Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-04-07
To The blenders ofthe amherst Bar.

STANTON, March Esd, 1907.
Gentlemen Your favor of the 18th instant
was not received until to-day, and hasten 10 re-
turn my grateful thanks for your kind appreciation
of my public services in the judicial office which
| have held for the last ten years. 1t comes from
source so highly Intelligent and respectable las To
furnish persuasive evidence that have not shown
myself incompetent or unfaiihful in the discharge
of The arduous duties of my station. 1t relieves HE
from the fear o. presumption in soliciting from the
people renewal OF that confidence which was re.
posed in me by their representatives at the time
Of my election By the Legislature; and il assures
Inc that my appointment, under The late Consllu-
ton, during good behavior, has not been furnished
by any misconduct. What influence these con-
sideralions ought have upon the question of re-
appointment, will be submitted TO the good Sc use
and feelings Of The people of This Judicial section,
at the approaching election.
feel highly honored by the expression Of your
belief that if, from any infrmics Of age or Iava-
ges of disease. were sensible of decline Of my
faculties, mental or physical, would not desire a
re election, and tina, if re-apponed, would not
hesitate to surrender my commission upon the oc
currence during the official term, Of any such IN
foreseen calamity. That no such objection exists,
at the present time, appeal, with the utmost con-
fdence, TO my brethren Of The bench-the gentle
men of the bar-the records of the court-he print
ed reports Of IFS adjudcations and to the whole
community, in which am personally known
You have correctly regarded my brief indlsposiion
of last summer, as light, casual and transient; and
as some few persons may have treated 1t as
ground Of objection, may be permitted 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
10 any apprehension on the score of my age, il may
be best estimated by referring to the record Of my
birth, which gives as lis date the 9TH day Of Janu
AIRY, 1889.
cannot express, loo strongly, my concurrence
with you in deprecaling all influence party pol
itcs in the election of Judges by the people. The
reasons are too obvious for discussion. Every one
will admit that no person is better Judge because
he is a Wing or Democrat. Every good man
revolts from the idea of disturbing the sources of
Justice by such a criterion Of selection. Every
man of sense perceives, at a glance. that nothing
would be more demorazlng Or peruicious in prac-
tice.
In this conncxoa, may say, with all humility,
that REFUGE in the belief that one has ever sus-
peccd me of proscri ptive spirit, and deem it an
act of Justice TO myself, TO state, moi nny that the
appointment which hold was not conferred upon
me by party vote, but that since was called IL
the bench, have taken no part whatever in the
turmoil of party politics, and have sludiously and
invariably avoided all attendance at political meet.
ngs.
am, gentlemen. with great respect and regard,
Your friend and servant,
BRISCOE 9. BALDWIN.