The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1859-06-24
The Why Onto Democrats Pre-
serve the independence Of the

.. Erom tho Toledo Riade Jvas io,h.
The Pro-Slayery party are mauilcsung
a deep interest in, and regard for Judge
Swan, Just now, aud we notice that some
Of their papers are oven discussing the pro-
pfjety OF getting Jcdge Whitman 70 tciM.
drdio from the ticket, that Judge 3. may
take his place as the Democratic candi-
date. This would be designed rs an ex-
preston Of ofDemocratic appreciation fthat
gentlomans independence and disAppro-
baton Of the course Of the Republicans in
not re-homnating him. Thorc Is little
probability, however, that anything Of the
kind will occur I-..
This is not the first time that the Dem.
ocratic party has heard Of Judge Swan, or
he Of them. There are certain rcminis-
cences, running back some twenty years,
which would make sOcha relation neither
desirable 20 him nor profitable TO them.--
AZ tho soaaion Of tho Ohio Legislature of
.lS39-40, Judge Lanes term, Eve think Il
was) on the bench Of the Supreme Court
having expired, the Democratic majority
set 70 work % choose a successor. The
party had a hobby then, an now; but il
was "Bank Reform" instead Of "pop-
ular Sovereignty" A majority Of the
leaders were seeking TO change the char
ters Of the Banks, without the consent Of
the Stockholders, and among other things
20 make the latter individually liable ior
the debts Of the corporation. A minority
embracing the more respectable and sub
stOntial members of the party, claimed
that Bank charters were In the nature Of
contracts, and could not bo changed with.
out the consent Of the Banks.
The Democratic leaders In tho Lepis.
leture, wore ]. J. Farun, now p. NJ. al
Cincinnati, Dave Todd and Geo. II. Flood
Gen. Hunt, the present u. NJ Of this city
was in the Senate. The "Tin-pan" (ai
the caucus Of the Democratic memberi
was oalled,) resolved that no man shoul,
be chosen as Judge, who, on the bench
would not recognize the right Of the Leg
isluture TO amend or repeal a charter a
pleasure.
The two prominent candidates Of tha
party for the place, were Judges Reubci
Wood and Joseph r. Swan The latte
had the advantage In standing as mai
and jurist, but was not considered en-
, tirely "sound" ON the Bank question. 4
make the matter certain, and avoid al
, risk, n committee Of the "Tin-pan" wa
appointed to iHterogdie the two candi
dates, to ascertain how they would decid
, the question, lift should come before then
, A proposition so unprecedented and NOR
strous was received with alarm and dii
gust by all parties; but, relying upon pa
{ ~ discipline and the lash of Sam. Mcdar
then In the zenith Of his power, as edit
= of the Statesman, the leaders prepared III
} interrogations and forwarded them. Judq
: Swan, with a promptness and indepeut
{ ence which did honor TO him and credit
! the State, Indignantly ropelled the insul
: ing question, and told the questionera tn
= il he went upon the bench, he must, do
: untrammeHed by pledges and free 70 app
the law TO cases as his Judgment shou
2 dictate. Judge Wood, with sycopha
} cy characteristic of his political life, r
/ ceived the interrogations and prompt
o gdUe the pledges sought.
L What, thon, WINS the action ofthe par
Il that now affects so much respect for ]
It dicial independence! Did they elect ii
Q man who refused to pledge himselfl ]
d no meansl Without the least hesitanC
j thay drapDnd him and took. up ptnl elect
= Judge Wood, the pledged t0of or par
a haolSsl Il wns no rellofto the great wror
a of this proceeding, because Judge Woo
: when afterwards brought to test his n
: worthy pledge, disrogarded il, and laug
ed at his party for having depended on q
= extrajudicial opinion. NJ t-.
We give the history Of that affair fro
memory butthink il substantially correc
IL shows the utter insincerity Of all I'll
present display of sympathy for Judp
Swan, or regard for the independence
the Judiciary.