Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1857-04-02
Letter from Judge Leonard.
FAYETIE, March II, l8.

Jonh c. Richardson, Esq, st. Louis.
MY DEAR SIR: Allow me, if you please,
to reply through you to the numerous re-
quests that have been addressed to me, TO
become a candidate for reelection. or
course cannot but feel profoundly CRATE
Iul FOR the approval of my official conduct,
implied in these solicitations, coming as they
do from men of all parties, and from every
part of the state; and beg leave in this man.
ner TO make my grateful acknowledgements
accordingly. But yet am constrained by
the present state of health, waving all 9th :
er considerations, to decline yielding to
them. feel that my constitution will not
endure the unceasing and confning labor
incident to a faithful discharge of the duties
Of the office, and all that remains to me,
therefore, is to return my thanks to the peo-
pie Of this State for having elevated me to
my present high place, without any solici-
tation on my part, and with unanimity as
kind in them as as it twas complimentary to
myself, and TO take a formal leave of official
life at the expiration Of my present term of
service.
Coming here two years before the organi-
cation of our State government, and then
just entering myself upon the active duties
Of life, ain mainly indebted to the kindness
of my fellow citizens for whatever success
in life may have crowned my exertions, and
what yet remains to me, together with the
interests Of my family, are bound up in the
present and future honor and prosperity of
the State, to the mantainance and promotion
of which, am therefore bound by the double
tie of gratitude and self-interest. In taking
my final leave Of 4 very short public life,
hope it may not be thought impertincnt or
otiicious OH my part, TO congratulate the
friends Of an elective judiciary upon the
manly, independent conduct and practical
wisdom ofthe great mass OF the people, in
excluding party politics from their conside-
ration in the selection Of Judges, to suggest
the propriety Of their requiring the Legisla-
ture 10 make more suitable provision for
their support, while they are engaged in the
public service. My own short experience
on the bench of the Supreme Court, has
taught me that proper discharge Of lis du-
ties requires of the Judges their constant
and undivided attention, and leaves them no
time TO devote to other means Of support
if indeed, it were otherwise proper or in
good taste for them to mix themselves up in
the commercial transactions Of the country.
The present ground Of fear, in reference 10
our political institutions, would seem to be
that all the functions of Government will
ultimately fall into the hands Of men quite
Incompetent and although judicial offices
ought not 10 be profitable, in mere pecuni-
ary point Of view, so as TO be sought after
for that reason, it does not seem TO be the
interest Of the State. TO exclude from her
highest judicial tribunal, competent men, by
requiring from those who sit there, too great
a sacrifice Of private fortune and personal
comfort; nor does it comport with the honor
Of the State, that those who serve her in this
high place should be constrained TO resort TO
their own private fortunes, or 10 other means,
for the support of themselves and their fam
lilies, while their whole time is necessarily
devoted to the service of the puSic.
| am, very truly, your friend and servant,
A. LEONARD.