Washington telegraph., 1854-05-10
Elective Judiciary.

Our readers are aware, that we have,
on all suitable occasions. firmly opposed the
principle of electing our Judges and Pros
ecuting Attorneys by popular vote; and
we feel more and more inclined, the older
VIC get. to oppose the system. II Is one
that was hooted at by the wisest and best
of those who fought for our liberties, and
framed our Federal Constitution. At the
beginning of our existence as free mutton,
all the various plans and forms Of Govern
ment, were fully canvassed by our forefath-
ers, and they solemnly concluded. that an
elective Judiciary, bringing as it did, the
judges down in the dust, at the feet Of the
people, was an unwise system, and ccnse-
quently the idea was cast out by them as
absurd
In our reading the other day, we came
across the following morsel Of news. 1t
speaks for ITSELF and we insert it in this
connexion because it serves to show US the
beauties of the elective system. :-
"Col. John L. T. Sneed This gentle
man, who is now before the people Of Ten
nesse, for the Office of 'Attorney General
and Reporter, left here last night, en- route
for East Tennessee. He has partially can
vassed nearly all of the counties Of West
Tennesse. He is an energetic, industrious,
and indefatigable man, and will see a good
ly number of the voters, before the day Of
election. He has a large number Of ac-
quaintances in the State, with whom he serv-
ed in the Mexican War, consequently great
many warm supporters for we pledge our word
no one can know the man well without ad-
miring him, and agreeing that he is quail
fed for most anything that requires intel
lectual efort-Jackson IVhig."
1t will appear from the above tEat Col.
JOIN L. I. SNEED. Tate Of the M rican
Var, is a candidate for Attorney General
d. Reporter for the sovereign State Of Ten
nesse. Now the beauty Of the Ting is,
Col. SNEED is not mentioned in the heextract
above, as good lascyer, but we are boldly
told, that he serUed ia tie nercr-tO- beJorgot-
ten MeGica7s Var, and that consequently
he will get a great many aotes That
Mexican War has been, in many respects,
a curse to this nation. 1t has given us two
fouyM-rate men for Presidents, and 10 one
can count the number of great men it has
brought to light Arkansas has her full
share of them too-enough probably, to
supply US with officers of various grades for
years to come.
But waving the Mexican War, let Us
ask what right-yes, what right has Col.
SNEED to travel over every county in Ten
nessee, to electioneer for judicial Office |?
What does he propose to accomplish by it :?
A mans right to do thing depends upon
the object he has in view. When we use
the term rtght, we mean moral right for
we concede that candidate for Judge or
Prosecuting Attorney, has a legal right to
90 forth and wheedle as many men into bis
support as possible; but we do say that it
looks exceedingly bad and incongruous, to
say the least Of it, for men, who call them
selves lawyers, to be whipping about over
the country, electioneering and begging for
votes. like political mendicant and dema-
gogue. Does it not SAVIOR Of demagogueism
and a want of self-respect, as well as a disre-
gard for the profession If it does, then a
candidate for the Office of Judge or that Of
Prosecuting Attorney. has no moral right
to play Tie demagogue. But for what do
our candidates for judicial stations 20 forth,
here and there, to mingle in every crowd
to laugh, hurra, and be exceedingly kind
and polite to the dear people ? They do
not, and cannot, thereby convince the pao-
pie that they are good la,eyers and quail
fed to fill the Offices they seek. We ask
again can the people tell whether man
is quallhed Tor judicial ottce, by hearing
him talk for half an hour upon matters and
things in general? We certainly think
they cannot. If the people are capable of
deciding whether A. Or j. is good lawyer,
why Is it that man may not apply to
Them for license to practice law, ,:and have
the thing decided at the 1olls' At present,
before man can practice law. he must ap-
ply to one of the Supreme or Circuit Judges,
and undergo an examination, and if found
qualified. he gets a license. Now this IS
as useless in this day of progress as any
thing we can imagine. Suppose the Su-
preme Judges or Circuit Judge should