Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-03-24
TIE HUNGARY.
The ;nnortan

The importance OF the subject induces us to re
cur TO it, even at the risk of being tedious. Th,
election Of Judges is novel one TO the people o
Virginia bnt.i, is one ffaught with far more seri
GUS consequences 10 their happiness and peace,
The internal quiet and well.being of.sucety, thar
any they were ever Engaged in. 1t is because i
is novel that We fear they will moi be fully aliv,
to all its importance, until it may be too late.-
They may unwisely think that no more precau
tions are necessary in selecting Judge. who may
have IN his hands their liberty, their property and
their lives, than it is to choose gentleman Il
spend pleasant winter in Richmond on oysters
and champagne But they will be vastly misiak
en-. The Judge of a Circuit Court holds his Of
iice Tor 8, and Judge of the Court of Appeals fol
II years. That is long time in the life of an in
dlvidual TO be delayed Of his rights or defrauded
them by the lneifclency, or drunkenness, or cor
ruption ola Judge. Judge has to interpret eve
ry law Of the land, and that, as proved by many
an instance, is even higher function than that u
The Legislature itself. The plauest provisions
may be construed away by his decisions, and the
very law, whose minister he processes TO be, in.
stead of a shield and an ark of safety, may be con.
ver,ed into scourge Suppose he is corrupt or ty.
rannical, or II years isa long period for freemen
to hold their dearest privileges al the mercy of a
despot-for it cannot be too often repeated, that
the redress by way Of impeachment is mockery.
Once elected. for good or bad, he is quartered up
on the treasury Tor his full term, above the people,
above all law-for he can conslrue il 10 suit him
self, to Cypress the good or'to shield The bad. Sup
pose he is an mbecle oradrunkafd, all the BUSH
ness Of the community isdelayed, 1.-The wronged are
denied redress of injuries, and the wicked 60 un-
whipt IF justice, while the shameful spectacle of a
drunken Judge brings disgrace upon the ermine.
The election of competent and worthy Altornies
for the Commonwealth, is alsn matter Of very
high consequence to the die administration Of JUS
iice. Indeed, it is scarcely of less moment than
the selection Of fit Judges The Attorneys for each
county have to act in both Courts the County and
Superior and wherever an unprncipled or incom-
pelent one is chosen, crime is virtually licensed in
that county, during the Attorneys continuance in
office We deem the same qualifications requisite
in the Attorneys as in the Judge. lie should be
a man learned'n his profession, of stern integrity
and mistaken 6rmness. Without these qualities,
he cannot do justice to the Commonwealth, and all
The violators of the law will be turned loose upon
society without restraint.
10 avoid the evils that must fnw from an inef
cient corrupt administration justice, the peO-
PIE VI every county shouIu "eel "Sethef anu
dopt measures for their common protection. Where
there are many candidates. p unworthy one, with
out concert, may be elected. TO prevent that those
who have common interest in the faithful execu-
lion of the laws, should unite and designate per-
son able TO discharge the duties Of Judge or Pros
ecuting Attorney. Unless some concerted action
of this kind is pursued, in many coun,ies and dis
trics Of the State, the people may come to rue the
day they ever entered upon the work ofrefurm.-
From the Rich Whip, bu request.