Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-04-07
JUDGE LONIAX,

guished urist will be returned 20 the bench
from the Fredericksburg Circuit without
opposition. A writer in the Richmond
Wing says-"No opposition to him is spo-
ken of, and in my humble judgment, none
should be tolerated as long as learning, in
tegrity, dignity and capacity, mental and
physical, such as Judge Lomax possesses,
are held as requisites for Judicial station.
In the quarter of the Circuit in which |
live, the vast majority of the people, and
every respectable member Of the bar, ven-
crate bis mild and lofty character, admire
his learning, trust with confidence i'll his
sense Of justice, and applaud the regularity
and industry with which he discharges his
duhes.''
When the Reform Convention had in
corporated clause in the new Constitution
requiring Judges on arriving at prescrib-
ed age to retire from the bench and render
ing them afterwards ineligible, the mem
bers of the Convention from Judge LoMAx's
Circuit, at the earnest solicitation of the
bar, exerted themselves successfully to have
the provision struck out, for the express
purpose of retaining him in the position
which he so ably fills. Such cases reflect
honour on all parties concerned. Judge
LoMAx is probably near seventy years of
age, but the people OF the 9Th Judicial Cir
cult evidently do not partake of that unnat-
ural sentiment now becoming prevalent,
which disposes men to prescribe all persons
past the meridian of life, however much
public service they may have done and
however much more they may be capable
of doing. "He is too old, is now the dema-
gogue cry raised against every man ofmature
age and wisdom, who stands IN the way
of those who seek 10 promote partlzan ends.
STILL NoN-CoMMITTAL.-It has been re-
marked that in the resolutions adopted by
the late Democratic Convention, and pro-
mulged as platform "broad enough to hold
not only the Democracy Of Virginia, but of
the whole Union" nothing is said of the
Compromise. This is the second Conven-
ton of the party held within the last nine
months, which has declined to endorse
those measures, or even to acquieSce in the
authoritative form of solemn resolutions
Why is this? Is it craven fear of dis
unionists in their own party at the South,
and free-soilers at the North or secret hos
Utility to the Compromise which they feel
themselves and dare not avow? Probably
both questions should be answered in the
affirmative. If resolution endorsing the
Compromise had been engrafted upon the
series, large division Of the party would
have refused to mount the platform; and
Welding, at no time, more than reluctant
acquiescence, it was deemed most prudent
to treat the Adjustment as if it were obso-
lete.
Verify the Virginia Democracy ought 20
get out patent for their political platforms !!
We commend them to the attention OF the
Scientific american, as adjusted to suit the
political sentiments of every man of every
faction that can be found between the river
st. Lawrence and the Gulf of Mexico.
GOVERNMENT ExpENsEs.-A great out
cry has been made by the opposition press
and some prominent members of the party,
on account of the large amount paid out by
the Government during the last fiscal year,
and the necessity forthe deficiency Bill, "
which has recently passed one branch OF
Congress. The National Intelfgencer shows
that, instead of being unprecedented, as in
timaled, similar bills, though under differ
ent name, were passed during the admins
trations of JACKSON, VAN buren, and Polk;
and that such bill would not now be ne
cessary if Congress had not without rhyme
or reason cut down the estimates furnished
by the several Departments, and thus with
held from the Executive Officers sums re-
quislte to carry into execution existing laws
and contracts.
The Washington Union alleges that the
expenditures of the year 1851, were
fifty-two millions Of dollars. The IntelH-
gencer, however, gives the precise sum
S4S,0O5,S7S. From this amount OF pay
ments, must be deducted one Mexican IN
stalment, Mexican indemnity claims and
other extraordinary expenses. and the Or
binary expenses of the Government will be
reduced to the sum of $35, .432. The
amount of additional annual expenditure
required by the acquisition of new territory,
is believed to be a. the least ten millions,
which deducted from the above sum, leaves
little more than twenty-five millions i'oo
hundred thousand dollars as the amount paid
out of the Treasury on account OF the ordl-
nary expenses of the Government Tor the
wear 1851. This contrasts very we'll with
the average annual expenditure of the VAN
buren, administrahon-twenty- eight mil
lions of dollars-(amounting at one period
to thrty-seven millions) while the average
annual expenditures of the preceding TWEEN
tv.years was about fifteen millions only.
According to the Hon. JAMES BROOKS
of New York, the present Administration
has paid nearly 100000 ofthe Nation
al debt
ANOTHER WARNING TO BoYs.--On Sat-