Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-03-30

10 sam Cidfhe, Esq, and other Members
OF the Staaaton Bar.
STANTON, March II, 1852
GENTLEMEN IL have received your favor
of the 9Th inst, in which you have the kind
ness to tender your appreciation of the man.
ner in which | have discharged my official
duties, as Judge of the Supreme Court CT
Appeals. and to express the desire that |
would become candidate for re appointment,
by the people of this Judicial section, under
the provisions of our new Constitution. i
am sensibly affected by this spontaneous mark
of esteem and confidence, coming as it does,
from the midst CT those TO whom | am best
known, and from asourcc so entirely disin-
terested and so highly respectable. For the
last ten years hare been withdrawn, in a
great measure, from public observation, and
indeed. almost from social intercourse, by the
arduous and engrossing duties of my judicial
station, which are Known to be of such ma
ture as to attract but little attention from the
people at large, and to be subjected to the
close scrutiny # none but the members af the
legal profession TO that honorable and en-
lightened profession the constituent body
must, OF course, look for such information as
will enable them to exercise, with discretion
and safety, one of the most important func-
tons of government From that profession,
my reputation as Judge, whether good or
bad, must of necessity be derived. and
shall regard it as the greatest misfortune of
my life If have failed to secure its commen-
dation; fer the want Of it would be decisive
evidence Of incapacity or unfaithfulncss on my
Part, in the discharge Of The high and respon-
sible duties Of my trust
To the expression, gentlemen, of your wish
that shall become candidate for the suf-
lrages OF the people, answer that shall do
so, and that cannot do otherwise, | could
have no motive for declining, that would not
be either humiliating to myself, or derogatory
to the appointing power. No man acquain-
ted with my circumstances would give credit
to the superstition that retired from weari-
ness OF the judicial station, in order to return,
under obvious disadvantages, to renewed
professional career. 10 retire, therefore,
would be virtual Acknowledgements of in
competence or unworthiness, or of craven
fear of impending opposition. trust no one
VIII suppose me so immodost as to arrogate to
myself superior ability, or to assert any
claim founded on my present position. The
power OF describing me is in the hands Of the
people, and il they should determine to do so.
no one will have a right to impeach their
Judgement or impugn their motives. A s lit
tie right have to anticipate improper mo.
tives on their pant, Or the want of generous
confidence, il, upon investigation. it should be
found that have hitherto performed my du-
ties well and faithfully. No instance has
as yet, occurred in Virginia, of public conf
denee withheld, when desired, from compe-
tent Judge, originally elected during good
behavior, who has been guilty of no misbe-
havior
You have been pleased, gentlemen, in your
kind appreciation, however unwarranted, OF
my official conduct. to say that you tender it
without distinction Of party, and this, by i'm
plication, stronger than express words, ac-
quits me of all suspicion Of having ever car
red to the bench the bias of party. And
shall cherish the thought, whatever may be
the result of the election, to the latest mo-
ment of my lite, abhorring as | do, from the
bottom Of my soul, the crime of infusing poi
son into the fountain of justice. lie who
commits it, or even falters for moment, be-
tween friend and foe whether personal or po-
litical, Ill the administration OF the laws, Is q
wretch unworthy of human sympathy, and
deserves instead Of the ormine of justice, the
rope of the baugman, Such monster has
never yet been known to the judicial annals
of Virginia, aud pray to God may never, in
all future time, disgrace her history But
that can only be guarded against, eifectually,
by the people, now that the Judges are to be
elected for terms of years. by frowning in
dignantly upon every proposition to admit
party politics into the estimate of qualifca-
ton for the judicial Office. Nointelligent man
can have the sligtest faith in its wisdom, OF