Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1850-07-11
ELECTIVE JUDICIARY, AMEND
MENTS TO THE CONSTITU-
TION.

A1'bO ~ y - DlNihh n NJ Elm d.
MENTS TO THE CONSTITU-
TION.
TOO little has been said about the
amendments to the Constitution now
pending, and which are to be finally
acted upon by the mex, Legislature
We, therefore, make brief reference
to their leading points. The Judges Of
the Supreme Court are made elective:
they are 10 hold their offices for six
years-the present Judges 10 vacate
their offices on the first Monday of
August, 1851, on which day the election
is to take place throughout the State
TO fill the offices. In like manner, the
office of Judge of the several Circuit
Courts is to be vacated on the first
Monday of August, 1851, at which time
an election shall be held for Judges of
the several Circuit Courts, who shall
hold their Offices for six years. No
provision is made in regard to the
Judges fthe Common Pleas and Grim.
inal Courts: they being inferior ,ribu.
mails, the creation of the. Legislature,
we regard the adoption of the amend.
ments in relation to the Supreme and
Circuit Courts, as command of the
people to give them The right to eec.
the Judges Of these courts. Both of
them are Of great interest TO the citizens
of this county, and there is an earnest
desire, so far as we can learn, that all
judicial offices in the State shall be made
elective.
We do not design, now. 10 90 into an
argument in favor of principle so wei!
settled in the public mind, but we take
upon ourselves to say, that the people
of this State are better qualified, in
every sense, than corrupt Executive
and par,izan Senate TO select Judges
to rule over US. The power of appoint
ment to these Offices has been SO pros
trated as, in many instances, to have
brought the Judiciary into contempt,
and there is, for this reason less regard
for the decisions which they may pro-
nounce upon existing laws. Their in
depreciation Of the statutes has no force
and they are incaprble of giving to
them the same construction for any
length Of time. Instead of taking the
best men that can be found to fill these
offices, it has been the common practice
to fill our Judgships with broken down
politicians and briehess lawyers, until
the people have lost all confidence in
the rectitude of the power conferring
or the persons receiving, these Offices.
A conviction of the correctness of this
position is so general, that we now hear
very few advocates for the old system
of appointment, and we suppose the
amendments will be adopted without
serious opposition. But the people
ought to make sure Of this, by eecting
only such men to the Legislature as
will be certain to vote for the amend.
ments. If adopted by the next Legis.
lature, we shall then have an opportu.
nifty of efiectng radical reform in the
present Judiciary system. We can re-
tain such men now on the bench as are
worthy, and dismiss the others 10 pri-
yate life and obscurity.
In this connection, i. may also be
well 10 bring public attention TO the
fact, that amendments are pending, and
will have TO be acted upon by the next
Legislature, to make the officers of Sec
retary ofState, Attorney General. Au.
ditor ofPublic Accounts, State Treas.
urer, and Register of Lands elective
at such time, and in such manner, as
may hereafter be provided by law. In
other States, these officers are made
elective by the people, and the system
works well. We can see no reason why
it should not be adopted here, and we
shall support the amendments.-Repub-
licdn.
Dad, who is this Sam Francisco that's