudirial
officers Rarely does the Senate reject a nomi.
nation made by the Executive We do not re.
member such case having occurred for many
years Poor, indeed, in point Of friends, must
the man be, who would be rejected by the Ken.
lucky Senate, after he receives the nomination
from the Governor.
The test applied to applicants for judicial STA
tons, has been not their qualifications, but their
political faith and for several years past, con-
slderatons OF more sordd and deoradinn va.
tnre have prevailed, until at this time. the OIL.
bernaiorial chair is looked upon as medium.
through which the family relatives of the incuul.
bent pass into office
30 long has this practice been acuuiesced in
by the people, that it is now almost looked unon
az prero9ative and instead of our courts of
Justice being managed by men distinguished for
their learning and manly virtues, we find in
many cases men without qualifications and
even those who wear the marks of infamv
upon their brow, occupying hah stations in ny
judicial tribunals. Men Of wealth 90 "unwhjp-
ped OF JUSTICE" and crime stalks abroad in the
land without moestation.
In this plight we find our present judicial svs-
TEN. Can eng change be for the worse And
we submit it to you, fellow citizens, to saw if we
cannot better the system by electing the indces
by the people. Can we not select from amongst
US men OF sound moral principles, high legal al
talnments, aud men who will honestly mete out
even handed Justice to all? Can we not do this
equally as well, & choose men to suit ourselves
better than the Governor, who is necessari-
ly Tar removed from almost all the judicial dis
tllcts III the Commonwealth.
But to the objection to this mode It is said
by some thatthe longer man holds the office
the more perfect he becomes in the science of
the law; and therefore the better Judge he is
These men OF course believe in life offices; but
1t we trace them back few years, we find tbey
were not OF that opinion 1t will be recollected
that some ten Or twelve years ago these same
men had the judges salaries increased, with
provlso in the law requiring all the old iudeea
10 resign and receive new appointment before
they could reap the benefit OF the approximation
This they then said was for the purpose Of off.
ting clear of the old Judges, and getting fyesh
men IN their places, who we've better qualified
Agaln--it is urged that the Judges are but
men, and will carry their prejudices to the
bench, to The detriment of those who voted A.
ggalnsl tnam We would ask, are they anything
bul men under The present mode of appoinf
tnent End do they not take with them upon
the bench all the prejudlces they could possbly
take under any mode of appointment? Are
they net known as political partisans selected bv
a partisan governor and as a reward for their
partisan services? 1t is a well known fact. that
where there Is not a relation OF the Governor to
pension upon the public treasury, that the an
pontment Is made in accordance with the wish
IS OF the Leading politicians of the district
Does not lAe Judge, them WI receives his ap-
polntinent rest under obligations to these men
and to the detriment OF any others with whom
they may come in collision before his court
AGain--under the present mode of appoint
rrent, 1t is always the wealthy and infuential
fsD that the judge owes his appointment. III.
own associations, and those of his family ara
naturally with these few wealthy and indueu-
tlal friends. The poor and uninlluential never
approach him. They are total strangers 10 one
another In suit between one of these poor
strangers, and one OF his wealthy and inAuen
tial friends and daily associates, 10 which viii
partaity be shownl
With Judge, however, who does not exnect
to hold office for life, or who ever expects to
come before the people for reelection 10 his
ludgeeshIp, or any other honorable office, this
could not be. The 'ereat unwashedn and that
mighty army OF sPoverty's unpurchasable. ];
who have no interest but honesty and the public
good to govern them in their vote, would here
have a say 50 in the matter, and would compel
the Judge to be honest, however much he MIGHT
be disposed to barter justice to his rich friends for
VINE suppers and sumptuous dinners.
his alone Is a sufficient reason for the cleo.
ton OF Judges. Justice cannot always then be-
held at the command of a particular class, and
that class the wealthy and influential, who are
always sure TO hold their own even when Justice
IS meted out inpartiallyby the Judge Classl eg-
isation ia beginning to receive the anathenas OF
all honest and Just men; and class Judiciary
should be secuted from the land.