The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-07-08
VOLUME x. NO. 27.
The Way Ohio Democrats Preserve the
Independence Of the Judiciary.


Tho Pro. slavery party arc manifcsting a
d.on interest in, and regard for Judge swan .
;nst now. and wo notice that some OF thelr
nspers arc even discussing tho proprloty OF
getting Judge Whitman to WiihdrdW from
the ticket. that Judge S. may tako his place
as the Democratic candidate. ms would
he designed as an expression OF Democratic
snprobation Of that gcntloman's indopen.
rence. aud disapprobatiou OF tho course OF
the Rppublicaus in not ro-nOminating him.
There is little probability, however, that
anything of the kind will occur.
This is not tho first timo that tho Demo.
cratic party has heard of Judge Swan or he
of them. There are certain rcmjnsccnces.
running back some twenty years, which
would make such relation neither dcsir.
able to him uor profitable to them. At the
session of the Ohio Legislature OF 1899 40.
Judge Lanes term, we think it w0s) on the
bench Of the Supreme Court having oXpir-
cd, the Democratic majority set to work to
choose a successor The party had hobby
then, as now. but it was Bank Reform,
instead of Popular Sovereignty ma
,ority of the leaders were seeking TO change
the charters of tEe Banks, without the cou-
sent of the stockholders, and among othor
things to mako tho latter Individually liable
for tho debts of the corporation. a mtnori-
~ embracing the more respectable aud sub
Etantial members OF the party. claimed that
Bapk charters were in the nature Of contracts
and could not he changed without the con.
sent Of the Banks,
Tho Democratic leaders in tho Logisa-
turc, wero J. J. Faran, now = at Gin
cinnati. Dave Todd and Geo II. Flood -
Gen. Hunt, the present i. NJ. Of this city,
Ia 81, bp ( "A
caucus of tho Democratic mombors was call
ed) resolved that no man should be chosen
ns Judge. wno. on the bench, would not re.
cognize the right of tho Legislature to amend
or repeal charters at pleasure.
The two prominent candidates Of that
marty for that place. were Judge Reuben
Wood and Joseph K. Swan. Tho lattcr bad
tho advantage in standing rs man and
iurist but was not considered entirely sound
on tho Bank question. TO mako tho mat
ter certain and avoid all risk, n committee
of the Fin. pan" was appointed TO intcrro-
gate tho two candidates, to ascertain how
they would decide the question: it lt should
come before thom. proposition SO un-
prccelcntod and monstrOus was received
with alarm and disgust 10y all parties but,
relying upon party discipline and the lash
of Sam Medary, then in tho zenith of his
power az editor OF the NtdieSWdH, the leaders
prepared tho intorrogatons and forwarded
them to Judge Swan who, with a apromptuoss
aud independence which did honor to him
aud credit to the State, Indignantly ropeilco
tho insulting questions, and told tho quos
tioners that if he wont upon the bcnCh h.
must do so uatrdmmeiicd by pledges an,
free to apply the law to cases ~ his judg
ment should dictate. Judge Wood. with
sycophancy characteristic of his politica
life received tho intorrugations and prompt
ly gdve The pledges sought.
What then was tho action of the part,
that now affects 80 much rcspcct for Judi
cial independence Did they elect the maj
who refused 10 pledge himself; BY II,
means Without tho least hcsitaucv, tho,
dropped him and took up and elected Iudg
Wood tho pledged tool of party hacks |
WAS m relief to tho grcat wrong of this pro
ceedIng. because Judge Wood. when after
wards brought to test his unworthy plodg,
disrogArdud it, and laughed at his party fo
having depended on an extra judicial opir
ion.
We givo tho history Of that affair fror
memory, but think it substantially correc
II shows the utter insincerity of all tho pre-
sont display of sympathy for Judge Swan G
regard for tho Independence of tho Judicii
ry.-To!edo Blade, June lOh,