Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1858-03-30
FoE the "Ksna wha Valley st.;,,'
CircHit Judge.

4 4
MR. EDrroR;-The election abop. ).
take place for Judge ofIthis Judicial ~
trict. Is one Of importance 10 evetv III; IS
zen in ii. The time is ii hand f5,l,s t'
election of proper person 70, N; ~
digniiied position. and il becomes eysss
voter 10 weigh wen the reasons WI;.I
shall influence him IN casting his MI 'IA
q propose 10 say 4 few words H..
this mater, and in the beginning. me-.
myself a warm friend and s9ppor,ey, =
Judge McCoMAs for the office. Tn 10
sons which influence me inthis course.
such, u think, as ought to hare som. IS
weight viii others! and il1staiiBg ill.,
frankIy.I only wish that they NAV Is ~ 8
titled 10 their proper consideration. NJ
controlling fact which governs m come
& the distinguished ability II Judy,3 Ts
CoMAs,as a jurist.a.Id his intellectual hi 81
or. asa mar. All who know him. ksss
.this to tie true; his long and able e :I,ss
as a lasyer, are matters ef snotoriessy IN b
n,ant portions fhis native Slate ms',Is,
hiult public distinction and t!iscr;nI;ss..
lion, have said of him, that he was Il. i
best law yer of the STATE. Not long ss,, III
II saw a letter from one Of our most > ll;s',I
tinguishsd foreign Ministers. in Will
the opinion was expressed, tina. he was
one OF the ablest lawyers iB Firgiuiia u
notIin the Union.
Il may be said, that the bast 1aw,ars
do not always make the best Jadses. XVI
ii is sometimes said, that The qualifications
Of CIRCUIT Judge are not 81 imposs.nl nj
as their opinions or errors can be cotrecs.
ed by the Court Of Appeals But is this
true |? and il true. whose iatrrest and /
and rights does il most materially afEectlsl
Tine Peoples. They are compelled tolesrs
the expense, support Tie a,ineyanee,l and \
something's be ruined by the delay which
results from the NECESSITY Of appealiHe d
= higher court, for the correction 81 tI,4
errors of Judge not professionally quail
fled for the position lie Hokls; itislalt4r
q heavy tax upon them TO be fequirtd II
teach iheir Judge Law. after De Is on tib4
Bench, BY reversing bis decisions Id v
higher court. tmAy sui well enough
the lawyers Of the conniry,=t9 b. ,,eees-
stated to- carry your cases up, bu. il j.
certainly better, much better, ipr thepeg-
pie. who are or may become saitots. ibid
their causes should be passed upon By i
Judge entirely competent for their deei-
sion in the first place. In truth. think
that the Importance Of Tquiekncss Of eom-
prehensiori. legal ability, and IIthoroasgh
mastery Of the science Of tie law. cannot
be too highly estimated il, \ ciri3aii Jsidse.
aud that distinguished ability III his pro-
fession. is more requisite for him tbaa
for Judge al the Conrt@of Appeals
But Judge McCoMAs has had no small ex-
Eperience on the Bencfi; he3 presided, a
Judge, in this Circuit SONG years, wlieIi
this Circuit was much larger, and the dll-
HES more oilerous, and his decisions wens
rarely reversed wlenappealed fun ard
| have been told, the reports sliew fewer
reyersals DC Ills decisions, perhaps, than
any Judge Of the state incorporation to the
Amount carried M 10 the court Of 4 ppealsS
During thel tilnehe presided u ihe en-
tuit. ali will feeollect Judge McCoMAs'
kindness and courtesy ID the Bar shitais,
Witnesses, officers Of the court. His IN
tegrity and inrartiality will not be ,qaes-
toned b. any one S
During long caererd labor, ina lpcrs-
tive profession, no one Gan charge him
INilh an instance of,its use in self-aggfas-
dizemcnt and 'oppressfohs SO tempting q
those who hold commanding ls,silion
in the practice Of Tie law :; and while ~
las As none of the power and Influence that
none y always gives, vet he has lie con
tiience and respect Of the masses Of THE
people, and the influence which Is always
awarded to / generous heart and great in.
telIect.
Il have heard it said, that Judge Niece
MAS had not he physical ability for the
duties Of this office that lie was too old
ior the labor required thiseis neithertrur
nor Just to him he is aaiy GO years o.
aase---atl age which il has been said is The
ripest for the. excer.ise If Judicial fang
tidns. No one who knows Judge Nee,
orTllas, had occasion TO- see him eitherSir
court, or to transact business with lin,
but has been struck with his powers o.
application. the labor he can and does
undergo, with ease and without fatigue
and Inc prompAess with which any call
upon bis mental powers isEmet.
Tn conclusion, / win say, that ! believe
thai the interests Of the people Of the 'ciT
2 4 Ex.f ~