The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-03-17

Governor Hicks has appointed HUGH l.. BOND,
Esq, Judge of the Criminal Court for the unexpred
term of Judge STUMP. The new Judge yesterday
qualified and took his seat. The public had for
some days awaited the action of the Governor
with intense anxiety, and when it was made
known the general feeling was one of disappoint-
ment The necessity for thorough reorganiza-
ton OF the Criminal Court has been everywhere
conceded, and there has been much unanimity of
opinion in regard TO the qualifications needed for
the accomplishment of so important work 1t
was expected hatany one selected for this position
would not only bring to it the requisite legal
knowledge, but that he would be endowed with
those personal attributes which, at a time like
this, 1t is absolutely essential he should possess.
Among these are the GOODNESS Nhiche enables man
under any and all circumstances TO take an impair
tal and comprehensive view of his duty, and the
hrmness which prompts him to discharge it at
every hazard A reformation in the Criminal
Court can be effected by force of character alone
and without this the best intentions and the pro-
foundest learning might combine in vain 10 render
any service TO the community. 1t is possible Mr.
BOND may display upon the bench the determine
ton and energy which will be required to make
the tribunal he presides over what it ought to be,
but it is 10 be regretted that the public should
be compelled to hold this an open question:
II hnal Judgment was now passed upon this
appointment, consideration of Mr.. BoyDs ante
cedens would justify only an unfavorabe one. tits
not the first time he has acted in a udiciaI ca
pacity. He was judge of election, if we re-
member arluht uban. l,o
famous frauds and outrages were perpetrated
IN his presence, and he utterly failed
either to rebuke them with proper spirit or
to exert his authority to suppress them A few
weeks afterwards he filled the same situation at
another election, which, though less tumultuous
than the former, was still characterized bv dis
graceful scenes of violence. In reference to this
last occasion he said, in an affidavit now before
US, ''tlat he was at the said polls during the
CENTRE time of keeping the same open, and that
during the said time every one entitled, who
''chose to vote, voted and had access to said polls
''without hndrance, and that access to said polls
''was not obstruced by force, violence or menace,
lat any time during the day, to the exclusion
'of any voter" Recollecting these things, it is
not to be expected that we should repose unlim-
tied and nhesating confidence in the impartial
ity or hrmness Of Mr.. BOND. One other point in
connection with this appointment invites COM
ment, and, perhaps, requires an explanation which
we arc unable to give When it was rumored,
last autumn, that this gentleman was to be
made the Judge of the Superior Court, he pub
lished card, in which he stated, incidentally,
that the provisions of the new Constitution"
presented IAN insuperabe BARI to his acceptance
Of the place 1t has been said that this "insuper-
Gable barr was the residence of Mr. BOND in the
County; and if this is so, it is difficult to con-
ceive how it has been overcome now The duty
that is thus devolved on us of critcising the
qualifications of the new Judge is not pleasant
one. But it must he borne in mind that the
interests of the public are paramount TO the feel
lngs OF individuals, and that in matter of this
sort the rights of every citizen are in some
measure affected. We, therefore, make no scru-
pie about expressing, with all becoming plainness,
our opinions upon The subject.