Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1852-03-06
ELECTION OF JUDGES.

Among the many elections soon 10
take place under the new constitution
none III magnitude will bear any COM
parison with Inc election of Judges
So important, indeed paramount to all
other elections, is this, that the late
Convention conceded that politics
should not enter into the estimate, and
therefore declared that the time of e.
lccting Judges Should cot be within
80 deys Of eny election for President
Vice President, Congressman. or
members Of either branch Of the Gen
eral Assembly; SO that the voters
might be governed alone by the quail
;ficatiors Of the individual for the Of.
fee.
The State is divided into Ave sec-
,ione, ten districts, and twenty-one cir
cults. Each section elects Judge of
The Supreme Court Of Appeals each
circuit its own Judge.
In this, the goth circuit, III fow
weeks, the voters Of Monongalia, in
common with the voters of Hancock,
Brooke, Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel, Ty-
lei, Harrison, Marion, Taylor, Pres
ton, Barbour, Randolph, Upshur,
Wood, Writ, Gilmer, Braxton, Lewis,
Richie, D6idridge, peasants, Wayne,
Cabell, Mason, Jackson, Putnam, and
Kanawha, will be required to vote for
Judge of'the Supreme Court of APP
peals =; and, with the voters of Han
cock. Brooke, Ohio, Marshall, Wetxel
and Tyler counties, for Judge of the
goth circuit the former Judge to
hold his office for IL years, and the
latter for $ years.
Oar object in preparing this article
is 10 arouse the constituent body to a
proper appreciation Of the duty de-
volying upon it in the approaching
judicial elections. A mistake herein
may be fatal; an error committed can
not be corrected. Unlike any other
State election ever heretofore held,
for 8 and la years, If we err, are we
to reap the bitter fruits Of our folly.
In elec,ing Legislators heretofore,
we have elected annually, and among
SO many, though not few might be
incapable or impure, we had always
some whose over-ruling counsel pre-
vented gross error, or even it injtdi-
cious laws passed, they were endured
for short time only; but Judge OF
the circuit court stands alone, to act
amidst conflicting opinion and to de-
eide between conflicting parties-ot'
,ento contend with the strongest temp
talion to partially, growing cut Of the
character of stitors, some influential
and opulent contending with those
who have no influence and are poor.
or whom is he to take counsel in such
contest Who shall ovcr-rule his
qct;uns at such times, So that none CT
these circumstances shall aiirct his
judgment, and consequently the suit
or's CAUSE No ono: he musl possess
within himself 6rmness, ability, and
up!ightness. Who can calculate the
evils resulting from an ignorant or
coFrup, Judgo' cnrcs,a,e, our rep
utaI:on, liberty, AMI even lives, may be
in his hunds. The faithful execution Of
tie laws depends, ill., 4 great degree,
upon him, 1t is in his power TO see
the laws, regulating good morals, en-
forced or relaxed, as nay suit his own
views of official obligation, so that
they may be 81 terror to evil doors
AMI praise To them lhrt do well"
the reverse.
There is, in the 5.li section, one
man to whom all eyes have been d.
.cc!od, noi only within The sec'ion,
but throughout the State, US suitable
70: a ,jii,iga ii the Court of Appeals
To hold hin up as f4ulIlcss wouldn
lc truc; he, in common with other