Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1857-11-28
pressing small bank no.ss /:
For the Memphis Appeal
Political Judges in Mississippi.

In my last communication / undertook to
show that the opponents Of Democracy have
in this state, pretended to exclude political con-
sideratfoas from their minds when selecting
i officers for judicial and ministerial stations,
but that they have invariably supported their
political friends even when they were opposed
BY men Of superior merit and qualification, and
that the Democratic candidates have thereby
been most usually defeated. Proposed as a
remedy for this that the Democratic party
should hold district aud county conventions for
the purpose Of making suitable nominations for
all the Offices to be filed at he next election,
and / promised to show that this was not only
i right upon principle but that it was sanctioned
BY the practice OF both England and America.
[ shall not 60 into any heightened historical
dissertation for the purpose Of proving this
proposition, but content myself with a state
ment Of a few, simple and well known facts
Manifestations
Il is well known to every one at all familiar
with English history, thatthe Lord Chancellor,
the highest legal dignitsry Of the realm who
bold the great seal Of the kingdom, is not only
selected on account Of bis political opinions,
but that be is in fact a member OF the Cabinet
and expected to lay down his seals and retire
from Office whenever the political party to
which be belongs is defeated on any test quss-
ton in parliament. For many years the Lord
Chancellor of England was considered the
leader Of the administration in the House of
Lords, and expected to defend all Of its measures
in that body. And It is well known that Lord
Chancellor Thurlow governed the whole nation
for years with almost dsspotie power, and
that Lord EIdon was z the power behind the
throne greater than The throne itself" for a
period Of twenty-five years, and that be even
set the seal TO commission and carried on the
government when the King was an idiot, and
the throne consequently vacant. And yet who
will question the impartiality Of the decisions
Of these great Chshcery Judges whose names
have became almost Synonymous with equity
itself. Lord Mansfield, too, was a politician
and owed his promotion 10 bis political views.
When the matehless eloqHsnee OF Pitt was
inhsming the nation against the Hanoverian
connexions Of George H., Lord Mansfield was
placed in the House Of Commons to defend the
Administration against hin. He struggled man
fully against his great rival, and claimed and re-
ceivsd, as bis reward, the Chief Justiesship Of
England. But when he had once put on the
rDine OF Justice, no one win dare TO say that
it was ever soiled, or even furnished BY politi-
cal prejudice. So unimpeschable was his
character, and SO great was the confidence
which all men had in bis integrity, that when
L. - - - - - a. ----~1 - III :
his books and manuscripts which be had been
collecting from boybOOd-tbe loss of which
3 ages yet to cons shall norny'-Rere utterly
destroyed, by the mob in the Gordon riots, and
when be was c~siledupOh TO preside at the trial
Of their leader for high TREASON, " neither the
prisoner, nor bis counsel hor bis friends, were
at a. sIsrmed at his fate being placed in the
Of one, who hsdsuferetso deeply from
the consequences Of the acts to be investigs-
ted And not only are the CbasssIlors, Chief
and Prisen Isdgs Of England selected
with a view to their political opinions, but the
Attorney and Solicitor Generals also, aud it
is even carried 90 far that the silk gown,
gives preeedencs IL court, is seldom, if
ever conferred upon one opposed in politics 10
the admtuistrs tion. Hence. it was that Lord
John Campbell. The present able Chief Justice
OF England, was not permitted to put on a silk
gown until he was forty years Of age, and bad
long been the leader Of his circuit. Lord
Chancellor Rronghman, aud the late most en-
inent Chief Justice Denman, are also striking
examples Of meu Of the highest qualifications
and merit, who were long kept down on ae-
count Of their political o~piLio8s, and only rose
into smiRAnos when their party succeeded to
power. Sir James Scarlet was one Of England's
greatest lawyers, and yet from his political
principles he was never permitted 10 touch the
rs sssEfae English lawyers highest snbi-
tion-and yet no Englishman ever thought all
this wrong.
T. gbere are always men Of ability in every
party capable Of filling all the Offices Of the
Government with credit to themselves and bon
to their country, and it is looked upon as a
Of course that the party in power shall
is officers from the ranks Of it's policaI
And MT only is this true Of England,
but it has been the practice If our own coun-
also, in rsspsetto the highest JUDICIAL stas
tons. When Chie9 J1stiee Ellsworth re-
sighe& therEEsfesn0ng the Associate Justices
then upon the bench, men7of the highest legal
learning and ability, and yet in TIE appoint
Or bis successor, President Adams over
looked their claims and appointed john Mar
shall, who was then A member Of bis Cabinet
and ~ho up to that lime had been distinguished
in The Virginia Legislature and in the Halls
Of CongreEs as one Of the greatest leaders Of
lhe Federal party, and YET as an Impartial
Judge, Marshall is nowe onsiaeTedthe Aneri-
can MsnsdslA And when Msrsbal died. al
tie Supreme Bench then contained such
men as Jossph Story, President jackson an.
Roger B.Taney, who had lately been
? member Of the Cabinet, and it was thought.
IN rewsrd for the services there rendered, and t,
yet none but he most reckless partisan Would
dare 70 assert thaths has not always poised the
scales Of jasties vito the most rgid impsrtiali-
ty. And not only has the President BEEN TINS
Influenced, bat the Sshate also, Sh'ch hold the
power TO reject OF eonfrm his appointment
When Washington appointed John RutIedge
Chief Justice, be was rejected BY a FEDERAL
majority in the Senate, because be differed with
them in political principles. AID whsn Ca
bnel Duvai, Of Maryland, resigned bis place 1