Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-01-22
For Tie EHYVVFF'
TO THE VOTERS OF THE THIRD JUDICIAL
CIRCUIT.

7, has heep announced that Judge Leigh hae re-
.yned Full of years, and full of honofs, ne mas re
t;r.d from that bench which ha has 81 "he anu :"
sblv graccd. Those who have been eccns!"'i'su 10
witness his rapid and vigorous manner OF .onk .
s. IN hear his terse aud cOgsnt charges, his "tghy
nunrent rulings and TO 500 the acutensss' amounting
almost 10 intuition. with which his concentrate ~
tllt ct tore away from fraud the eembancs U. io.,
will long regret that time did not stay ifs anu
that mi. upright, able, fearless judge was n1t now,
"a heretofore the arbiter Of their fortunes "nen
sas frat rurnored throughout the circuit lug. ne h
tended 10 reeign il was hoped that ths UNIV "a
nr.ssion OF regret might cause him to tofeeo :s G
jrsnn Then il was thought that the circuit niEh'
Nv d;;dsd ior notoriously the labor too great TOT
any one mani and as judge of one d!Vis,ou 'e. NC
might not withhold his excellent Judicia .; ~"
m, cnuntrys aervice. But, IT seems MS aoe
tion il txed and, whilst We can La reSte p' 'oeo
sverv sentiment OF gratitude bids us 81 WISH nun
green old age in the privacy OF his rfiire'i' -,
The object of this communication Is no. " pI" ,
Judp. Lsigh-nn pen could do thst-but 10 enm .iae
attention of the voters of the circuit, as MS
aa =, man in whom all the elements OF an aole ana
sccomplished iuris so mixed up, that 10 o'als'
without disparagement to the claims OF ot'e
meu confesssdly equal to any competitor, =" 20 Nc
no, transcend them all. | ellude, OF course :" i
jobn +. Thornton, of Farmvle. MIR. lhorh'" ~. is
comparatively young man; but not younger s.,an
many who have in this country and III otne's' auueu
go much TO the dignity and glory oil tns raa5o'
mne He is young only in years ana III I,eeu",h
eyen upon the purest minds. He IS OLD III .e". "'ne
in dignity in The cearness of hid Judgment u. .le
copsery atism Of his opinions. In weight ol o, az
ter no man excels him. in clearness OF a'rahsen
in liquid, limpd, simple statement, 10 lha' ha,,a
~ a1ynment, no public speaker that nave ever
heard equals him; and, when, to these quAhrIo
wa add tact, and frmness, and courtesy OF aeport
rnunt and wonderful fondness tor ms poIessoa' OIL
of which he possesses. no one will deny 'ia' IL we
elect him he will wOrthly h!l the seat 50 'a'ey "ou ''
ably filed by Judge Leigh
The election OF judges by the people, Whatever may
he Thought of othsr officers has been reEa'ueu ny
nerhaps majority Of the coolest thinkers as III oes'
do:,esrous experiment. Thus far, III virginia, II mas
ao,sd ,vsII Party notifies even in the most exciting
times has with one accord been banished from Inc
contest Ii will not now be mentioned when Tie lines
are 90 loosely drawn. Ciques, which are worse t!ah
politics, have been cordially iroWned do~n ny tue
people u their majesty. Religion WAS mentioned in
recent rather famous contest in the Eighth Circuit
But religious people, knowing that it was prostl'u'
tiou 10 which 80 holy should not be subjected,
recoiled from the proposition with righteous repuH-
nance. Thus fur, worth has been the only taisnah
TO the peoples favor. So long as this continues to be
the guide will the experiment have succeeded: when II
ceases then indeed will condition be unenvlabe
Will Virginia lower the standard Surely the peo
pie of the Third Circuit, and OF John Randophs dis
trcl in particular, will not be the first 10 do go.
| Tried, then, by the standard Of worth, which in
cudes ability rmness learning, TACT courtesy OF de-
pertinent will not the beam turn towards MIR. morn
ton What other gentleman IN the circuit possesses
| in 80 eminent degree the various qualifications OF
an able judge Without delgnlpg tue least reelection
on others, | ain constrained 10 answer 80 tar az
know not one. Them let US elect Mr.. Thronton. and,
if possible, unanimously; and thus proclaim to the
world our determination 10 sustain those who the Re
form Convention asserted that the people were the
best Judges OF those who should be judge.
This is written without the knowledge OF Mr.. lhorn.
ton. Indeed, the writer has, personally but casual
acc u in,ance with him. He has been told, and by
authority, that Ar. thornton does not wish The Judg
ship, aud that he would not be candidate for that
position. am well aware that. iu pecuniary ponl
of view he would gain nothing by being elevated to
the bench nor would he 10 honor-(or to be frst or
even among the foremost men of the brilliant bar
! CT tie Third Circuit, would, certainly, in dlgnl
w. be l,ot iess distinctive than 10 be called judge
In independence GO would not be a gamer by
the elevation. And vino will not pardon one
whose blood is still 80 warns. and who has
tasted the sweets of 40 many forensic Victories Il ne
aii panteth for the joust, where he knows 10 vel
how 10 ied ut the scimetar OF Saadin, and the
battle axe of hicnaSd and il he shrinketb yet little
while. from that loftier bet more freezing position
the position Of king OF the toernsyne position from
/ when he would have to crown, rather than 20 be
crowned Tie victor Because he does not desire The
| distinction 10 No reacon @hy the peoPle snou,a nv.
elect HIM other things being equal, the mere tact OF
his not desiring it, should cause te1 TO Gesre that ne
should have it for no Yirginian at least, will deny
that the udgsship should seek the man, not the man
the iudgeship. As p6triot=-snd we all know him &c
BIZ such-he should aud no doubt Solld be willing
to give up pecunisry gain, independence and. more
honorable than eher the glory of eIPeotant victory
and on the woolsack serve his country as faithfully
| as he has heretofore served his clients.
Tcea let us all with one accord unite our voices IN
his election Cumberland, proud of her son, and who
knows him best without fear Of the result, offers him
to the people ofths Circuit. Whet oogaty will first
rsspondl
| Cumberland, Jan. Is, 1858. CITIZEN.
Pspers that circulate IN the Circuit will please copy