Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-08-11
judicial Electi0sss.
FOURTH CIRCUIT.


question now about to be submitted TO the test
ofthe strongest practical demonstration. And
in the capacity Of the people to throw oh.in t1e
discharge of one Of their most delicate trusts,
the letters Of political harleqains, must rest the
verdict, whether Tor good or for evil, offs
luton.
The general features of the articles Of the
constitution. relative to the Judiciary department,
were incorporated in that interest in ac-
cordance with the sentiment OF The people ful.
ly expressed. lis provisions were widely dis
cussed, its practical operations investigated
and approved in the canvass Tor members OF
the convention. To the membeis OF that body
when assembled in Richmond. nothing remain
ed to be done on this subject but 10 incorporate
in due form, in the Constitution, the provision
which had been SO emphatlcaly demanded
1t was change which.under the tendencies of
the age. the people called for and it made.
None, save on grounds fexpedency, had OH
jected to it. The power and the right of the pc
ope OF the State TO mould their organic law,
within the limitations fthe federal Constitution,
as to them might seem it, had been uncontro.
verted.
But, on the ground stated as a measure OF
Constitutional reform, it did receive the most
marked dsappro,a al from many Of the best and
purest minds IN The State. They opposed il
in effect anti progressive in lis moral and So
cal tendencies That system which it de.
signed 10 overthrow, though in n measure con
fessedly imperfect, rs are all human things, and
subject TO wise and judicious modification anil
amendment, they were unwilling 10 see sub
veried by an experiment at best hut imperfect
ly tried. il had been moral chart which
bad guided US from national infancy 10 strength
and manhood 1t had proven barrier to
bribery and corruption in the dispensation of
justice and, with that powerful but still and
invisible Influence, in giving character 10 the
moral tone of people, which Increasingly
operates in the administration as well as In the
nature of their laws, II had impaired an envia.
bic elevation and dignity In the qualities social
and moral of The people Of Virglnil.
And what was che paramount objection en-
ter,aincd alike 10y wings and demo, rats to an
elective judiciary Was it that the people,
as an abstract pioposion-were incapable of
making proper selections of judicial officers :
No such objection was entertained but it was
one. contessediy, if true elIcctually as fatal and
insurmounlable-an objection which the most
ultra radical could meet only with denial of
is Applicant mt was ibis: That the cleo
tons Of lho dispensers OF the law would
bp oil IA al H..
their independence and integrity endangered
by the corruptlng influences which belong to
1t. 1t was feared that the elections would fall
under the control Of political intngues; that the
will of the people might be shacklcd by the
paralyzlng machinery Of partizan cancuses
and conventions, and that the ermine the spot
less emblem of justice, would thus become the
spoil of him who should stoop 10 drag it from
the cess-pool of political corruption.
But such tendency Of the reform was
strenuously denied by its advocates. They
confessed ii would be an evil but assured them.
selves of the improbablity of its occurrence by
the plausible re .son that the voter chooses one
who may decide upon his rights OF liberty and
OF property. The constitution itself provides
against the evil, so far as it can, by requiring
that no election forjudge shall be held " ithin
dirty days of the tine Of holding an election
for political office.
But we may now lay speculation and ttco.
ry aside. The reform has been put in opera
ton among us,-and what do we now find to
be its practical tendencies Is it to keep aloof
from the political pit, and to resist those evils
whlchhave been alike deprccate by friend and
foeYFor a reply we need only referto the state oil
things which has taken place in the adjoining
judicial Circuit
For the steps there taken to give political
character TO tho ensuing election, we will not
charge the responsibility upon any party Such
crimitation could only add fuel 10 the fame
which every citizen of Virginia is vitality interest
ed IN extogushing. But that they originated
with members of the democratic party to pro
mote the election of partisan over candidates