Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-08-12

Vlour, and lnsertlnga clause for their i,npeach
| fnent Ill certain cases-and what has been the
result! A Court of Appeals, with its doors. il
effect, barred against the demand for Justice
with some OF its Judges superannuated- pen
sioners Standing in the acay, and retardipo those
who have capacity to work, and frequently O.
verruling their matured opinions Some Of us
have felt the ruinous effects of these decisions
Some of our Circuit Judges have become SC
drunken as to drag the pure ermine in the filthy
mire of their acknowledgements so proud and
tyrannical that we are almost afraid to approach
them-some so lazy that they will not hold
their Courts for several days after the term
should have commenced. Who of us does no,
recollect how often business at home has been
dropped, and after going many miles to the
Court House, have found jurymen, suitors and
witnesses and others of our countymen. in at
tendance, on the first day Of the term, and at a
most busy season of the year, and then have
been told that "there will be no court today
without assigning any reason therefor, but are
| left on the succeeding day, to infer the cause
| from the Hon. gentleman. blooming nose or his
lazy lounging. Who has not been vexed at the
| tiresome manner in which the Courts do bust
ness-laking recess for dinner, with an ap-
pointment to meet again at 2 O'Clock, and in.
stead Of converting at the time appointed, the
hour of 4 arrives,-then they are often kept un-
IA ud1k, anu nave ~ liut, VI Walk, many miles,
after night, through Indictment weather, 10 our
families, and 10 attend to our stock We speak
thus plainly because we have felt these hard
ships and have often wished for the means of
immediate redress.
We intended to make the judiciary independ-
ent so tina: they might discharge their dnties
faithfully ard fearessly, but we have felt their
independence with vengeance Did you, un-
der this state of things. suppose that you were
acting the part Of an independent freeman, and
the Judge the part of your "agent or trustee" or
did you feel that you were acting the part of
slave, and he the part of master Other evils
need not be enumerated, their painful smartings
are too keenly felt to be forgotten We hoped
the good behaviour tenure, and the article for
Impeachment in the new, would cure these
same evils which We suffered under the old con-
sitution but we have been most wofully mista-
ken. We have given it thorough trial-we
have borne with it until forbearance ceases to be
virtue. What are we to do =! Is this state of
things TO continue forever! Can any change
make our condition worse All these evils have
sprung from the life or good behaviour tenure
that hot house OF iazness: pride, aristocracy and
arrogance. Will we again resort to temporary
expedients for curatives, or will we, like skillful
surgeons; entirely eradicate this old ulcer upon
the body politc-ife-esta More than twenty
e
ances under similar constitutions but they have
thrust the lIte-tenure aside, and they have re-
served large powers to themselves. They have
made all their officers Immediately responsible
to the people, by electing them for stated peri
ods, thus compelling them to render an account
of their stewardship at the expiration of every
term. Industry and unparalleled prosperity
have attended these chanees-and here we re-
main tug.ing along with this disease gnawing
upon our yitals. viii we apply this well-attest-
ed remedy, or will we again be deceived by lis
tening to those Who draw all their substance
from the lite-tenure. The time has come for de-
cision. We appeal to you, our countrymen, to
beware in whom you confide the high trust of
representing your wishes in the approaching
Convention. We have no confidence in candi-
dates who say they are not willing 20 entrust US
with the election of judicial officers, and there
fore, they prefer the life-tenure We have no
confidence in candidate. who say they can see
no great principle involved in the election of in
ferior ministerial officers such as SherfIs, Con-
stables, &c, but for the sake of conciliating our
favour they haze no objections to their being e.
lected by the people, under particular circum-
stances. We have no confidence in any capdi-
date who warns us not to rely upon any Sopin.
ions now entertained by him. since they are
changing as the weathercock. Let rs see to it
that we choose delegates who are not simply
willing TO permit the reforms in part to be eff
fected, but who are anxious and Jealous advo-
Gates for thorough reform in our State Constitu-
ton. Now is the time to accomplish hat is so
much to be desired-let not the opportunity be
lost A COUNTRYMAN.