Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1850-05-29
Remarks OF John B. Packer, Esq.


| Remarks Of John B. Packer, Esq,
or Northumberland Co., Pa, on the pro-
posed Amendment, 10 the Constitution,
providing for the Election of Judges by
the Peoplc-deliyere in ,ha House OF
Representatives, Feb. Is. 1850.
Nh. SPEAKER: | had long since ceased
10 look upon the adoption Of this amend
ment TO the Constitution. as question
upon which there could be any doubt,
and had Supposed tina, it would have met
with bu; little, if indeed any, serious oppo-
siiion. in lis passage through this House.
Our people. sir. are walchiul of their in
teres:s, and guard their rights, with untir-
ing, unceasing vigilance, which experience
has ,augh: them TO regard as the price OF
liberty. They take no step. in so impor-
ian: project as the alteration Of their or
ganic law, the change Of any Of the pro
visions of the Constitution which they have
a,ways been accustomed TO cherish and
revere, without first examining the pro.
posed change in all Its bearings and all its
details. They want TO see. and 10 see
clearly. too, all the ;eIrs Of the amend
men,-how il is TO be carried out, and
what are 10 be It's effects. This they can
DO fron, tho amendment as originally pro.
posed. Ii forms IN itself a complete sys-
tenn designating the manner of the election:
the time when, and the place where it shall
be held the term al Office, and all other
provisions necessary for carrying it into
complete and successful operation.
lis terms are plain and simple, easily
understood, and not capable Of miscon.
s'ruc,ion. - lie that runs may read -
and reading, can not fail TO understand
precisely the question presented. Every
man in the Commonwealth may compre-
bend its provisions, and when he goes 10
the polls to vote upon lis final adoption or
rejection, he will knov.exactly what it is he
is voting for, OF wha, it is he is voting
against.
Sir, gentlemen may talk as they please
abou, their confidence in the people-ihey
may honestly believe they have a. firm re-
lance in the integrity Of the masses I; but.
sir, they deceive themselves when they en-.
deavor to persuade and convince their own
minds ,ha; they confde in the people
and a, the same time are afraid 10 trust
them with The decision of this question. 1t
is direct and papablc contradiction in
terms. lie; them no. lay tina: &" latiering
unc,ion to their souls" | have learned
my lessons of Democracy in different
school | have beea taught 10 believe, and
| trust never may forget, that " "all power
is inheren, in the people," that the people
are capable Of governing themselves wisely
and justly, and are fully competen, 10 the
task oc deciding correctly upon this,or any
other amendment. that may be proposed to
the Constitution OF the State /; and, sir,
these principles ere frue, or our whole
theory Of government is false.
Say the opponents Of this measure, IL
will give US nothing but political Judges
If i, does, sir, then it will work no change
in the presen. system FOR, no,wirhstand-
ing tie assertion OF my friend on the right
(Mr. .Cornyn) to the contrary, we hare po-
li,ical Judges now. Where, let ne ask. is
there man occupying judicia! station in
the State, who has not, a. some period of
his life. been in sthe filth and mirc OF pol.
i,ce.- as i, is termed II this business OF
politics is as dirty and filthy as gentlemen
would have US believe, then. sir, is the ju-
dicial ermine OF our State already bespa,-
tered and besmeared from the hishes, po-
slrion to the lowest. Our Judges have all,
with scarcely an exception, been politicians,
and unc hariiable persons say that we have
occasionally had men upon the bench who
have "never been anything else."
But LIDO not believe. sir, that il does a
man any harm 10 mingle with his fellow
citizens and perform his duty to the coun-
try, by participating in oil contests and dis
cussions, affecting the welfare and happi.