New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-03-10

Ahe Lisb VI LetterS Will appear Ia tiiiS P"Iei
tomorrow as usual
THE ELECTION or CHIEFJUS7ICE.
We are somewhat astonshed at the course Of
the Courier and some Of the country democratic
press IN reference to the selection of Chief
Justice for the State of Louisiana.
This is a matter which we had hoped would
be kept entirely aloof from politics But it can
neither be concealed nor denied that they are
disposed to prefer partisan opinions as recon-
mendations of Hon. Thomas Slidell, and that
they necessarily labor to rally around him n
partisan support. This the friends of Christian
Roselius have in no case done. Indeed, his
most active friends (such as Thomas J. Durant,
&c.,) are prominent democrats, and look to his
election only as the triumph of an able and ac-
complished civilian, of a citizen above suspicion
and reproach, and man with all the kindly
sympathies of humanity warm in the blood
around his heart.
They have in no case presented partisan
claims in his behalf; and it is of our personal
knowledge, as il is Of that Of hundreds of others,
that Christian Roselius, at least one year since,
positively and unequivocally declared that I'M
der no circumstances would he accept a party
nomination for the office Of Chief Justice This
determination he has faithfully and conscien-
tiously abided by. The insinuations of the
Courier and of few rabid democratic papers
are ungenerous and unjust.
Christian Roselius has not spent and will not
spend one dollar, even in the ordinary course of
business, though only so much as to pay for an
advertised announcement, to advance the pros
poets Of his election. He has openly said he
would not. and he is of that bluntly honest char
acter that he says what he means, and having
said 1t, does as he said he would. lie has no
circulars scattered through the country, and he
begs no mans vote. He knows that the post of
Chief Justice is post of high honor, and should
be the reward only of unquestionable purity of
character, large legal requirements, and clear
calm Judgment. That he possesses all these
qualities in most eminent degree cannot be
and is not denied
The only point is, how does he compare as
iurist and civilian with Hon Thos. Sidell, his
competitor OF this gentleman as a lawyer and
man, we have always spoken in terms of honest
respect. Neither we nor other friends of Mr..
Roselius have brought to bear upon him the
same insidious warfare, the same petty, sneak
ing appeals to partisan feeling, the same sense
less revival of political past, which threaten
to mark and disgrace the opposition to Christian
Roselius, in certain quarters We want a iurist
and q civilian upon the seat of Chief Justice
and we want there the best jurist and the best
civilian, we care not whether he be wing or
democrat. To compare Thos. Slidell to Chris |
tian Roselius, either as jurist or civilian, is |
altogether out of the question. Judge slidell is |
certainly an able gentleman, an earnest, labo-
rious judge, and man of general information
heis, too, of good repute as an honorable and
honored citizen, but the legal acquisitions of his
mind makeit comparable to that of Christian
Roseus only as schooner may be compared
to ship What his mind carries is well slowed
away and the mind itself is apparently sound
and strong, but the mind of Roselius carries
vastly more, in the most perfect order, and is
more massiyely and capaciously constructed
1t is matter of no earthly Importance
whether the Judge upon the Bench believe in
wing or democratic tenets In the most selfish
point Of view, look at it what patronage can
he haves Certainly, none honestly OF safely.
What favor can he bestow' Certainly, none,
NN"' ~ PSiJo AiihsNll3 DSCduns IL SNOru
to do right, to administer the law in its letter
and IN its spirit, and if he herein does his duty,
no does only what he is sworn to do In any
case we want law and not politics from the
Bench. We have enough of politics at the polls
and from the stump.
The election of such man as Christian Ro-
sehus, Chief Justice Of Louisiana, would be
honorable and useful to the State lie is self
made self-taught man. As boy or man his henor
OF ms honesty have been unquestoned, and are
UNREASONABLE. As jurist and civilian, he is
unsurpassed at the bar Of Louisiana In the
uignity ofseh-respect he is never wanting. With
'he largest popular sympathies, he never stoors |
- pay the demagogue. His energy is untiring |
ms honesty purpose infexible; and his clear, |
strong common sense almost proyerbial. Plain |
ahu uhostentatlous, blunt and honest, the peo.
pie repose in him that full confidence which is |
the citizens highest honor, as it would he tho |
strongest authority of the Judge, with the
masses Of the people. We are one of thousands
who If they believed thing was right, and
Christian Roselius said it was wrong, would
pause to doubt and question their belief. We
know the man to be honesty itself, and his mind.
large, and broad, and massive, rejecting. like
the Alhambra's Hall of Mirrors, all the real-
ties OF life and fact within its reach of light and
intellect