Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1850-09-16

No. I o.

abogaed without hazard Of detfimea, b. the general in
etest' those Judges being merely judges of the
cuts. 5u, aso Judges Of the Ganeal Court The jurisic
ton Of which exiends all tho circuits. aud thu
rect exercise of this jursdcon benr matter uf hiuh
tetes aud imp ttaht 10 ALL
2. II would take the Election of tho circuit Judges
Tan imporaat class Of officers pefvadng the whoe s
ont IT hn sphere Of tho influence Of the mi ted basis nf
representations aud would place II exclusively upon the
foundation Of the white ba.is-a result much 10 be do
pecaicd. inasmneh M the Increased influence justly due
To tho mixed aasls ought 10 be- fell in tho organixstion
oi s The departments of tho government, and II cunfncd
Ia The Legislative department alonc. without the snst,n-
my Corporation o The other departments. would poba-
hly soon dis ppear from all.
T. Although IL is conceded. that tbs knowl.de. nf
b III olical do and Of thu qual fraons OF candidates.
mlg be gteaer In the ctse o tho circuits. ihaa IN h
ni the pnpAed rmnd stIicts ior the elect Of ngns
nj ih- Cnnt ot Arp ala, vel. npan view nf the
su1',t. am convinced Thai not voter IN twenty, ~
the great mass ofhe vote ceul ren4on,hly be expect
To posa - the amount of accurate ihfnmato, nppa th
ANN ct "hfh would be necessary 10 udicons aud dis
etelionty selection among competing candilates
l. II mighi. aud probably wond intr ,duce iha pra
ler of canFassinp Io ho o fJudga, hv riding through
he cicnsi whlch would degrade the Office, and
aver tend II desloy the necessary dependence aud
tnrntnlny ii tha lade". Ivy increasing the objectionable
ohGa iona tr lila app'urmant In voters wha o bc
eonc lnintf SUIT IN his couft, "lih must inevitably
be ct by the rjndge, under any posslb mod feaiion Of
popular sNA.em ni appointment.
.. The eeeli'n would genenllv. IL mt iversally.
all into The hands of nominating eansns composed of
lawyers of poll eUs, OF 10Th combined IN II her "f
which events, The change would ammn 10 transfer of
the election. from Tho Legislature to the people, hus
10 transfer of II from gnalg app uind and fesponsi
bile body y representatives,. 10 an Irregular, self eonsii-
tned and irresponsible body of private Individuals
sis,tog OF small mino iy of tho people of the cir
obit.
g. Thu Judge would be indebted for his office W.
lefs many of whom would Immediately become suffers
IN his court.
II. OlIre ions peculiar 10 The 81 c'in of the judaes
for short lelns. with ro-eliabily, by tho prople.
In the first place, the plan would desruy the indepen
dfno and by necessary consequences the purity and io-
trpt'ty of the Judiciary,
|. because 10 lection would be mnre important Ia
judge than hls original election, ard would place him
under higher oil lsons 10 The VOTERS and thus al apSt
nIa' olaby alecl his lmpafiaty in pe,dng and future
suis.
.. T. would pace aud weep HIN IL most objection.
ahe sInoot dependence upfn ppli al paayfr tho
continuance nl his Office, aud tend - cunvef lhe bench
Into po'ea judiciary tine II the greatest evil, that
could be bt rgh' upon n community.
j, IN such a State Of obvious dependence, Judge
would become ha obi Of general suspicion with ds-
app iolcd snltts, even although he might he inooceat
i the offence yielding to an estrancu' improper IN.
fuence
II wonld stroy tho proper respect aud veneraum
for tho Judicial character aud sbveri ,he cld,n nce Of
he community in the judicial tribunals.
In the second place. ii would sink the character Of the
bench Tor ability aud ,lpl ahill. ;.
III" one head, as hudiun 10 uesHoy Tue lhutPehdfH'"
of The ndcay. would onr'ae necessarily To weaken Tue
hench by deefrng men OF tho first order "i tdens anu
ability md The bar ftom accepting appointments, and
ihrow hcse important offices ulo he hands " secon-
diary and nl,q n order Of men,
:. The rem dios which have been suggested tlr this
tendency II the system, by nh Increase VI saae', aud
hy opening career It advancement TO the circuit lndges
through medium Of arqnifemenl To select from Their
body The to vacancies IN the supreme court "i
appeals. cnnnol be otherwise regarded than MS altogether
unsafe aud llhsory' For certain and nekhawi'oaf'
evils IN he sysam, wo are offered remedies, "h'eh =,
say the least ate contingent, aud when prnoably VIII
never be adopted.
Ieave the subj ,cl of tn, mode Of app Ting the judy
es 10 say ward in rerard 10 In oluoiy courts The
only chnnga which nrne In ln,kc N the present sys
lem as at hi, time adped is 10 provide f,r the choice
of oltlemapismies whu may here # be n ID o he c-
mission Of the peace by their e elton by the people Of
the respective counties for limiting theif number aud
Tor distributing TEN mo eamiy over tho icuihrial
surf CO of he cmn is by divlnI tn IN into wars for
the putp,se A chan re- even To this xeni in tho pres
en system would involve exceptions to the general pIin
ciples which / have advanced in he prccednt ennme-
ration If objections To he proposed change of eecing hs
Judges bat these pxcept ms might perhaps find instf
cation IN The different and anomalous charscer of The
county courts a. now oganzed and in the greater de-
prec II public confidence and satsflc i'm which moIe
popular mode Of app1nlmenl might produce. d. mt
nb that chanQe ia he prestn tenure uf Office would
proper long the presrn mode u cornpesa ion by
the office Of Sheriff may be nued, and have not vet
heard of any satisfactory snhs tue Il may be prudent
Ia poyide for the couiinuapce Of the IN de of appont