New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-03-08
PARTY .4.ND THE ELECTIVE JUDE
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P.dRTY And THE ELECTIVE Judi
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We regret to learn that there is probabiht,
that partisan nominations will be made fol
Judges in the Perish of Orleans. Neither the
entire body of whigs nor the larger and inAu-
entail portion of the democratic party, have any
thing whatever to do with this movement.
1t originates, as we are informed by intelli-
gent democrats, with a well-known clique Of
their own party. This clique is composed Of
ultraists and theorists, and the chief ambition
OF its members appears to be to gain notoriety
some way or another, no matter how. Their
vagaries are constantly turned to good account
by the wings, and never fail to furnish abund-
ant material out of which to forge weapons in a
political contest
In the present case, if we are correctly in
formed, they have acted as cliques usually act
A few have met without public notice, resolved
themselves into the whole democratic party, and
decreed that democratic party judges should be
made for the District Judges in the Parish of
Orleans. They made no order to the democratic
party SO far as the Office of Chief Justice is CON
cerned; and yet it would puzzle them to adj
vance one argument in favor of partisan nomi-
nation Of Judges, which would not apply more
strongly to that judicial Office than to any other
Another strange matter in the premises is,
that the few who have decreed partisan nomi-
nations of Judges as law for democracy. have a
peculiar, cratic. incomprehensible organ mot
you, oh wise and ponderous Courier,) which is
always busy in denouncing. in the most violent
~ "forcible-feebleD style, both parties as
utterly corrupt and unworthy, too deeply sunk
In Ignominy to be easily seen in the clear vision
OF Its own sublimated honesty and angelic puri-
ty And yet, they and it wish to force the
choice of Judges upon these naughty, wicked,
dirty, nasty parties
VI course, the members Of the democratic
party will walk. like patient disciples in the
faith marked out for them by self-made law
makers or course, they will regularly vote
:" the nominee and because he is g the nomi-
nee"-of what The democrats can answer
the question, themselves, in the present case.
We should say, Of small, noisy, restless, ultra
clique, always agitating something unusual or
perverse to popular sentiment, because always
ambitious of notoriety, and always feverisn to
throw other members of their party in the back
sary to commit some curious extravaganza:
always declaiming noisily about the rottenness
OF party, and always carrying into practice the
bitterest and most narrow minded, and most
proscriptive party spirit; always first and most
eager in the rush for spoils, and always perling
contest, and making even victory ruinous. BY
the extravaganza of their ultraisrs. After
such men, of course, the large mass of intell- |
gent and rejecting democrats will follcw, with |
the patient, regular steps of soldiers following
their tle-leaders
The mass of the people will not follow so pa
tiently. They will be unable to see how being
q wing or a democrat can make man better
or worse jurist Iii easy to see why candi-
date for-an office purely political, such as mem
Der OF Congress or member Of the Legislature,
should be party nominee, because he has to
stand forward and represent and champion prin-
'iples Which are entertained, and measures
which are presented, by those composing party.
I Is easy to see why those seeking offices, which,
rom their nature or their patronage, are neces-
arily auxiliary to party, for instance the Office
+ Mayor, Aldermen, ETC., should come forward
s party nominees.
But what has the Judiciary to do with mere
olitical questions Why should Judge be
pom the Bench as a wing or democrat? What
artisan influence or patronage can Judge
ave, and what could he exercise with propri-
W Nominated by party, elected by a !
arty. and looking to that party for re- nomi-
alton and election, perhaps necessary to his
Import, how could he entirely divest himself of
ONE feeling Of partjaop in I. | i
Ween contending litigants, always disposed to
e grateful or angry as his decisions may be }
Asorable or adverse'
The theory of an elective judiciary rests a
pom the superstition that the people will select
decide upon questions concerning life, per-
0nai safety, honor and property, the best jurist
hu the purest man, regardless Of his faith in l
ehgon' politics or philosophy. If judicial }
osiuon Is to be partisan reward, some of our :
oiest Jurists, men who rarely or never mngle j
the strife Of the political arena, will be viz :
aaAy excluded from all share in judicial hon 1
~ anu men who brawi most noisily at ward ,
meetings and election precincts, will be left to ?
it'er the vague, confused seeming of law upon =
he bench. q
we look upon any proposition to make partv \
formations OF Judges as direct blow at the
itaiity of the elective judiciary, and as seri- I
usiy endangerng the most important interests
society We have heard many gentlemen, of tn
oth parties, say they would not vote for anv hi
ahaidate who would accept a party nomina- ~
Ion. This is our own resolve. If il be cener.
ny ADOPTED we may hope to have jurists and de
OF politicians upon the bench, and finally real Vi
90 the benefits anticipated from the system of in
n elective judiciary. de
pr
THE MAL.We received part Of a mail from tb no.., 90
'sterday The Baltimore and Washington papers w es
late as due but nothing up time from beyond tho a
hints We are thankful, however that we got anything
all dc
--=z==- n,
We indebted to the Clerk Of the steamer James Mil
gar for late St. Louis paper 70
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