Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-01-21

trial of cases ii law, and in addition there is
scarcely if ever failure in having court at the
regular term.
have taken some pains, by correspondence,
&C., to learn the views OF relormers III relation
to a reform OF the judiciary, and while L lind
general concurrence of opinion in relation to the
necessity of reform of this branch of our Gov
ornamental system, yet there is a very considera-
Bile contrariely of views as to the mode & man.
ner of reforming the acknowledged evils OF the
system. do not deem it necessary, therefore,
TO enter upon any elaborate discussion OF the de-
tails where there is so much difference OF opln-
ion details will be better IN the hands OF a con-
ventiou, than under the discussion of isolated
view by individuals. find, however, a re-
markable coincidence OF opinion in one respect
among reformers, and that Is Tor the abolition OF
the lie term of judges, Or as 1t is generally ex-
pressed, during good behaviour. The election OF
Judges by the Legislature has been so long the
law and custem of Virginia, that it will be diff
hcult matter to procure achange in this mode OF
election NV own decided preference is Tor the
election of all Judges, magistrates, Tclerks OF
courts sherHs, commemorative attorneys, and
indeed of all the important officers of the courts,
by the people hold in heart and soul to the
doctrine that ''the people are the source of pow
err in this Republican land, and that all public
officers Executive, Judicial, Legislative, &c,
should emanate from them, and be directly re-
sponsible to them. 1t is a palpable contradic-
ton, to pronounce the people capable of self
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of eIecting President Of
the United States-lnembers of Congress-Sen-
ators and Delegates to the Legislature, and then
to pronounce them incapable OF electing Judges,
Governors, sc. A number OF our sister States
have fully tried the experiment, and the uElver-
sal expression of appreciation pronounced by
them in favor of the s. stem, shows that it is
working well, and promoting "a salutary zeal III
the discharge Of duty, and an earnest devotion
to the dispatch OF business" This is the law In
the great State of New York. and while feel as
proud as any man living, Of the ability, learning,
&c, Of the Virginia judiciary, yet it is by no
means superior to that Of H. York, and some o.
Their States which | might mention, where all Of
their Judges are elected by the people. | can
see no other mode of election so entirely consis-
tent with the true doctrine of republican gov
eminent, as that of an election by the people,
Ii is strange indeed, that men should be found
who are SO prone to invest the representatives
of the people in the Legislature with a virtue
superior to the people themselves; my short leg
islatiye experience impressed me with directly
opposite opinion. We hear much affected talk
about conservatism in these days-the soiing the
judicial independence, &C., but pray show me a
single iadge in Virginia whose selection was not
made through a political caucus; politics always
enters into the consideration it is an influence
which oyerrides all other considerations and
merit, talents, and legal learning are in very
many instances made to succurnb to political
partiZanship Who that has ever been mem
Der of the Legislature, hut knows the pow erGul
influence of og-rolling and the caucus Admit
then. that political considerations would enter
into the elections by the people, we should be
TO worse off than we now are, indeed the situa-
IF l; tbu, fho ,-aiuht
Of consideration must preponderate in favor Of
the election by the people, because they being
personally acquainted with the aspirants i'll their
districts they would be more likely 10 make a
safe and judicious selection.
| would limit the term Of a Judge in office to
a term Of years, but not make him Ineligible to
a reelection would not make his term of Of
flee too short, for too well know his arduous
duties, the severe and constant labor he must
undergo in order to enable him to discharge his
duty fairly and impartially TO the community.
would provide him with most ample salary,
so as to command the best talents, and justify
the incumbent in abandoning his practice at the
Bar, upon which he and perhaps his family were
dependent for support-and to allow him full
opportunity to occupy his time, and pursue his
studies with view to a full and able discharge
of his duties, and also with a view 10 the con-
tingency Of his again coming back to the Bar, or
in case Of age and Infirmity-the evening of his
days may be soaced with a competency ! be-
lieve my sentiments in this regard, will be fully
concurred in by the reformers generally of the
State do not believe that convention of re-
formers could be found in Virginia, who would
wish to see starred iudicary-'the laborer is
worthy OF his hire" and that is the worst econ
omy in the world, which seeks to carry on GOV
~.lment, without paying those who carry it on,
a respectable and living compensation.
Whatever may be the determination of the
people in convention in regard to the mode of
electing Judges, one thing think is certain, the
term of service "darlng good behavior will be
abolished, and period fixed, say 65 years of
age, when men shall be declared Ineligible TO a
ing against all incompetent and superannuated
judiciary.
The county coart system IS justly obnoxious
to a republican people. have no doubt thai
four-li fths of the people of Virginia would hail
with satisfaction the destruction Of this branch
of our judiciary system. You have maintained
in your editorial columns so full and able dis
cussion of the dement's and evils of the county
court system during the past summer and fall.
and your views corresponding so nearly with
my own, that do not deem it necessary TO dis
cuss the subject any further. During the prog
ress of my whole discussion CT the reform ques-
ton through your columns, have studiously
sought to lay valuable information before your
readers, and have therefore drawn in some in
stances very fully upon the views and opinions
of many eminent reformers i'll the State The
county court system being an object OF censure
and attack from the whole reform party, it is
we'll that the justice of the attack should fully
appear 10 the people, therefore beg you to place
upon your columns the annexed speech OF the
distinguished Alexander Campbell, of Brooke
county, delivered in the convention OF 1890
80. Its great ability viii strike every inteli-
gent reader-its unanswerable argument will be
powerful weapon in the hands of the Reform
ers, and to the worshptul justices themselves it
will prove most accurate likeness OF their court
system; it speaks from the canvass, Read il
carefully, it is as suitable and as just as it was
in 1S29-'30. 1t is true Mr.. Campbell is arguing
Il distinct proposition in this speech-the sab
iecting Of these Courts to Legislative eontrol-yet
| he goes over the whole case, and assigns the
Al. 4 Al. Il.