The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1851-02-07
AMENDMENTS TO THE con.
STITUTION ELECTION OF
JUDGES AND ATTORNEYS.

JUDGES A Nd Al TUX NE Y ,.
On the first page is the Proclama-
ton Of Gov. Trousialc calling upon
the people to vote upon certain amend
mcnts of the Constitution proposed by
the last Legislature. We publish the
resolutions in reference to the elcc.
tion Of Judges and Attorneys General,
by the people, the others having re.
ference on y to the formation of new
counties, we tcem unimportant.
While editing the Green River
Whig in kentucky. and during the
contest there. for the call of Con.
ven,ion, to alter The Constitution. we
took dscided ground against the elec.
ton Of Judges by the people. lst bc-
cause we did not desire to sec the
mantle Of justice thrown around dem
agogues. and I'd, because we believe
the ten cacy Of the political innova.
tions Of the day, is to destroy the
safeguards of a strictly representative
Republic by pressing democracy to
the verge Of mobocracy. These opin.
ions remain unchanged, but here Il
different issue is presented and we are
called upon to decide between the
election of Judges and Attorneys Gen
cral by the Legislature --betwcen the
Constitution as it is and the proposed
amendment. We are decidedly in
favor Of the amendment and shall re.
ioicc to see the appointing power of
the Legislature restricted to the c. ice
of its own officers. So long as the
halls Of legislation are filled with par.
tlZan dcmayogucs-wit ith mcn who
will barter Judge for Sergeant at
Arms and an Attorney General for a
Door Keeper, we can not wiIlingIv "
see the Legislature vested with au.
lhority 20 Gi' any responsible post
with an incumbent log rolled through
that body.
We have never, at any time, denied
the competency of the people to elect
ii good Judge, but have always feared
the effect Of this mode of election, on
the judge himself. The election bv
the Legislature. whilst it does not en-.
tirely obvatc this objection. is n pro.
life source Of corruption and fraud
which should 40 longer be suffered to
Ioislra the norals Of ,hc peoples
representatives..
In advocating this amcndm mt how.
ever, we wish it distinctly understood
that il is the choice. of what we cons
slider the lesser evil. We hope it will
be productive of good. but candor
comPcls us to say that in the present
lcpravcd condition of public morals,
the mcst perfect theory of government
offers but little security for its strict
application to the ends of justice, by
the PEOPLE, or by the Legislature. or
By the Governor and Senate. are
questions that must AT last be deter.
mined rather by the tone of public |
morals, by the degree Of accounta.
biIity imposed upon The incnmben: by
a sound public sentiment than any
marncd superiority of the one mode
over the other. Ii the Judge be ri.
gidIy honest and proof against ,cmpta !
ton It makes no difference practically,
hos he was elected, and if the ecc.
tors be honest it matters but little, to
which set the power is given.
1t is important that every govern.
ment should have fixed principles by
which To shape the course of justice.
but no chart however perfect. can
save a vessel from wreck. if The crew
be too reckless to pursue its directions.
This remark is strictly applicable TO
the subject under consideration, and
every rejecting mind must perceive
that no mode Of appointment can be
prescribed which will give security
to the rights of the citizen in the ab.
scree of qualifications which fit the
Judge for the administration Of justice
and the electors for the faithful dis
charge Of their duty. In mans de.
pravity lies the whole difficulty. and
in considering the subject the leading
enquiry is, how can he be best secured
against temptation. This is Il ques.
lion which each one will answer ac-
cording to his own peculiar views.
The malpractices of the I.cgisla-
,urc have satisfied US of the untitpcss
of that body for the duties Of electors.
and it is proper to remove from them
the temptation to fraud which the
appointing power holds out. and
whether we get better Judges or not,
by the adoption of the amendment.
we shall at least. impart scmblance
OF igreatcr honesty to our legislators by
di mlnshlng the source OF corruption.
CiarkSUiM Chronicle.
A pamphlet published in Mexico
states that the income of the clergy
ot that country amounts to S2o.Oe0,- |
600 per annum. They are also in