Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1860-03-10

iUf MI. EfHtt, III tile event OF nlS eBec
ton, expected to bring about a rever-
sal and overrtlinr of the case of Booth
as. Ableman, i'll 81 Wisconsin Reports;
and does any one doubt if Mr.. Lynde
had beer, elected, that Wisconsin would
stand differently from where she now
stands upon the subject Of State Rights.
His election would have been consider
ed review and overriding of the case
referred to- This was the struggle at
the judicial election last spring, be-
tween the Republicans and the Democ-
racv-the first voting to sustain the
doctrine of State Rights as enunclated
by the Supreme Court, the latter voting
against the doctrine, and with view
to its ultimate review and overrulling,
and in doing so no one thought of ar
raging himself fci' or against the Su-
preme Court.
The end of the inquiry is not reach
ed when the voter ascertains how the
Supreme Court hold upon great ques
ton involving the sovereignty Of the
State. The question is this: Il the
Supreme Court right and the voter to
be consistent man must deposite his
vote with view to supporting either
the affirmative Or the negative of the
question.
Judicial errors as we'll as 9th ar errors
OF a popular government have their in
ception with the people; they are some
times infused into the government
through the medium Of the elective
franchise, it is through the same medium
these errors must be corrected it is
the peoples will acting through the bal
lot-box, i'll an election contest.
When great constitutional questions
are at issue it is the duty of Judge
the same as a private citizen to be ac-
tive and vigilant in support of what he
deems to be right, and in elections he
should never fail to 50 to the polls and
support his principles by his vote, if he
thinks it not becoming his station to
publicly address his follow citizens up
on the grave questions of constitution
al law, let him take thepen and defend
the II ght.
| appeal to any one whether occupy
ing the stump or using the pen in AN
election canvass is not much more dig
litied and less exceptional than elec-
tioneering by private letter and secret
personal solicitation. / understand ii
to be rigat, Whatever way candidate
ruins for an important Office, either as a
partizan OF independent, it is due to
the people he proposes to serve, that he
shall state in some public manner his
views upon those governmental subjects
that most interest them. This is right,
so far Us the people are concerned, ana
iSa manly position for the candidate; by
doins. So. he can escape the dissimula-
ton, aud the people the misfortune Of
being Tyrelizrd. In speaking Of the
Propositions mentioned i'll my former
letter YOU cali them illegal questions," :"
this Is entirely 100 narrow = term.-
They are constitutional questions, q1es-
tons that concern the whole people,
fundamental in their character, ana are
eninrntl,, tit for their examinations. ani
it Is important too that they should be
understand.
IL cio&ing thIs communication, I will
notice in general terms your evident
misunderstanding otlny Proposal to dis
c:,~s the subjects nientioned in my let,
ter. Tau treat the matter as an at
tempt OF my palt to cal YOU into the
ordinary routine OF political discussions;
my challenge was not to discuss the po-
liticai issues OF tie day, but simply
three propositions ofa character, which
| am sure if you could have taken issue,
We could have discussed cool!y and
diSpaSsioDately; to have got into strictly
political topics would have been a di-
gression for which the DICTATOR would
have been called to order, the public
discussions Of the questions proposed,
instead Of the consequences voH men
ton resulting from it. I think entirely
the reverse would follow. Pray what
''appeals to the prejudices,," what ap-
pliances, what political trickary, what
solicitation for votes would appear in
the discussion Of these important cues
tons.
Upon due consideration Of the prem
ises, [ am certainly at a loss to see the
force Of your objections to candidates
for Judicial station publicly discuss
ing the propositions have presented.
If st. Paul had been as modest as YOU
appear to be, Judge, he would have
made poor headway among the Epicu-
rians and StoicS Of Athens.
1t IS evidently in accordance with
public sentiment, not only Of this Cir
cult but Of Wisconsin, that in times like
these, candidates for Judicial prefer
ment shall state their position, even
portion of the $1,000 are becoming
clamorous upon this subject.
We find the Republicans of Wau-