Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-05-15
T'eFHlJ For The Spectator.
ssStill harping on my Daughter.''

all virtue--the sum of all morality-the morning
star of that bright day that dawns upon every
true heart. And never was there more beauti-
ful truth, or more admirable suggestion; for
if we are just to ourseloes, to our consciences
and to our hearts, to our fellow men and to our
country, we can not but be truly virtuous-
Shakespeare reduces justice to still nearer
point. If we are true to ourselves, says one Of
bis characters, we will be true to others. And
it is impossible for any man to be just to others
and not be just to himself, in every respect to
his heart, to his conscience and to his opinions;
and the moment he ceases to do himself justice,
that moment he ceases to be virtuous. dl
Let the people in this Judicial election, con-
slider these truths. Let them consider first, If
they are doing themselves justice, in electing
Judge T; if they are true to their opinions and
to their oonsciences. Then let them consider if
Judge T. has been true to himself in every in
stance, true to themselves and true to the trust
they have reposed in him. Let them consider
that if he has been untrue in one instance, be
has failed to be fully just if he has been an
faithful in one instance, he has shown himself
unworthy of such high confidence and incompe-
tent to ill the responsible Office of Judge. Let
them consider, further, the position of Mr. Fultz;
whether he has not been true to others in every
instance. He has been in their confidence for
many years, and has he ever betrayed them2-
They have placed him in high places of trust,
and has he Lot filled them honorably to himself
and satisfactorily to his constituents and are
not his antecedents the best criterion by which
we can judge any man Why then should they
not select him2 His enemies have never (save
one booby,) denied his legal abilities. They
knew better because the very moment they de-
ny his legal abilities, they deny their own, for
he has been too long their successful rival
Upon what, then, do they found their arguments
Upon personal allusions-the hatred of the law
yers and his unpopularity. Their personal arti
cles have done him more good than evil and
they will yet find that he is more popular than
they would like to think. His friends are many
and powerful, and as firm and unchangeable as
adamant. Indeed his enemies are only those
who are enemies to the Constitution and those
upon whom Justice, through his instrumentality,
has stamped the brand of Rascals In my own
immediate knowledge, a:e several men who can
only attribute their hatred of Mr. Fultz to the
fact that he once told them in court what every
honest man would have told them. Does this
speak well Of their character2 shall now leave
Mr.. Faltz with the people. They know him as
well as myself. Asking them, then, to examine
themselves, their own experience and individual
opinions, and asking the ciualised(9) "" to for
give my moralizDg, q know every body else
will proceed to examine briefly, thing or
two. Judge Us friends stake vastly upon his
protection Oft widow and the orphan. There
it no more sublime principle of the law, than
that which makes the Court of Chauoery the
guardian of tie helpless. But how has Judge
T., who constituted the head of this Court, filed
the position Itlis contended that he has been
the friend OF the oppressed. Let US coucede that
in some instances, but be has also proved him.
self unfaithful to them in others, by not taking
sufficient security from him who held their mon
ey. How many acts of justice is here cancelled
by this act Of injustice! He is the friend of the
widow and she orphan, when no other friend is
concerned but when friend is to be INDUCED,
the widow and the orphan are forgotten or neg
lected. AS the guardian of the widow and the
orphan, he placed their money in the hands of
Mr.. Kinney, as Receiver, but it has been shown
that he did not take sufficient security for that
money. Here he failed to do his duty in one
Instance, and what guarantee have we that he
will not fail, or has not failed in others2
Again, Justice" brings TO the notice of the
people late criminal trial" One would think
that his sense of propriety, (f he has any,
would have restrained him from writing upon
such a delicate subject; delicate alike to Judge
Thompson and the people, as we'll as to the par
ties more particularly concerned Here l ask
the people again to examine the facts of the
case as they are in their own knowledge, and
Judge as they have right to do; and I shall
make but one observation, thinking that more
than sufficient upon subject concerning which
every man OF refined feelings must revolt at
publicly expressing his opinion. 1t is the prov
ince OF the Judge, according to the rules of law,
to explain all the rules by which evidence is i'm.
peached, while it is the province of the jury to
apply these rules to any particular case that may
arise. Let Us examine little. In this instance
there was q particular case. Judge I. explained
all the legal rules concerning testimony. So far
all was right But he went farther, it is said
and instead of allowing the jury to apply the
rules he, after summing up the evidence, took
from the jury their own right and himself ap-
Piled the rules. Instead of allowing them to
consider whether, according to the rules of law
and justice, the witness was impeached or not,
ne tells them the evidence must be received and,
consequently, the accused is innocent.
Once more. 1t is asked by some and among
them, one "R. L. J. =" who pretends to be sensi-
BILE man, II Mr.. Fultz was treated uniustly,
why not appeal to higher tribunal2 People
do not sufficiently estimate the power and po-
sitlon OF Judge. They do not consider that he
Is the supreme head of the Court; that if it is in
his mind, (and especially was this the case under
the old Oonstitution,) he can be as unyielding,
% "eoou'PtOmioiuS duu rs Cyr6uulCdI rs tu6
veriest despot around whose throne there is
heard no other music than the clank of chains or
the murmur of slaves. He may, indeed, be i'm
peached, but who SO bold and daring as to at
tempt to impeach him, when backed by pow
erful party, wanting neither means nor will, and
bound together by all the ties of sworn and self
wiiled oligarchists? If Mr. Fultz had attempted
TO report Judge Thompson, what would have
been the consequence? He would have been
throttled by tue Court, and a howl, deeper and
longer than that which succeeded his announce
ment as candidate for Judge, would have gone
up from Courthouse Alley and its collateral
adjuncts. An intrusion upon the "Holy of Ho-
lies" can never be forgiven by these legal Phar-
sees 9soi @A
have somewhat deviated from my course of
last week, but presume, Messrs. Editors, it is
no great offence, / still remain most respect
fully. ,l, aotins A CouNrRYMAN.
ess.4s as sssa.a4~ For the Spectator.
e Public Meeting. l a.a7
According to previous notice, meeting of the
people of Parnassus and vicinity took place this
day, at which Samuel Whitmer was chosen Pre-
sident, s. A. Burgess Vice President and 2. B.
Carson Secretary. The object of the meeting,
as explained by B. F. Whitmer, being to nomi-
nate candidate for the Maglstracy also q can
didate for Overseer of the Poor, in addition to-
the candidates nominated by the Mt. Solon Con-
vention.
On motion, Thos S. Hogshead was unani-
mously chosen for the first Office, and Jno. O.
Rusr0iaall for tho saoOnd