Western union. (City of Hannibal, Mo.) 1850-1851, 1851-07-10
IT,

ST.. Lotus, July ID, Isl

present moment, Is the approaching August
election. Numerous candidates for the
several judicial stations, as well as for the
office Of jailor of st. Louis county, are in
y field, and all of them, believe, are
making vigorous efforts TO gain the alice
tons and secure the votes of the people,
To this end, they are using various means,
according to their respective tastes, char
ac,ers and habits of lille. Some Of them,
as am credibly informed, are imbibing very
unusual quantities of Dntch Beer. gene.
rously interesting themselves in Dutch
Balls. and revolving through the air with
judicial dignity, in Dutch swings. This
latter performance may have the scientific
object of testing the new method OF de-
tcrmining the rotation OF the earth (;
though, presume, most of them find Beer
and Brandy, and The old fashioned way,
much more satisfactory. Others of the
candidates indulge themselves and their
friends extensively in beverages stronger
than beer, to convince the voters of their
h,eh qualifications for the stations to which
they aspire; and, considering the large
quantities that one of them at least, takes
aboard, he maintains a judicial gravity of
department truly remarkable. Mr.. Law
Commissioner, Watson, understand, to
satisfy the people Of his fitness for the
Office he seeks to retain, is about to suspend
the business Of his court for whole month,
and that, too, in the teeth oil Il law which
requires that it shall always be ready to
dispatch the business of suffers. Whether
any Of the higher courts o! the county have
adjourned for elcctoneerng purposes,
cannot undertake to say; but, as | am re-
liably informed, this is the avowed object
ing the fact, therefore, without comment,
am doing nothing more than he himself has
done. All of the aSpirants, or nearly so,
are active in eleciioneerng 10y personal
solicitation and the circulation OF printed
cards, and a few of them are using means
that would not disgrace 4 canvass for the
Office of constable. In short, considerable
warmth is already developed, aud from the
number OF offices and ci the candidates
for them, we may reasonably anticipate an
interesting excitement before election day.
1t is to be hoped this strong competition
vii! have at least the one salutarv effect TO
awaken the interest nf the people, AMI in
Juce n more general turn out to the polls
than will, perhaps, be secured in any other
circuit of the State. it will, IN truth, be
one of the most important elections ever
held in Missouri, and | hope you will do
what you can to arouse the people to Il
sense OF that Importance. You cannot
make your paper more useful. Railroads
and plank roads may do much to promote
the prosperity and enhance the Importance
OF State, but upon nothing does the hap
piness of its citizens AT home, and It's char
acter abroad, more depend, thrn the pos
session of pure, firm and able julici,ry.
1T matters comparatively little whom we
have for Governor, or to make our laws.
The evils of indscreet legislation can, in
some measure, be averted or modified by Il
good judiciary. Bad laws affect such urge
bodies OF citizens that Il corrective is speed
lily applied. But who shall repair the dam
ages committed by weak, ignorant, or dis
honest judges Dishonest legislators are
checked by knowing that, As their law, are
general, and affect all, they cannot unjustly
favor one man or class OF men, without
injuring and making enemies OF many
others. They cannot tell in advance pre-
ciselv where their laws will strike, or whose
individual interests they will affect. Not
so with judges. Their decisions are spc-
cia. Each one affects but Il single, or a
few individuals. A judge, therefore, unre-
strained by high moral principle, and who
will not scruple to use his station to ad-
vance his own, selfish ends, can reduce
oppression to Il science. lie can strike his
blows at the weak, the timid and the I'M
popular; or those who, from any other
reason, cannot gain the public ear, to make
known the "story Of their wrongs" and
he can tavo: the strong, the influential and
the popular. Again. unj ust laws, as they
affect all, are known to all, investigated by
all, criticized by all. Judicial decisions, on
the other hand, as they affect but few, are
known 10 few, and few, unless their own
interests are involved, will take the trouble
to investigate them, and follow the Judge in
all his tortuous windngs through intricate
and complicated cases. Dealing, as he
does, with the details of every day bust
ness, his decisions, given in the retirement
OF the court room, strike noisGleSsly, yet
directly, at all the interests OF private lite,
and penetrate to every mans lireside. lie
has it in his power to put his hand into
every mans purse, stain every man. char
acter, and carry unhappiness to every mans
home. How important, then. that his ab-
ity should be unqucslioned, and his integrity
above suspicion The coming is the first
election in our state, under the new system,
and it is certainly to be hoped that the re-
IVY will put to shame the old method OF
appointment.
Efforts are being made by the Benton
Marty hare to brine abOut uOminu ton s.