Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-04-29
EVENING STAR.
WASHINGTON:
FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 1858.
ELECTION OF JUDGES.

ELECTION OF JUDGES.
We spoke, in late number of the Star,
of the great valae to the people of an elect
i've judiciary. The more we read and reflect
upon the subject the more thoroughly are
we impressed with the great national i'm
portance of the interests involved.
Since the appearance of our article We
notice one in the Pennsyluanian touching
the same point, in which it is stated that
there is ga proposition now before the
Massachusetts Convention for revising the
constitution of that State, that all officers
should be elected by the people except the
judicial"
We are inclined to think that the Penn
sylUanian is in error with regard to this
proposition. 1t is our impression that one
Of the requirements of that State Conven-
ton involves this question of the election of
Judges by the people.
But admitting that our contemporary is
correct as to the fact, we must cordially
admit the force of his reasoning, wherein
he says:
"Why this exception? Are the people
not fully as well qualified to elect their
Judges as they are their Governors and
Representatives? If they are qualified to
elect their lawmakers, they are certainly
qualified to elect those who shall execute
the laws when they are made. We are
sorry to see the exception named. 1t seems
to US to imply that there is good foundation
for subscribing to the old doctrine that the
people are incapable of self. government
that the people are their own worst enemies.
We are not afraid of the people, All power
in this country belongs to them, and they
are no friends of true republican principles
who would seek to deprive them of any
portion Of that to which they are justly en-
titled"
We by no means view this important
matter in the light of party question. 1t
is altogether beyond and above the reach of
any partisan influence. Our experience
and observation assure us, and lead us to
assure the people through the voice of an
independent press, that the popular election
ofjudicial officers, judges, clerks, marshals,
attornies, &C., is measure of reform called
for by the enlightened requirements of the
age.
The testimony of the Pennsylvanian as to
the operation of the judiciary elective law
in the Keystone State, is of great value, and
we submit it in full, as an appropriate close
of our discussion of the subject for to-day
wherever the election of judges has been
left to the people, it has uniformly been
attended with the happiest results. Scarce
day passes that we do not read acknowl-
edgements from those who most feared and
most strenuously opposed the measure be-
fore it was tried, that they were in error
that their fears were groundless and their
opposition founded upon a misconceptions
An elective judiciary has hitherto secured
higher order of talent and fitness for the
Office, than where the Judges have been ap-
pointed by single individual, the Gov
ernor, OF by legislature. The many can
select with quite as much judgement as
few. We venture to express our earnest
hope that the Massachusetts Convention
now in session will do nothing to impair the
popular respect for the sovereignty of the
people,"