Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-08-06
Elective Judges.

Strenuous efforts are made by portion
of the party presses, on both sides, to
dragoon their adherents into the supper.
of the nominations for the Supreme Court
which have been made by the respective
political parties, and smother all inqui-
ry into the character and qualifications of
the individual nominees; except perhaps,
the reciprocal abuse which each party ex-
poets, as usual, to receive from the other.
This is no more than might reasonably
be expected, under ordinary circumstances,
for it is the peculiar vocation Of the party
press to advocate the nominations, and
sustain the usages and discipline of party
organizations. This is all we'll enough,
and indeed is in measure indispensable,
when party issues are involved, and party
victories to be achieved. But when the
reason for the rule ceases, the rule itself
loses its force. In the election of Judges
there are not, and can not justly be, any
party principles involved, or party inte.
rests at stake. Yet the party press seems
inclined, in the face of this self evident
fact, to cling to the shadow without any
particular concern as to the substance !;
and relying upon the supposed infallibility
Of State Conventions, coolly prepares to
ego it blind" with their accustomed COM
placency and zeal. This, however, as we
shall take occasion hereafter to shows
by no means universally the case and is
far from truly rejecting the public opinion
of the Commonwealth. Many Of the pa.
pers yield lukewarm and evidently reluc-
tant support to the nominations, land others
boldly take ground against part of the
tickets, and express their honest opinions
on the subject, with honest independence.
If the nominations were unexceptionable
throughout, on both sides,as to competency
and trust-wortlnccss, the success or other.
wise of the entire ticket of either party
would be matter of less Importance; and
Democrats and Wings could adhere with
comparative safety to their respective Ju.
diciai tickets. But this is confessed,v not
the case at present, and we are persuaded
all efforts to carry the election Of obnox-
ious candidates by the force Of party dis
cipline, will prove signally abortive.
The Amendment to the Constitution,
although demanded by public opinion, was
in its details and machinery, as bungling
a piece of legislation as one sett Of nous.
ing politicians ever contrived to help an
other sctt into positions Of responsibility
and power, that, otherwise could never
have been reached; and it is now more
than probable that their blind faith in
party discipline alone, and want Of conf.
dence in the intelligence and honesty Of
the people, will meet with a salutary re.
buke. that will be held in remembrance
hereafter.
The election of the Judiciary is one OF
the most perilous experiments in the sci.
ence of government the people Of Penn
sylvania have ever been called upon to
make and it would really be beautiful
condition Of things, if, in matter so init
mately connected with public and individ-
ual interests of paramount Importance, the
people should be required to surrender the
exercise Of their sovereignty, and lay it
in meek submission, like blind, shorn
Sampson in chains, at the feet Of partizan
conventions. But it is altogether certain