Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-03-30
our friends and fellow citizens, &c.


SrAUNToN, March 23d, 1862.
gentlemen " our favor of the 18Th instant
was not received until to day. and hasten tn ro
Urn my grateful thanks for your kind appreciation
9i my Puonc services in the Judicial office which
nave held Tor tho last ten years 1t comes from +,
source so highly intelligent and respectable. ns to
furnish persuasive evidence that have mt chew,
myself incompetent or unfaithful in the discbnroo
Oh tile aiduous dutis OF my station. 1t relieves
me from the fear of presumption in soliciting
from the people renewal of that CO nfdence which
was reposed In me by their representatives at
the time OF my election by the Legislature; and
1t assures me that my appointment, under the
late Constitutions during good behavior. has not
oeeh furnished by any misconduct. What influ-
ehce these considerations ought to have upon the
question OF re appointment, will be submitted to
the good sense and feelings of the people of tb;s
Judicial section, ut the approaching election.
feel highly honored by the impression ofvour
belief that If, from any infrnties of age or rnva
ges OF disease, We're sensible of decline of NV
faculties, mental or physical, would not desire a
re-electlon' and that if re-appointed, | would not
hesitate to surrender my commission upon the oc-
currence, during the official term, of any such I'M
foreseen calamity. That no such objection exists.
at the present time, | appeal with tho utmost
confidence, to my brethren ofthe bench-the gem
t'emen OF the bar-the records of the court--the
printed reports Gifts authorizations and to tho
whole community, in which l am personally
known. GU have correctly regarded nv brief
lndlsposition oil last summer, rs light, casual and
transient; and as some few persons NAV have
treated 1t as ground of objection, | may be per-
mltted to say, that my constitution is remarkably
firm, and my health uncommonly robust, and that
no Judge who ever sat on the bench of Virginia
has lost less time from any cause in the course of
his official duties As any apprehension on the
score my age, it may be best estimated by re-
terring to tho record of my birth, which gives as
It's dae the 4th day of January, 1889.
l cannot express, too strongly, my concurrence
with you in doprecating all influence of party pol
ltics IN the election of Judges by the people
The reasons are too obvious for discussion Eve
ny one VIII admit that no person is n better Judge
because he is Wing or u Democrat. Every
good man revolts from the idea of disturbing tho
sources of Justice by such criterion of selection.
Every man OF sense perceives, at glance, that
nothing would be- more demoralizing or PERM
cious i'll practice.
Ia this connexion, Imay say. with all humli-
ty, that L rejoice in the belief that no one has
ever suspected me of proscriptive spirit, and
ceem 1t an act of Justice to myself to state not
only that the appointment which hold was not
conferred upon me by party vote, but that
since was called to the bench, l have taken no
part whatever i'll the turmoil of party politics. and
have studiously and invariably avoided all atten-
dance at political meetings
L am gentlemen with great respect and regard,
4our friend and servant,
BRISCOE G. BALDWIN,