Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1858-03-06
From Harrisburg.
WILMOT,s JUDICIAL DISTRICT.
UAnR1snuRn. Fob. 2G.

ding from and afcr the lst day of Dcccm
Der next, for the annexation Of Bradford
county totho Twcnty-sixth Judicial District,
composed Of the counties Of Sullivan,
Wyoming, and Columbia and providing
for the annexation of Susquchanpa county
to the Eleventh Judicial district, composed
of the county Of Luzorno. This, you will
perceive, leaves Judge David Wilmot
without any bailiwich, and adds about
month Of labor to Judge Cunningham, of
Luzcrnc, who has only six months judicial
labor in the year, and adds nearly the
same burden to Judge Woodward, Of the
Twenty sixth district, who is also not
occupied more than half his time.
Messrs. William Watkins, Edward
Ovcrtou, Francis Smith, q. w. Baird,
James Macfarlane, II. 3. M'Kean, II. j.
Madill, William II Pccko, Stephen Pierce,
w. Elwoll, ID. A. Overton, Wm. Scott, H.
w, Patrick, j. E. Garfield, II. G. Baird,
j. D. Reeve, d. +. Barstow, and G. i.
Ward, members OF the Bradford county
bar, have pctitionod for this change, and
assign as reason that "tho due admins
tration of Justice demands the passage
of such a law" 1t is asserted by gcntle-
man who are here urging its passage, that
Judge Wilmot frequently makes speeches
at political meetings duing court week /;
that he is unfair to his political opponents
in his official intercourse, and partial to
his friends; that no active Democrat can
obtain tavern license in Bradford or
Susquchanna, and that in various ways
" the duo administration Of justice" is
intericrcd with by the president judges
partisan proclivitcs, although he is sufi-
ciently careful to avoid impeachment
These judicial districts in question arc
very small and to consolidate three into
t,oo would not make them larger than an
ordinary district in the East or Vest
Besides, Wilmot's term expires on the lst
of next December, so that in fact it does
not lcgislate him out of Office /; but will
prevent his reelection, if he has any such
expectations. The truth is, that district
was made especially for the present incum-
bent by the Democrats in 1851, but he
having used it as an engine to destroy
them, they have perfect right to take it
out of his hands.
It turns out that Judge Bullock, who
held the office while Wilmot perambulated
the State last fall and summer, was not
party to the arrangement by which the
latter was rc-nominated TO the Judgcship
as soon as the formers brief term had
expired. He was requested to decline in
favor of his predecessor, but the refusal did
not prevent Gov. Pollock from throwing
him overheard to make place for the
defeated candidate for Governor.
While the Senior Editor was on his way
to Harrisburg, he sent to the paper, the
above extract from somo Harrisburg letter
writer and in his absence, we take the
responsibility of reporting it to the people,
and to all whom it may concern, with
negative recommendation.
Frst-We deny that the Legislature has
any power, under the Constitution, to alter
or abolish a Judicial District, other than
by creating q new one, in which the people
shall have the right to elect their Judge.
A county annexed to this District is de-
prived of its Constitutional rights, by
legislative enactment, 1t is tie exercise
of very doubtful power.
If District is abolished, then in the
different districts to which the disjected
members Of the old arc joiuod, they have q
Constitutional right, in their new relation
to o voice in the election of a Judge; but
the most insane and vindictivc exercise Of
power would not go to the point of saying
that Judge could be removed, in order
to let the people of District thus formed
into an election; and if not, then mos
certainly portion of that District has beer
deprived of its rights uudcr the cons itu
ton.
Besides, it is q most unwise and per
nicous thing, for the Legislature by it
continual tinkcring with the Judiciary o
the Commonwealth to render the who'll
course of the administration OF the law, ant
the chief Executive officers thereof, dopen
dent upon and at the mercy of a changin!
Legislature legislature, blinded pcrhap
by passion, unified by prejudice, unabl
through ignorance, to oct properly on to
subject
With Judge Wilmot VIC have no sym
pathy but VIC protest against so fagran
a violation of vested constitutional right;
We protest against so impolitic cours
by the majority of the Legislature. Sue
an act ought to be beneath the dignity {
the great democratic party. What
Wilmot has not met the just expectation
of his former friends; he is now dea
cock in the pit--there let him rest. 70
seek to break butterfly upon . wheel
you load a cannon to xii a pco-woe.
Don't do any thing so very ridiculou
so impolitc, SO outrageous, 81 unconstit
i tional.