The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1858-10-07


trict.
Having received a number of invita-
tions from various parts of this district
to address the people during this cam.
paign upon the political issues now be-
fore the country, which have uniform.
ly declined TO do, and being advised that
some surprise has been expressed by
thosefriends who are cOgnizant Ofthe fact
that for some years I have been engaged
more or less in public speaking, take
this method of giving the reasons by
which / am governed in this matter I'm
der different circumstances, nothing
would afford me greater pleasure, for
however inefficient my efforts may have
heretofore been, have never in pro-
claiming my political sentiments suffer
ed from an unwilling spirit. But by
the partial consideration Of my friends
I have been placed in nomination for a
position of too sacred a character to be
unnecessarily mixed up with party poll
tics A candidate for Congress or the
State Legislature is very properly ex-
pected to lay before the electors of his
district his views upon the questions of
principle and policy, differences of Opin-
ion about which have brought about
and sustained the organization Of par
ties He is selected by those who hold
sentiments in common with him, as their
representative mantle exponent of his
party's faith. He is expected in his Of
| fee, if elected, to be required to meet
the great practical questions of political
economy, and as he thinks with you or
against you upon these questions, so you
vote for him or against him. But from
the nature ofhis Office no such test can be
properly applied to a candidate for the
IJudgeship. A candidate for the Office
Of Judge, as well as every other citizen,
has the undoubted right to entertain
and freely express his political opinions
on all suitable occasions, but the purity
and dignity of the Bench should not be
impaired by the adoption of political
tests. 1t is not the province of a Judge
to mould opinion into law, but simply
to administer the law as he finds it. In
deed, one Of the greatest evils that has
ever been inflicted upon any people has
been, at various times in almost all cOun-
tries, tendency upon the part Of Su-
prcme Judicial tribunals to legisate
Ijudiciolly. The people want no politi-
cal opinions reflected from the Bench.
In the administration Of justice accord
ing to Law, a Judge cannot suffer his
decisions to be biased or Influenced by
political considerations, or the party
faith of the litigating parties. Whenever
we elevate men to the Bench, pledged
to dispense Justice in one measure to a
Republican and in a smaller one to a
Democrat, God save the country and its
liberties, for its death-kne has been
sounded; for, while the most powerful
; instrumeutality in protecting and main.
tanning intact the civil rights. Of a peO-
pie is an upright Judiciary, so on the
other hand a corrupt judiciary has al.
ways been the most efficient lever in the
hands of tyrants and traitors for the
subversion Of civil liberty.
The people, without regard to party
distinctions, certainly consider it a mat.
ter Of vital Importance to preserve the
integrity and soundness of the Judicia.
ry. The rights of men of every shade
q of political opinion and religious faith
t are to be settled by that department of
the governmentand the man who propo-
ses to take the oath Of Office and assume
, the high duties Of a Judicial position as
democratic Judge" "Republicau
Judge" or an "American Judge, 50
e soils his hands that no intellect, however
clear, no labor, however persevoring
q can give dignity to his place or lift his
; motives above suspicion.
/ have long entertained these Opin
, ions, and so believing, / have declined
- entering actively into this canvass by
e addressing the people through the Dis
p trict, because / think that a candidate
t for the Judgeship should not only b'
p determined if elected to do the righ
G only, but should keep himself abov,
suspicion. The moment a man takei
the stump, he identifies to some ex
tent the position for which he isrunninl
e with his school of politics--at least tina
70 impression is made among the people
A public speaker, in an exciting pOliti
/, cal campaign, is pretty certain in hi
q canvass to form strong likes and dislikes
a lie makes friends, who are active in hi
e suppOrt-enenies equally active in de
a nouucing him. Suppose he is eleoter
e to the Bench, aud a man whose hospital
3 ity he has shared and who has spen
8 days in electioneering for him, is plaintiff
a and some Jealous opponent who has la
p bored day and night against him an
o exhausted his vocabulary of opprobiou
t epithets in stigmatizing some speech tn
d j udge made in his noighborhood, is dc
y fendant The Judge may not beaffecto
It by these considerations, but in all hu
n man probability will not the frs
q thought that rises in the mind Of tn
d defendant be, 81 have abused this mar
It II had a warm political controvers
with him when he spoke at our schoo
house. My opponent, on the contrary
W has ingratiated himself in his favor,
cannot get justice before him. Thu
y the Court is brought under suspicion
= the integrity and purity of the Judge
" questioned. However much he may on
). deavor to act fairly, he is conscious thl
! improper motives will be attributed I
.e him.
d This view alone is conclusive to m
Is mind against candidate for judicil
q honors taking the stump. Convinced j