Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1853-07-27
M Judge o'Neall and the Edgeield Adver-
tiSer.S

UNDER this head the Greenvc Patriot in its last
ISSUE makes structures upon our late Editorial
in regard to Judge ONEALL's untimely expression,
that Secessionists and Nuiers should forget their
dreams of Abstraclons, and had like TO have said
of madness" The Patriot instead of rebuking the
Judge for volunteering TO hurl such wanton insult
at wo-fhs of the people of South Carolina, true to
its antecedens endorses the insult as follows. "We
were in hopes that the able Editor and accomplished
writer, who now governs and directs the Advertiser,
would himself by this time, the truth Of the
expression that Secession was Madness" Not con-
tent with this the Editor continues his remarks upon
the merits Of Secession in his characteristic style of
ridicule, by reciting what he calls good joke that
he heard two years ago of Fire eater" who travel
ed several hundred miles in the United States, expect
ing to be lion,' but egregiousy disappointed,
as the people among whom he travelled had either
never heard of Secession, looked upon it only
piece of harmless gosconadc."
Now, in our comments upon Judge O'NEALL's
harsh, imprudent and inexcusable remarks, we said
nothing about the proprie,y or improperly Of Seces-
sion. Our structures had reference solely TO the in
discretion, 1--WE had like to have said indecency) Of
Judge upon the Bench, utterng severe epithets in
regard to political Matters and that too after they
dead, it may be, only slumbering TO he aroused at
some future day, with more violence than ever. The
Patriot Tins attempts to change the issue, but we beg
leave to say, that justification of cooperation, or
consolidation is quite different thing to the justica-
tion Of a Judge who so far forgets the dignity and
sancy of his ufice volunteer political express
sions, calculated to weaken and undermine the con-
fidence of the people IN his imparality. However,
| Judge O'NEALL is an mpulsive man, with great en-
phass Of character and this may in sort be his
for calling Secessonists nadmen, at this late
day, especially when we remember the circumstances
under which he wrote We repeat that mortified
vanity through the phole letter from Washington
and The Judges confession IN his late speech at An
derson according to the Patriots own account of it,
goes to strengthen assertion. We differ with the
Patriot and rather think the I" auson" was unhap-
PLY and not happily" made. But our readers can
Judge for themselves. Here it is lie said he went
North full of the importance of South Carolina and
expected to hear it admitted everywhere. He said
too that he thought he would meet persons who had
heard of Judge O'NEALL, South Carolina Judge,
who had heen upwards oftwenty years the Bench,
and President of the Court of Appeals, the Su.
preme Court of the State, but said the Judge, they
had never heart Of me, and cared as little for me
when they did hear Of me- they did for one of their
County Court 'Squires." What is this but mortified
vanity and an longing for notoriety which the
most shallow politician always, and the ablest Judge
but rarely enjoys. We thank the Patriot for the eS
tract As "lhe President Of the Court of Appeals
in South Carolina was not worshipped as dcmigod,
no doubt that important parsonage thought that his
other character Of 4" Reforner" had preceded him
and would give him the much coveted notoriey.
But all resources failed him, and fear that he sus-
pectcd Secession the cause Of his disappointment
and seeming bad odor at Washington and Chicago.
Two JUNIOR brethren Of the Bench had been heard of
in the Federal Senate, and as Judge O'NEALL 10 n
very imperous man, suspect that he is not pleased
With their outstripping him. However nothing o.
this kind may have prompted him 10 call Secession
lists madmen. He is is an extraordinary man and nm
extraordinary Judge, but we are not willing to say
"he has no superior" on the Bench. OF late years,
it is true, he has adopted the plan frequently Of de-
vering opinions in the Appeal Court, without citing
a single authority for his assertions and positions.
This would seem TO confirm the Patriots opinion that
" as Judge he has SUPERIOR, or at least, it will
warrant the suspicion that the Judge himself thinks
that he has none in present or past time, and that
therefore, his is the best authority that could be
given. II is rather IL dangerous experiment for the
Judge initiate Mr.. CALHOUN IN this respect, while
lie opposes his principles violently. Judge ONEALL
has done many things in South Carolina 10 impair
the confidence of the people in his impqrtialiy and
nothing is more common than to postpone cases al
the request Of parties rather than bring them before
E,r, ,.I;
Court House, he allowed himself SO far TO become 4
partisan in the he hearing that lie quit the
Bench in an agitaied manner, mounted the Witness
Stand and gave testimony in the Thus, instead
of being neutral and sitting Judge should, for
both sides, he attacked the one and fought for the
other contrary TO all precedent. If his Honor mag-
ines that " he has superior" q Judge in the af
fec,ons Of the People, let him resign the office which
he degraded and disgraced ut Edgefeld Court House
by the above act, and he will find that but few notes
Of regret at such resignation will reach him in his
privacy. We are willing 10 accord to Judge
ONEALL, all the credit that he deserves, and it is
much for building the Columbia and Greenville
Railroad, and we are ready to praise him for other
traits of character. But never can we permit our.
selves to say that /" as Judge he has no superior"
We have objected and still object in strong terms,
TO Judges being made Governors and Senators, par
ticuarly since the present organization Of our Judi
ciary, permitting Judge TO exercise two or three
extensive Jurisdictions, gives member of the Bench
such an overwhelming power and influence, that
scarcely any other person need oppose Judge for
any office that lie may desire. These Jurisdictions as
we before said, mus. be divided in order to weaken
their overwhelming influence, or an amendment
should be engrafed upon the Constitution, requiring
that Judge shall have resigned his ofllce at least
two years. make him eligible 10 political station.
We agree in the main, with the Patriot, that "whst
we can find safer and better United States Senator
on the Bench than elsewhere, we see no Improperly
in going TO the Bench for him. But are all of our
safer and better United States Senator'S always he
selected from the Ten Judges, than from among all the
Statesmen Of South Carolina who have made politics
their exclusive study' Shall the Judicial office be
prostitured into eectioncerng game, at which ten
men will play for the Senatorial robes or the Guber
natorlal Cap!
In conclusion, it may be proper to say that COL |
SrMKrNs knows nothing of this or our former editorial
on Judge O'NEALL. The COL is far away at the |
Norlh enjoying himself, we trust.
The Seventh Census.
WE are indebted TO J. d. B. DEBow ESQ.,, the able
and accomplished Superintendent of the Census Beau
reau for an Abslrct Of the SeuenM Cersus, which is
still locked up at Washington. This abstract"
riyes only the rcncrll resut nf the Census but