The American patriot., 1855-07-21
Judge Merrick- Misrepresentation.


Courier, both old fogy journals, have, within
the last few weeks, published articles rejecting
on the legal attainments Of our Chief Justice,
elect, which every one who personally knows
Judge Merrick, must denounce as illiberal, un-
called for, and exceedingly unjust. The cleo
ton is over the voice of the people has been
fully and fairly expressed, and nothing that
can now be said can have any other than an
unhappy effect. It is time that those imple-
ments Of party warfare incecties and abuse
should be laid aside, and all should quietly ac'
quiesce in the choice that has been made.
The editors Of these journals seem desirous
to underrate the legal abilities Of Judge Mer-
rick, and they have been quite industrious in
their attempts to detract from his well earned
reputation. They would have the impression
20 abroad that the Chief Justice is incompe-
tent for the high post to which the united voice
of free people have elevated him, and that
the State is about to suffer dire calamity in
the result of this election.
To those who know Judge Merrick, it is un-
necessary to say anything respecting these
groundless insinuations; his character as a
gentleman, as scholar, and as jurist, being
the strongest and most legitimate defence that
could be made for him; but it may not be un-
necessary to say few things concerning these
statements, lest those who know the Judge
only by report, may be victimized in their ap-
probation Of his merit by such misrepresenta-
tions.
These misstatements of the Advocate and
Courier, must evidently spring from one
of two causes-either from false intelligence
transmitted to the editors, with a design to
mislead them in reference to the qualifications
of our Chief Justice, or from a sickly desire
on the part of the writer's, to be revenged on
one whom they endeavored strenuously to de-
feat, but in vain.
If the former is the true solution of the mat
ter, and from circumstances which have come
to our knowledge, we are half inclined to be-
licve it is, we can only regret the deception
practised on these editors-practised on them
perhaps by those who, under the garb of
honied words, have thus taken low bred sat
isfaction in malgning the character of one
whom they cannot emulate.
If the latter solves the cause Of writing these
abusive articles, it was the only way left by
which their authors could give vent to those
feelings of modification over their defeat,
which else had consumed them The false
and insidous character of these attempts to
traduce, it is confidently predicted, time and
the Judges course on the bench will amply
discover.
The old fogy editors and the members Of
that party generally, now claim that the late
judicial election did not turn upon party issues,
and that the result was not fair test Of the
strength of the parties in the State. But why
do they now pursue the triumphant candidate
with such fierce denunciations, the contest
over? We do not believe that this election
did turn upon party issues; if it had Judge
Merrick would have received majority un.
heard Of in the annals of our State elections
| If the editors of the Courier and the Advo
cate had taken the pains to look at the major.
tiles for Judge Merrick in those localities where
he was best known, they would not so hastily
have come to the conclusion that he is so in
competent as some are disposed to represent
him. If they had considered the fact that al
the members Of that bar where he had prac
ticed for years, with the exception of very
few rabidly opposed to him on political grounds
were the most active of all others in bringing
him before the people as candidate, they
would certainly not have relied more on th'
dictum of one man who might possibly hav'
been actuated by other than kindly feelings to
wards the Judge-who might have been mo
we'd by another motive than desire to do th'
State some service, than on the universal com
mendation of the many who from having lons
enjoyed his acquaintance, were fully prepared
to appreciate his worth.
Judge Merrick is characterized as man o
"measured abilities" If this isa fact we woult
like to know where man can be found from
whose genious standard can be obtained t,
measure Judge Merrick's abilities. He canno
be found in this section of country.
If Judge Merrick's qualifications are callct
meagre, there are others aspiring to be callec
great, who, if measured by the same standard
would be compelled to take much lower ranl
than would be comfortable to their ambition.
The Editor of the Courier speculates quit
gravely on the future course of Judge Merricl
on the supreme bench, and institutes the stole
inquiry, whether he will act in conformity Il
the obligation he assumed when he united witt
the "Know- -Nothings," or whether he will b
governed by his oath Of office, swearing to sup