The Placer herald., 1858-08-28
From the 8. F. National.
Joseph g. Baldwin, our Candidate for
Judge Of tho Supreme Court.


If the people of California desire to place
upon the bench of the Supreme Court an up,
right citizen and able jurist, they have now
the opportunity. The Democratic party
have presented for that Office the name of
Joseph G. Baldwin, They selected their
candidate with full knowledge of the re-
sponsiLili,y they assumed, They knew that
no man could be elected, unles be was placed
above the reach Of any doubt as 10 his DUAL.
ihcatons. They knew also the certainty Of
his election, by handsome majority, if they
could present the name of candidate
agsinst whom the question Of fitness could
not be raised. In looking around for man
on whose competency all could agree, and
one whom even our opponents could not ar.
raign for lack Of any single requisite to do
horor 10 one Of the most important positions
TO which free people elevate one Of their
number, it was unanimously agreed, that
Joseph G. Baldwin was the man. By a
union of thought rarely seen in Nomna-
ting Convention, his name was placed upon
our ticket, 1t has been for some weeks be-
fore the people, and we have yet to hear the
first man say, that Mr. Baldwin is unfit for
Supreme Judge. His talents, his learning,
his integrity, are beyond cavl. The great
majority OF our opponents concede them.
His brethren of the San Francisco bar are
familiar with the manner in which he has,
for years, discharged his duties as a counsel
or in the Court to which it is now propos.
ed TO elevate him as Associate Justice;
and we believe the universal sentiment
among them is, that the selection is for
tunate one for the party, and will be more
fortunate for the people when he is elected.
1t is All Office which has no patronage to
dsperse, and in which politicians have no in
terest, except that common interest which
all good citizens feel, in having upon th,
bench of our highest jrdcia tribunal, an
able and honest man. The day is far distant,
we hope, when that bench will be desecra,ed
BY the nero partisan; and we are sure it is
still more distant when an intelligent peo-
pie will knowingly subject their lives, their
fortunes, and their good names to the power
OF any man who may aspire to he Judge
over them, solely Ly reason of his party
affiliations If he cannot exhibit legal capa-
city and inAexibIe integrity, he is not to be
thought of in connection with the Office Of
Supreme Judge. Such was the view taken
of the question by the Convention when Mr.
Baldwin was pu. in nomination; and such
qualities they unanimously believed they had
found in him. He is not unknown in the
State, and is one of those men who is most
highly esteemed where ho is best known.
He is man Of no bitter resentments, and
no violent prejudices; open and candid,
courteous, OF kind and genial disposition,
a ripe scholar, confessedly one Of the very
best lawyers in the State, and Just about the
last man to cherish towards any individual
feeling of hatred or revenge to bias his
judgment in the decision of any case. II
we wish, and we certainly do wish that cur
Supreme Court should be a tribunal equally
elevated above the tant Of corruption and
the suspicion of imbeciity-a tribunal where
justice shall be dispensed without envy OF
NAL &c, without fear or favor-a tribuna
where every lawyer and every citizen may
ftarlessly bring his suit, and feel sure tha
the merits of the question will not be los
sight Of, or justice perverted either from tn,
inability of the Court to understand what il
right, or lack of irmness to execute the righ
now is the time to take one step toward
such desirable consummaton, by placin!
Joseph G. Baldwin upon the bench of tho
| SCprcmc Court