Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1852-05-13
From the Detroit Free Press
The Election of Judges.

Perhaps there is no feature Of the two great parties
Of the cOuhty prominent than their positions upon
this question. The Democracy, 50 lar as we know,
have been for Elective Judiciary, and State after
State has fallen into line, and changed their systems
from appointment by Executive Power to election by
the people EVERYWHERE these changes have been dep
reeaed by the Wings and the most fatal results predic
ated Such prophecies, however have had no effect
upon the Democracy they had settled upon the principle
that the people the source OF all rightuiy exer-
cised Power that the representatives rs the mere organ
of Legislative speech responsible for faithful discharge
of the trust reposed in his hands, oftentmes relying on
his Judgment but the representative, the attorney,
ment Thus grounded in confidence upon selfevident
principle was natural enough that powers delegated
by the people should be surrounded by as Immediate
countabity the nature oil the case would admit oil,
and hence the movement in favor OF electng instead OF
appointing Judicial Officers; hence the public favor Of
short tenures instead of long Of Judicial as well
as ministerial and other Offices. The Identification OF
the Democracy with the people thus seem while It IS
made equally clear that our opponents casting rldoue
upon popular elections Of tho kind have condolences In
the power which they apply every recurring cleo
ton for support 1.-The people may vote at all what
reason is there opposing the election OF the Judiciary
The National InfslHgeResT the great and time honorei
organ Of the Wing Party thus mp the views Of the
Wings on the subject"
"One of the oldest arguments, conception, in
favor of revision Of the Constitution and which'is
urged by one Of the conservative journals OF New Or
leans too the independence of the Judiciary
by giving the choice Of Judges to the people instead Of
Of the State, This change. extending itsey from on'
State to another apprehend gradually lOessning the
franassOorls Of iasftutions.,,
We do not thus quote. intending TO present anything
new it the old argument repeated thousand times
and which FOR sixty years controlled the action
the States reference the selection OF Judicial or
fcers The Judiciary was made to possess peculiar
sanctty and elevated by hypocrtcal assumptions
Of peculiar purity ADORE the comprehension Of the pop
uar mind. We think well of the Judiciary as ON
best neghbor but we have no idea that men any
purer better from the fact, that they have been
pointed or elected to such stations Their powers
great and their responsibility, and ought to be
their wisdom and sagacity. They are; however, men
and il is vain to deny that they have erred like other
The Framework Of the law is compound Of TECHNICAL
ties and rules, which ofentmes embarrass the Judge
and defeat the end of Justice These technicaites
made to ride obvious right and to postpone from
from term to term with vast accumulation oil costs
cases which, under freer system. could be disposed
at once. The machinery OF Law is complicated and
uncertain; it is wholly wanting in simplicity, without
which Justice cannot be administered Simple truths al
enemy to completely and forms. Such has been the JI
dicIal Administration under Executive Judicial Officers
it now remains 10 be seen what effect the Elective sys
TEN will have. We anticipate salutary change. We
anticipate the effect which ollowes immediate accoun
liability in all other instances Instead OF ioosing tn
Frameoor of the Government. it will bring into unity
its parts, and present perfected whole worthy of
I People who maintain Free Government