The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1851-07-10
ADDRESS.


1851, and upon that and the succeeding day,
performed the duty assigned TO us, by NOM
mating as the Democratic candidates for JUDI
ges of the Supreme Court, the following dis
tinguished %jurists
JEREMIAH S. BLACK, of Somerset county.
JAMES CAMPBELL, of Philadelphia,
FILLS LEWIS, Of Lancaster.
john Is. GIBSON, of Cumberland. .
WALTER ii. LowRiE, Of Allegheny.
These gentlemen are all cordially recon-
mended 10 you as eminently qualified for the
high stations 10 which they have been nomi-
mated. The Supreme Court is a tribunal of
great authority in the effect of its decisions,
although in point of actual and direct power,
the judiciary is the weakest of the three
great departments of government. That
Court has, in the last resort, TO pass upon the
lives, liberties and property of our citizens.
From lis decisions, with but few exceptions,
there is no appeal. In selecting gentlemen,
therefore, to compose this august and impor-
tant tribunal, care must be taken that, on the
score of qualification, they shall possess taat
moral force which the confidence Of the
public alone can confer, and which will ena-
BILE them 10 maintain their relative position in
the administration of our Government. The
change of the mode of appointing, from a
selection BY the Executive 10 an election by
The people, should not lessen the quaFfica-
ion of tho incumbent. To fill The situation
with safety 10 the public and credit to HIM
self, he should have a well balanced mind,
sound Judgment, discriminating intellect,
and a familiar and intimate acquaintance
with our commod and statute law. While
willing TO adapt The former 10 the exigencies
of society, as in the progress OF improve
ment, it presents new phases and TO give to
the latter the sound Interpretation which the
law .givers intended, he should never as
sume TO be wiser than the law, or set up his
own Judgment against the wisdom and expe-
renee of ages. He should present in him
self a happy medium between that narrow
sess of prejudice which would reject all ad-
varces IN improvement and that laxity OF
decision which would disregard all that has
gone before it.
To these qualifications should be added
that strict integrity OF purpose (which yields
not 10 time and bends not to circumstance"
and that independence and decision OF char
acter which should ever be found in the adj
ministrator of the law. A Judge who falters
in The performance of his duty, or calculates
how his decision may affect his popularity,
is unworthy the place he fills. With him
the. only question should be, what is the law,
and pronounce it without fear, favor or affec-
ton.
We have in Pennsylvania q beautiful sys-
tenn Of jurisprudence. 1t is said 10 be pecu-
liar. It..certainly is not very well understood
out of the State, and its excellence is not full
ly appreciated by all within it, Casting
aside the trammels of technically, we COM
bine in one forum and essentially under the
same form of proceeding, the administration
of law and equity. With US law and equity,
if not Synonymous terms, are both parts of a
great whole. For this admirable system we
are much indebted TO the wisdom and fore
cast of our ancestors. Wherever q party
would, in other States or countries, be enti-
tied 10 redress al law or in equity, he can OBJ
tain it here under our combined system.
If a person who has a just and lawful
claim, enters one door Of the temple of JUS
tice, we do not deny his suit, Turn him out
and bid him enter another, to seek the relief
10 which he is entitled. Our temple of JUS
lice has but QUE door of entrance, and our
system is simple and harmonious in its action
when properly understood and intelligently
carried into execution. 1t is challenging
and will continue TO challenge, the admira-
ton of other Govarnne nts, who are begin
ming 10 adopt il, and we should be careful
how we mar its symmetry, entail upon our
posterity the evils, delay, expense and arbi-
trary power of a separate equity adminisira-
ton, and fall back upon that, which the wis
dom of experience is abandoning elsewhere.
1t follows, that IN Pennsylvania a man TO
be a good lawyer or a good judge, must be
familiar as well with the rules and principles
of law as of those Of equity. We looked
for these qualifications in the candidates be-
fore us, and believe we have essentially OBJ
tanned them, in the gentlemen selected.
In the nominations made, we were singu.
larly unanimous. The selections of all can
didates were made on the first ballot. Many
excellent lawyers and judges were named
before as, and we believe that all Of those
WIN id not receive a r.caiori'y OF the votes
OF the Convention, were genuv,~een possess
ing high legal and moral qualifications. or
the number, however, five only could be Sc
lected. 1t is impossible in such a Conven-
ton, that each delegate can obtain The nom
ination of all the candidates he desires. There
must be mutual consultation and concession,
and there necessarily will be, individual dis
appointments. The selection of the MAORI
iy will control the wishes of the separate
members of The nominating body. The
choice thus made, governs, and the minority
submits and co1curs in the nomination. This
is The true Democratic principle, and without
carrying it out, there would be no such thing
as a preliminary nomination, which is al
ways necessary to ascertain the sense of the
party, and when that is ascertained, should
govern and control all who belong 10 that
party. Should any other course be pursued,
we should as a party, come 10 the polls with
divided and distracted forces, and fall an ca
- A. ---.--l II