The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-02-28
: Core spondcnce Of tho Mountain Sentinel.
HARRISBURG, Feb. 25, 1850.

HARRISBURG FEB. 20, 1850.
Dear Sir:s. .s-,, -
Although 1. cannot say that
much which either your readers OF yourself
would be disposed to cali Interesting, has
taken place at Harrisburg. up to this pres
ent writing; yet good deal has iranspired
of which both of you are ignorant-and
hence the reason why have taken pen
in hand 10 give you faint outline or i'm
perfect sketch of matters and things in gem
eral
The great business of the session as
yet has been and still is, the amendment
of the Constitution, whereby the people,
instead of his Excellency the Governor of
ton of the Judges of all the courts from
the Supreme Court down to the lowest
court in the State. There is no earthly
doubt about the passage of the amend
ment, bit irasmuch as the question of an
Elective Judiciary is considered popu
.ar one, it is necessary that every iacka-
napes in the Legislature shall have some
thing to say lit, for. .'Brnkum,"
1t is most annoying to listen to some of
the speeches %hich are made by the hour,
on this Question, by men who cannot if
they would try till dooms-day, broach one
new idea, or fabricate a new argument of
fva minutes in length in support of that
which every man, both in and out of the
Legislature, with a very few exceptions
agree ought TO be done, namely, that the
Judiciary should be elective. That the
sovereign people, the source of all power
in the State, shall have the right TO say al
the ballot boxes, who shall pass judgment
upon their rights both of life and proper
ty.
Judge Porter Of Northampton, and
Augustus K. Cornyn of Huntington
county, have both taken grounds against
the amendment, and strange to say, the
opposition Of two men has set the balance
of the ninety eight members TO talking in
order 10 answer them. But the amend
ment will pass by large majority, as ii
ought to pass, and the question will be
submitted TO the people for their ratiica-
ton or rejection. By the by, think ii
would have come with much more grace
from those gentlemen who oppose the
adoption of this amendment, if they had
reserved their fire till the question was
fairly before the people, and then let 60
their thunder; and if by their superior ar
guments or convincing oratory, or both,
they could get the people to go with them
| for one would be satisfied. But this
> thing of keeping the question from the
people by legislative strangulation, do
not approve of. Besides it is full time that
} the people would take this matter in hand.
Our Governors are too much in the habit
of comforting judicial appointments upon
political partisans, who have little or no
other merit to recommend them, than that
they belong to the same breed Of cats with
: the appointing power.
;, The benches of our courts should be
graced by no other men than those who
e will bring to the judgment seat sound
e heads, pure hearts, and characters void
# of reproach. They should be men emf.
Il nent for talents and abilities suited to the
o responsible situations they are called upon
: to fill. In such men thepeople would have
confidence, and in such men society would
r have guaranty of safety, which would
at once dispel those ominous misgivlngs
u which are too common in some quarters
n of the heCommonwealth, where the judiciary
is more feared than respected.
e The following Resolutions, &C., were
o introduced by Mr.. Matthias, member fol-
the city of Philadelphia, which were pass
ed in the Senate by unanimous vote or
the 22d inst.
Whereas, the members of the Genera
Assembly of Pennsylvania have seen with
: deep regret, in several sections of our hap
e py and glorious republic, indications o
# dissatisfaction with our fundamental or
# ganizatlon, as embraced in our constitu
y lion, and an apparent disposition upon the
a part of some to effect radical change.
y And whereas in their feelings Of dissat
It isfaction owards that great, liberal anC
4 patriotic instrument, the people Of Penn
sylvania do not participate. Therefore