Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-08-05
An Elective Judiciary.


would Be chosen for a rabd devotion to the inter
ests of party, rather than for calm aud Impair
tiai judgement in the determination Of law.
In the Northern States this prophecy has been
long ago rcali e.. The results are Of slower
growth in the South owing to the greater eon>er-
vatism Of the people-but even here. the sp''' "i
party is gradually infusng its baneful virus 'n'o
judicial elections. We shall soon have, with us,
the same disgraceful exhibition of party lines
strictly drawn, rs is already the case among our
more radical brethren of the North.
These reflections have been suggested by read
ing a report Of the proceedings of n r,.a1crat'c
State Convention in Ohio. domination for the
Supreme Bench was pending, and the name of
Judge BARLEY had been presented to the conven-
ton. It seems that there had bcen some charges
against the purity of Judge Bartleys private char
acter. We copy from the report of the proceed
ings;
A delegate, from Fairfield. opposed the nomina
ton. lie said there difference 81 opinion
in the Convention rs to who should he the Su-
premc Judge. 1t was proper for this Convention
to nominate man Of pure private character Tor
this Office. His character should he as good us
that Of the candidate of the other party
This delegate It seems was solicitous only about
the private character" Of the nominee. Not so
with the one who succeeded Linn. Hear Mr..
Sweetser:
Chas Swcetser, OF Delaware said he lived in
the adjoining county 10 Judge BARLEY, nnd would
indorse his private character to lie a. good n his
own Chief Justice rartlcs VA. n Ne""rrnt'c
.Iad9e--had sustained Democratic prt" Ptcs IN
Ohio almos. alone tor the last ~" -. Il ind
made decisions o} Jr,a",jies rto| 10 M' - "ofra-
II I.r ,,in nj Ii
and try 10 in urc nim hy KING in.Putations II
galnst his private character
Observe the significance Of the language above
quoted. Judge Barley was to he sustained be-
cause he was a "Dempcrato' Jud ,r--not only
Democratic in his politics, hui hoa "moie d'c'&-
IONS on principles rita' n he bsmpo1tl." In
other words he was recommended Ia ,hc Gonv,nz
ton not only Because he n democrat III poll
ties but because Ice was h,morrl.'e JH}ls lie
had carried his pcmccra'y into hs iudic N. d"'is-
ions. ar. lad therefore commended Linn elf l.
Democratic affections Vas th"rr ever l. more
shameless avoSva'S Made more 90 to. : the
subsequent declaration that 1t would i'c "nagrate-
full to discard him after ms emlnr. JUDICIAL ser
vices to the Democracy, by making imln'a'ionS
against his private character" la al qaalifca
tons for the office were never once nontionca.-
A suspicion of his private : lrity = character was
even 10 be hushci up in el,w e. hi4 cmnen, ptr-
ty qualiG atons for the ohee Va, ta,is ever
more sickcaing ,o.r,nentary uppa Tie 81 { an
elective judiciary
There seems, however. to hayc been ., irm-
Der Of the Convention vino WIS liz. ,tci II such
abject party -seryli,y. We quote again ir,.n the
report:
Mr. Creiphton. of Mnli son sai,, hc was extreme.
ly sorry Ia hear that we have "A pe5,ar-te lad
an tho Sup,emt lench ot ,u,, Ip,,,,,Ila4 ,.ri,,l
fro,p all nar,s of IN, Hall nm ut an Of al
of it"l
Mr. rrc,.btnn c,n,inued. hy sayin. that w,di,l
no, want a Judge 10 a,lm,rIs,cr in era, or Re
publ;canis,n AZ did NOT like the prInc,n,r II
el.etiuy a Democ-,,i, ,Iol ii, vas a bal min.
chile lie was Demo,ral-hid neA,r ,a.cl any
other ticket. ara liked ,h;rr .Ju ice EAftlc>. but
didn't like such language
Mr.. Creighton. it appears. was old f.cy enough
not to want Judge "to administer democracy or
Republicanisu Mr. Creighton was evidently
possessed Of tho idea TIM, lnge should admin.
lister the lur ae laid down in the books without,
respect Of persons or partir,. NJ with the
Other members Of the Convention. ou IL" con
trary they glad of it. lad or iitha, they
had n Democratic" ,Iudgr who would decide
questions in accordance with Tia" interests 1t the
party alone Mr. Creighton, for utteriug such
atroclous sentiments, was put down At onee-ail
in all probability, was hustled ot the Gon>en-
The se,t speaker was Mr. Bnrpah,s Ha~n.
Hear Mr., Blrns
p,p.,