Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-02-22
The Judicial Election.

The Judicial Election.
We had hoped that the people OF this JUDICIAL
section would have been permitted to seleot tne
successor of Judge Samuels, upon the single per-
tinent issue of fitness for the high and responsi.
BILE position of Judge of the Supreme Court OF
Virginia. Up to this moment we have oven re-
Trained from pressing the claims OF our diS'in-
guished and able telow-otizen, COL baldwin,
upon the legitimate ground of superior qualinca-
ton, preferring to leave the matter entirely 10
the impartial and unbiased judgement OF the
people. AS the Judge upon the bench should
be high above the reach Of popular influences,
40 wa desired the people, in the selection OF
member of the highest judicial tribunal of the
State to be uninhuenced by partisan appeals, or
elactioneering devices. 1t is with profound re-
graf therefore, that we have observed differ
ept disposition on the part of several newspapers
in the section, whose conductors, while appar-
emily exorcisingithe fell spirit of party in one
breath, have invoked it in the next, by announo-
ing who the several candidates will support loi
Governor, to what political faith they are at
tached, whether they are strict oonstruotioniSlS
of the Constitution, and other matters equally
absurd and ridiculous. The "Blue Ridge he
publican" and the Charlottesville Jetfersonian,
in their untempered zeal for Mr.. Robertson, have
even gone so far as to endanger their own cause
by stirring up sectional feeling, which once
thoroughly aroused would inevitably result III
the defeat of their fayorite. Our candid advice
to these gentlemen is to let the people manage
this judicial election for themselves. The Edit
ors of the papers alluded to profess peculiar con-
6dence in the eminent capabilities of the soVer-
eigns to select the best public servants, and we
insist that they shall for once have the privilege
of exercising their sound discretion without IN
reference on the part of those who are accus-
toned to lead them in political contests Tor the
spoils of Office, whose faintest tones will bring
to remembrance the well-known slogan OF party
warefare and produce its effect.
We are glad to believe that the people them
selves are not disposed to be governed ~ pohti-
cal considerations in theselectiono the judiciary.
Men of all parties would be panied to see the
Judicial ermue soiled in the mire OF party scui-
fe, and will frown Indignantly upon any attempt
to degrade the high Court of last resort to the
low leyerot dirty contest for political prefer
ment. We do not charge that there is any de-
signed effort on the part of our friends across
the Ridge and down the Valley, to influence pub
lie sentiment by direct appeals to party PREF
udice, but we have not failed to notice that the
friends of the candidates keep prominently be-
fore the people, statements in regard to their
political position which, though very absurd, we
presume is designed to have an effect. Equally
absurd are the appeals made by the papers Eas'
of the mountain to the generosity OF the Valley
and the actual claim set up by some that the
Eastern portion of the section is entitled to the
Judge because Judge Samuels lived In the Val
lley. In other words, that because ise Sam
uels lived in Shenandoah, Mr.. Robertson o
Albemarle has vastly superior claims to Ool
Baldwin of Augusta deduction which We
confess our inability to appreciate as entirely
satisfactory and logical These geographical
distinctions are properly considered and weigh
ed, as questions of expediency in apolitical cam
pagn, but are entirely foreign to the pending e.
lection. The sole and very simple question tol
the arbitration of the great popular tribunal Il
in regard to the q4alytcations-mental, mora
and PROFESSIONALISM the candidates before them
Let every other consideration be discarded.
There is an incident of the Peninsular war
which occurred, we believe, at the battle o.
Talavera, that will serve to illustrate the feeling
which ought to prevail among the people IN ev'
cry Judicial election. 1t is related that While
the battle was raging, the soldiers OF both ar
mics almost famished for water, repaired to
little stream at the foot of the hill to quenoh
their thirst, and while there ceased their hos
tilities and even shook hands across the refresh
ing riyulet. So should it be with those who dit
fer in political sentiment. However steadily
they may oppose one another on the field OF po'
ltical strife, let them forget their animosltles
and ground the weapons of their warfare when
they approach the stream from which the Foun'
tain of Justice is supplied.