The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-10-09
ELECTING JUDGES.

The N. Y. Journal of Commerce, speaking OF
the plan of electing Judges by the people, says:
Our citizens will soon be called upon to cast
their votes for the following important Judlclai
officers: a Supreme Court Judge, the City Judge'
Recorder. Surrogate Judge Of the Court OF Gene-
raj Sessions and several Justices OF the romeo
Courts
1t is a generally admitted fact that the eharac-
ter of Judicial officers in this State OF all ranks
and degrees, has deterorated since the Constltu-
ton of 1916 went into effect The opinion OF our
best and most iudicious lawyers and business men,
as well as the unanimous voice of the respectable
norton of the press now condemn the new method
of appointing Judges The whole system OF an
Elective Judiciary has proved failure, degrading
to judiciary station, and poisonous to those great
moral principles which uadere and support the
administration of public justice.
There is danger, indeed, that the whole bench
WILL in time, be contaminated by the corruptlng
political influences which to a great extent govern
the municipal affairs of the city Unprinclpled
and selfish men too often have the power to control
and direct legislative and executive functions tor
their own personal benefit, or the advancement of
parties; out the position of cOrruptible and un-
scrupulous Judge is infinitely more hazardous to
the public, and may be perverted to uses beyond
the reach of ordinary political villany. The best
and most reliable members of the legal profession
begin to avoid competition for judicial Office
They prefer the liberal and honest rewards of their
business, and that character for unspotted integrity
which makes them the counsellors of great monled
institutions, and safe advisers of individuals and
families. The most meritorious members of the
bar in this city know and realize the dangers of
running muck race for the bench; andthe bench
actually suffers under the ignorance and incompe-
tency of third or fourth class men, who in too
many instances displace tried, learned and trust
worthy jurists.
The practical result of the new system of judi
cial elections is to reward political services by a
seat on the bench Judicial candidates and Judges
seen in political conventions; they take share in
the routine and discipline of party and so become
liable to he uniustly Influenced or tempted into
partial judgments The Tribune. and other Jour-
mails of the same reckless class personally vituper
ate judges whose legal decisions do not correspond
with certain popular opinions, and claim that the
people better Judges of the law than the Courts
The political adventurer is to be petted, but the
cold shoulder is turned upon the irreproachable
and intexibly honest man, whose conscience walks
above the faenatons Of politics and the clamors of
the rabble With all due respect for the higher
Judiciary of this State including the Appellate
Supreme and Superior Courts, cannot fail TO
notice that there has been falling off in the
character of the Judges within the last ten years
i mere are now FEWER or those SOnu, learned, us
Greet and honest Jursts who administered
Justice in this State, and who did so much towards
moulding and developing those great legal prnci-
Piles upon which our rights and duties are found
ed. Such may have been statesmen, but
they never dahhle0 in dirty politics, or contamin-
AtPd themselves hv contact rivalship with the
TacahondS of the profession.
In those Courts of this city, in which the great
mass Of rr'minal cases tried and decided, local
rolitics disturb the administration of the law and
the due punishment Of crime. Could all the facts
of this subject he laid before the public could
make known in detail tho favors and forbearance
extended to political rowdies, drunken emissaries
of the pot houses. emgrans robbers. dealers with
thieves. the of gamblers. randerers. and that
influential but generally depraved class which elect
recorders, city judges. and police magistrates;
could we see how Justice is perverted, the truth
dishonored, false swearing. subtle and mean pet
tfogging encouraged; could we penetrate the mvs-
ferrous secrets of some of the detailed officers and
wire puers at the little court-roOms and look in
upon the monstrous deceat and corruption which
pervade this system, and the horrid orgies which
60 under the name and authority of the law, we
should draw back in horror at the spectacle
When rowdies, rn6ians, and criminals control the
election of magistrates, it is time to resort to some
better system.