Western union. (City of Hannibal, Mo.) 1850-1851, 1851-08-14


I tres passed upon you, tha. do SO now with
out the least hesitation. The fact is, that du-
ring the turmoil of excited feelings Of the past
two weeks, the existence of such point as
Hannibal has been entirely forgotten, and even
the dear little Union YOU have charge Of, Ell
tirely overlooked.
In this age Of progress, begin TO think that
in some respects we have progressed far beyond
the bounds Of judgment. Judicial elections,
new creature Of ihi, prolific parent of strange
things, "Progress,' has now been tested, AID
as far as this county is concerned, the verdict
must be against it, For years past our Courts
have been in almost unceasing operation, and
although from time TO time new Courts have
been created to meet the multiplied calls for
Justice, their dockets have grown from term to
term until in one at least it is most enormous.
Nor this by any means the greatest evil
complained Of Suits were brought; causes
tried and judgments rendered but that they
might be Sc, aside and tried over again; then to
be appealed to the Supreme Court-reversed
aud remanded for new trial; and so continued
until in many cases the child, an infant at the
commencement Of suit, grew to manhood and
enjoyed the fruits Of the litigation of his ances.
tor, who, grown gray, had long since been
gathered to his fathers. Parties and witnesses
were kept in Court to the exclusion Of all other
business for weeks together, until the Judge
should scrape up enough law, or CLEAN sufli-
cient from the argument OF counsel 10 decide
knotty points that continually arose in the pro-
gress of causes, until in many instances the
costs greatly exceeded the amount of the debt
sued for. This i. was loudly asserted was the
history Of litigation in this county, and the pub.
lie mind was directed 20 discovering aud apply.
ing q remedy for the evil. 1t was argued that
the salaries were insufficient to command the
average talent and learning OF the bar-men
who could decide points Of law from knowledge
previously obtained, and who were hot obliged to
depend upon subsequent reelection and study.
Then again il was said that the appointing pow.
er had been abused-judicial offices were dis
tributed as reward for partizan services. or to
crafty personal iavortes, and that the interests
of the public were not consulted. Hence the
people demanded bat the salaries should be in.
creased to SO 600, and that the power Of ap-
pointmcnt should We surrendered by those to
{ whom II was coniided, into the hands of the
q people, tho only disinterested source of public
patronage who alone would be guided TO Sc.
lection by the fitness Of the different candidates
for the positions they sought. And further, to
guard against all other issues than :he snbstan-
,ial merits Of those seeking Judicial stations
tering into the canvass, it was further required
that political organization should be dispensed
: with and party predictions ruled on, of the
: selection. Here was progress seeking the &C.
. complshment Of agood result and in al thing.
e was it done the people desired.
!. And now, Mr.. Editor, what do you think
wa, the result of all this progression. Not on
" was politics of all kinds made ruling ques
" ton, bu: twenty other considerations wer,
II commingled with ii; each one productive o
tl,p
. Democracy Abolitonism and Free Soilism-
y Na,v.m and Foregnism, together with per
D. sonal pques and preiudices Of all kinds, wer
l. studiously invoked in aid Of one candidate ant
o. to the prejudice of another during the canvass
=. This one was opposed because he was born
foreigner, end that one because he had been il
times gone by linked with the Native Ameri
m can organization. Another was denounced q
!, IL Presbyterian and still another because hi
II doctrines forced him TO incline towards the doc
tn trines of the Catholic Church. Large bet
i'm were made, another cause operating to bias tn
. judgment and excite personal feeling; until n
the day Of election approached denunca'ion
grew louder ard accusations were urged wit
increased bitterness. May we never see tn
ne like of i, again. Finally the smoke of the bat
H. tie cleared away, and the three old Judges wer
discovered snugly perched on judicial bench
es, the poor Law Commissioner alone bein
Is. sacrificed TO popular will. do not mean to AZ
scrt that judicial elections will not produce goo
eI results in some communities, but that her
ca where there are so many elements CT discord
in work, political parties had better far, if the pc.
Il, pie must select their own judges, bring out the
!" men, and let popular will decide as to the 81
IL perior capacities of the two.
IN Another result of this canvass 10 now CON
al 10