Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-07-23
LEY REQIIEsT.l
TO lie Editor ofthe Sentinel;

ing TOT the OIDCe Oh Juube' i dteHl IL prop
er occasion to say, also, through the public
press, what ! bad previously said to others ia
conversation upon this subject, as showing
my own opinions wishes, and purposes, at
the time when | became candidate for the
Judgship in the 9TH Circuit composed of the
counties of Bedford, Patrick, Franklin, Hen
ry, and Pittsylyania.
While in attendance on the Court Of Frank
lin at the last monthly term, and when the
death OF the late Judge Taaerro became Len
orally known IN II at county, | distinctly
said to all my friends that whilst | accepted
the position of candidate which they had ten.
dcred ne, should not canvass the Circuit
On the next day, tie 9Th ofJuly, | addressed
a note to several persons in other parts of the
Circuit, asking them to inform the ptople.thar
| was candidate and stating the reason for
doing SO, viz that | supposed there would be
no canvass for the office. On my return home
10 BedfordI repeated the same thing,and shall
adhere to the resolution then expressed.
cannot say have ct with one who
approves Of electoneerng, for | have seen
some who do. do not mean, however, on
that account, TO depart from The views have
all The while enterta. ned. TO say nothing of
the Influences and tendencies OF such prac
L
arm at loss 10 know what candidate for the
Judgship could say, in public speech. in his
own behalf Where wouldhe beginl What
would be bis themel Would he deliver lee
lures upon the science of the law, or would be-
give specimens of his own style, or that Of his
aiversares, at the Bari | confess, although
accustomed to speak, | should be troubled no
little at such an attempt on my part
| bopn boUovar bo r oIocI,o.
eering for such an office will never prevail, 10
any great extent, in this good Old Common
wealth. When generally introduced. Judgey
will be the mere creatures of others-the in
dependence upon the Bench will no longer be
maintained. They will enter up. not the just
Judgments of the law, bat the owe ruling de-
creeS ofthose on whom they have fawncd,
THAT thrift might follow lawning."
The Court in time, will be, not upon the Bench
but in the streets-not in the Halls of ustice,
bat in the purlieus OF vice and in the sinks Of
dissipation. The trappngs ofthe Office would
belong to one who had been messed with lis
honors, but lis influence would be welded by
an outside populace
A Judge must be above the sway of parlit $
or individuals, or even Of multnudes, when it
Is necessary to maintain the supremacy of the
| 1OnStuullOn ana TIE laws nldue In pursuance
of it; as SUCH faithful TO his trust, he must ad.
minister the law without fear, favor, or atiec
tion, and without malice toward any ONE
This cannot be the case where, without quail
fcarions for tn office, he has been placed up
on the Bench because he is popularleader
handsome dcclamer, oil ga thrifty electioneer
ier.
Though Judge, elected without these innl
! 10, | l.. 81 r
Mansfield, Marshall, OF "a Story he should act
rs did the first of those great men. ofwhom it
Is said. che came to the Bench, not, like some
Others, trusting to his previous knowledge. aud
the aid afforded by counsel in forming his de.
real employment of his life. On the day of his
Inauguration as Chief Justice instead Of think.
ing he had won the prize, he considered him
self as only starting IN the race"
The influences of his decisions, it is said by
one ofour own Judges, are felt wherever JUS
tee is administered by enlightened and liberal
rules; wherever moral delicacv and judicial re
fnement are infused into the municipal code al
once to persuade men TO be honest and to keep
them so wherever the intercourse of mankind
aims at something more elevated than that grow
elling spirit of Jarter, in which meanness, and
avarlce and fraud strive for the mastery over
ignorance, crednlity, and folly. Felt as they
thus are, the name of such a Judge will be held
IN reverence by the good and the wise every
wherein Whatever manner he may have been
elected The fault here will be, not in the sys
tenn OF popular elections itself, but in the man
her in which that system may be carried out
10y the candidates for the office. The system
may be good but the practice may be bad
Making no pretensons myself to any superi
or qualifications for the high station for Which
some ofmy friends have thought proper to sus-
tain my claims. shall, if elected, endeavor TO
discharge my duty. if not With ability, certain.
ly with honesty, and with an anxious desire
Ia be as nearright as human infrnites will per
mlt-infrmities which are the lot of all men.
have said thus much. without meaning to
censure any one who may pursue different
course. lest my silence. under the circumstan-
ces, might lead some to the conclusion that my