Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-08-24
VOL. 1. NO. 4S

ing the law: without having any one of the
materials from which judgment ought TO
be made up If would do this thing would
render myself utterly unworthy Of your con-
fdence. -.--...-
1t the precedent set by you were submitted
to and generally followed, it is easy to see,
that many disastrous evils would rush into
the State by that example. The success Of
all political parties may depend sometimes
judicial decisions Religious sects, corpora
| tiOns, and other large bodi of men are often
suitors in court All these have an equal
reason to expect pledges. Interested indi-
viduals also stand On the same platform. Shall
candidates for judicial offices commit them
selves to all these If not, where shall the stop
ping place be found after the custom is oncs
begun, or the right to interrogate them
| acknowledged ? The election of every judge
would depend ON the accordance of his answer
WITH the wishes of the most numerous or
powerful classes-Courts would cease to be
places where justice is judicially administer
ed, and become a mere ministerial organism
for registering the foregone decrees of con-
ventions and other public assemblies. What.
then, would become of the weak and unpopu-
lar for whose protection the law was made
When the Constitution was amended, so as
to give the election of Judges to the people, it
was feared, by many, that candidates would
sell their integrity for votes, and conciliate
one portion of the people by promises incon-
sistent with the just rights of others l am
glad to say that the letter of your committee
was the first demand ever made upon me for
a pledge of any kind-the first question that
was ever asked me concerning any matter,
which | might be called ON to decide. Up to
the time when l received that letter, no mem
Der of either convention by which / was no
minated, nor no private citizen of my own po-
litical party, or any other, ever limited de-
sire to bind me by a promise in advance of
his vote. l feel warranted in saying that this
is the experience of all my brethren; and 1 do
not doubt that the candidates who opposed
us, including the honorable and talented gent
leman who is my competitor, have been treat
ed with equal forbearance.
acknowledge the obligation of a candidate
for political or representative Office to make
his opinions known. But it is the duty of a
Judge TO keep himself uncommitted until he
hears all that can be said on both sides l
viii promise nothing at present, except to de-
eide it honestly and according to my best
Judgment when it arises III should be cleo
ted, / will take solmen affirmation (equiyal-
ent by the laws of Pennsylvania to an oath)
that will support the constitution This VOW
I mean to keep. and that may keep it the
better 1 viii make no other, which can by
any possibility, interfere with it.
1t has struck me as possible that the COM
nlittee misunderstood its instructions when
the candidates for judge were addressed If
such instructions were given, it was probably
done without thinking how improper it would
be for us TO reply in the manner expected.
AT all events, l have faith enough in this re-
republican system of ours to believe, that no
State Convention ever did, or ever viii assem-
bic, in which a majority of members can be
found who viii deliberately insist upon their
right to demand pledges ofjudicial candidates.
on questions of law.
am with great respect, yours. &C.
j. S. BLACK