Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-03-06
For the Spectator.
Election of Judge.

| There seems to be entire unanimity among
Mr.. Fultzs friends in the persistent efforts they
are making to impress the public with the opin-
ion that he is one of the "best abused" patriots
who, yielding to "much Importantly" ever be-
came a candidate for office. Your correspond
ent, "Honiespun," in the Spectator of the 18th,
with frowning brow and flashing eye, declares,
| in emphatic terms, his unwillingness to see men
like Mr.. Fultz, "of high reputation both for tai
ents and character, thrust down." And again,
with burning Indignation, lie asks, 'why is Mr.
F. to be hunted down, and made the foot ball OF
every scribbler's veDgeance?" And then your
last weeks correspondent, "Country," informs
Mr.. Fulz in the most lugubrious tones that
''almost every charge has been made against
him."
Now any one who had only read these and
similar communications would naturally con-
clude that your columns, ever since Mr.. Fultz
announced himself, had been filled with articles
reeking with
"S1anderous reproaches and foul infamies"
upon his reputation as man and bis attain
ments as lawyer. But the writer of this, who
is a constant aud careful reader of the Spectator
can now recall but a single communication that
made any unfavorable reference to Mr. rs quail
fcations for the BENCH and in that he was
merely said to be the possessor of a temper too
uuSOVtIuaoio duC vi PiSJuuio0o w oooAAJ "a
cited for the calmness and impartiality so essen
tal in Judge" But as the writer of that
article is a farmer and resident of the country,
and neither lawyer nor a citizen OF Stanton,
his 'sindubitable and inalienable" right, not on
ly to entertain preferences and form opinions,
but also to give public expression to them, will,
Presume, hardly be called in question.
The several communications which have ap-
peared in the Spectator advocating the re-elec-
ton OF Judge T., have, in an eminent degree,
been characterized by freedom from every
thing akin to an assault upon his competition
Mr.. Fultzs private character has not been as
sailed, neither has his standing as lawyer been
in any manner disparaged.
Judge Thompson's friend have thus far con-
fined themselves to showing, in which they have
been entirely successful, that the charges of
wilful neglect of duty, and want of efficiency
and diligent industry in the discharge Of his Off
cial labors. made by Mr. Fultz, and SO peril
nacously reiterated by his advocates, are with
out foundation. These complaints of Mr.. F's
friends remind me of the old fable in which the
wolf complained that the lamb, although below
him, muddied the stream from which his wolf
ship wished to allay bis thirst.
These gentlemen while complaining of assaults
that have never been made, and of charges that
no one has seen or heard, have never ceased, in
the broadest manner to assail Judge rs official
character. 1t Is true his integrity and upright
ness have not been directly assailed but be is
charged with such negligence and want OF en-
ergy and promptness in the administration of the
law, as to amount to substantial denial OF JUS
tice-Mr Fultz ia his card saying:
ssUnder our reformed Judiciary it was expect
ed the dockets would be kept down; but SO far
from this expectation being realized it appears
that the business in this court has been suffered
regularly to accumulate, and if permitted to in
crease in the same ratio the wheels of justice
already greatly retarded in their movements,
must soon cease to roll on"
These complaints of assaults upon MIR. f. are
not only unfounded and in bad taste, but come
with an i'll grace from those whose opposition to
Judge Us reelection is predicated upon the
charge of ineficiency, and that too persisted in
even after it has been shown by official docu
ments that he determined more causes and per
formed greater amount OF labor last year than
any Judge in the State.
But cannot close this communication with
out expressing my concurrence in the surprise"
of your multitudinOus correspondent from Bath.
1t is truly an inexcusable piece of presumption
in 'some of the lawyers of your town. to make
efforts to re elect Judge Thompson after "many
citizens of Bath and "lnany farmers" have de-
termined that he is not only too INDECENT, too
slow and too old, but that Mr.. Fultz is the very
man for the place. (By the way will your Bath
correspondent inform US of the exact difference
in the ages of Mr.. Fultz and Judge Thonpson)
Feb. 27th BLAND.