Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-04-10
For the Spectator.
To all Whom it Nav Concern.

| Messrs. Editors :-"They cannot close thi:
communication without bearing Their emphatic
! testimony to the ability, learning, industry. f.
detity, and unsaoeavang integrity and .1irmnes
with which you have discharged every dutu in
cumbent on you during your long and ineiustri
GUS judicial career."-C Correspondence 6etaoeen
Judge Thompson and the members Of the sStau,a-
| ton Bar.
Since ~" has again called me into the list
throw down my gauntlet aud prepare to renew
| the battle. | intend to begin at the s'call" on
Judge Thompson and come down to the pres
ent. intend to take the sentence which heads
this article and make it the text upon which to
| found what may say in future. I intend to
make it, to use the legal phrase, the gist of the
| action, because in that sentence are expressed
| the first great qualities of judge which Judge
Ihompsons friends have emsph0tic0zLy testified
belongs to him; and, if we can prove that he is
wanting in one of these sterling qualities, we
prove his incompetency, if sufficient evidence is
given either for or against him. on this question.
the people are then bound, by justice, if not by
passion and prejudice, to choose or reject him.
Ii we prove this one point, his want of tdezitu
and industry in the discharge of his duties. ali
the rest goes for nothiDg-all the articles, which
have been written for the last two months upon
the Judicial election, and which have run so
wide OF the mark, and have at last dwindled to
war OF words and epithets, become nothing
more than mist which subtlety has drawn a.
round the real subject to deceive the people.
have, heretofore, confined myself merely to
a defence of Mr.. Fultz, and in so doing guarded
against making any pointed illusions to Judge
Thompson. endeavored to treat him 10 kind
manner, and only doubt and arraign his want of
energy, OF which the people have so long COM
planned. On the other hand Judge rs friends
have not confined themselves to a defence nj
him, but have openly and repeatedly assailed
Mr.. Faz, not only in his public but even in his
private character. have determined. then. to
TO take different course, and if in so DOING 7
shall become ln any manner severe, let those nm
on whom such severity falls consider that thew
have provoked it.
shall endeavor first to prove that if Mr.. Futz
bad assailed Judge Thompson, as his friends
aoouM have us believe, he had not done it un-
justly, for any man, be he candidate or not ia
compelled by duty and justice to himself and to
bis tellow-citizens, to make known any violation
OF the law that may come under his knowledge
L shall prove that there was such violation
shall show the lawyers that they do not re-
pose in such safe security behind the bulwark of
the peoples ignorance. l shall show them that
they are not the only persons who have access
to that tell-tale record. l shall show them that
there are others save themselves, who have an
opportunity of learning, and who will improve
that opportunity. shall disclose to the people
facts which they should know. shall startze
them.
shall, at present. state but one feet bearing.
upon tue .1'delity OF Judge T. in The discharge Of
bis dnt'es. Ali ar, perhaps, not aware that ac-
cordlng to law the Judge appoints Receiver Of
the Court, whose business it is to ACT sonewhat