The Feliciana Democrat., 1859-01-01
JUDGE I,ATLIFF.

Eaitors BoinR Ronec Adrotate:-- Sin: You
have been Kind enough 10 publish, in the col.
nmnS OF your useful aud widely circulated pn.
per, two very il,ttcring notices of two of the
candidates now in the field for nonination for
Associate Justice of the supreme Court FOR
the Third Supreme Court District. One rec.
omlnending the Hon. John MrVea the other
the Hon. U. b, Phillips lhi, is all well enough.
Every citizen in the District has perfect right
to give publicity to the merits Of his luyoritc
candidate Therefore, clam your indulgence
TO allow me to give, through tho columns Of
your paper, short history Of the public sery.
ices Of Judge Ratlf
The Judge was elected q Representative
from West Fccana 10 the State LEGISLATURE
in 1886 or 81 and served in that body until
lSi5. 1t was lie that first introduced the bill
toprovide for the calling a convention to amend
the Constitution Of 1872 Ills bill was laid ON
the table by large vote. Nothing dauntcd,
he introduced it again the next year; it met
with similar fate, but by much smaller ma
jority He perscvcrcd from year to year, I'M
Til, by the aid Of other distinguished Demo
Gratis and Il few Wing votes it finally passed
Daring the time hc was II member Of the House.
the Rev James II Muse introduced bill
nboliShing imprisonment for debt Judge Rat.
liil supported the bill with his usual zeal and
ability, and it finally passed and became law.
At II very early period Of his legislative scry-
ices he was appointed Chairman of the Com
mittce on Claims and Contingent EXpcnccS:
and so prudent and careful was he Of the pull
lie money that those members who hiratcd for
treasury pap, nicknamed him the Guardian Of
the TrcaSnry--yglgarly the Hull.Dog OF the
Treasury lie was elected II delegate from
West Fcllciana to the Convention Of lSi5 and
40 lie strongly advocated the extension Of
the right OF suffrage, and aboliShng the prop.
ertS qualification Of voters contained in the
Constitution Of 1872 He opposed, with much
cnrncstness and zeal, the report the Of Commit.
tee Of Thirteen, that recommended the appoint
mcnt of the representation IN The Senate on
the federal basis instead Of the electoral basis,
as it was finally adopted; aud it was mainly
to his opposition to that report that it was de
leated. Judge R,tlilf proposed an amendment
in the Convention which was lost, to elect the
Supreme Judges by Districts, pretty much rs
they are now. While the Convention was set.
ting in jackson motion was made and see
Onded to adjourn the Convention to New Or.
leans. Judge Ra lil opposed it with all his
strength and there are many persons now Iiv
ing in East and West Felicana that witness.
ed the powerful and mastery effort made by
him on that occasion against the adjournment
SO feeling and so touching were his remarks
that the President of the Convention, Gen
Walker, and many Of the members shed tears.
The motion, however was carried lie then
with thirty two or three Democratic members
OF the Convention entered his solemn protest
against the adjournment, as a violation Of phgh-
ted faith TO the citizens Of Jackson. In lS47,
l believe Judge Rath' was elected to the State
Senate TO lll vacancy. lie was appointed
ny Llent Governor 'rrasnond Landry, who
was President of the Senate, Chairman of the
Judiciary Committee, which he held until the
end OF his term of service 1t was while he
was member Of the Senate that he rcported
bill abolishng capital punishment. lie re.
turned from the Senate to his profession ofthc
law, where, by dint of perseverance and close
application, he soon raised himself to the head
OF his profession, and | have heard it said
when he was elected Judge, he had one side of
nearly every jury case on the docket in West
Feliciana. In 1855, if recollcct right he
was elected Judge of the Seventh judicial Dis
trlct to fill vacancy occasioned by the cleo
ton OF the Hon. d. ~ Merrick to the Supreme
behch. The election was warmly contested ;
Notwithstanding, he succeeded by the hand
some majority Of "A votes; and so well and