Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-04-10
For the Spectator.
To ssMany Farmers'' and all the Voters of
judicial Circuit.

Judicial Circuit
''Many Farmers" have called upon David
Fultz, Esq, to become candidate for the Office
OF Judge in our Circuit, and he has responded to
that call by circular, in which he announces
himsf candidate, and as it seems to me, seeks
to disparage Judge Thompson's claims to your
continued confidence, and to exalt his own. It
is not my object to attach much Importance to
that because poor erring human nature is prone
TO exalt itself by clarifying itself and magifying
the faults OF everybody and everything that
stands in its way to promotion. Hence, while
have no objection to friend Fultz's declaration
that, if elected, be will sit the whole year, if ne
cessary, in order to do all the business; nor
nave L any objection to his waking up the
sleeping docket. But suppose he does these
thing-and | have no doubt he will, if you re-
quire it-what will you gain by it2 Who of
you has complained because Judge Thompson's
Courts have been too shor, 2 or who has COM
planned about the sleeping docket9 None of US,
OF course, would complain at the waking up of
that docket but my word for it, wake it up as
often Mr.. Futz pleases still it will go to sleep
again; and no one knows better than friend
Fultz that it will, for he is too good q lawyer
not to know that we are bound to have Sleep
ing docket. Now, voters, am willing to award
to Mr.. Fultz all that his most Jealous advocates
claim tor him, and do it cheerfully. Still
cannot see why, in reasons name, we should
discharge our very able and gentemanly Judge
in order to crafty the aspirations of our esteem
ed friend Fultz. Is he honorable so is Judge
Thompson. Is he learned2 so is Thompson
Is he Industrious so is Thompson. Is he able?
80 is Thompson. Would he be impartial9 SO is
Thompson. Well, what more9 hear it said
by few that Thompson is proud and wanting
in social quality. Suppose this was so-which
| by no means admit-stil am not sure thar,
to use a vulgar saying, we might not "swap the
devil for witch; :" for suppose and hope friend
Fultz has too much pride to be guilty OF mean
thing, and too much dignity to become dema-
gogue in order to secure a Judgeship, even if
that would give it to him. But suppose | am
mi taken, and suppose friend Fultz, while at
tending his Courts and at every time and place
would be very familiar and social-would that
make him any the better Judge2 No, verify.
| tell You voters, if you are like me you care
very little about the social qualities of Judge.
Ii ne Is minded, honorable, impartial, able,
industrious and respectful to suitors, as well as
kind to all those with whom he chooses to as
'ocaate, then it seems to me that we hazard much
II we discharge him to try any other man. /
have known Thompson long and well, and T
have thought and still think If any class of men
have any cause to complain OF him it is the law
Vers, for have sometimes thought that he was
'ather rough to them; but since they all with
put few, if any, exceptions prefer him to any
'ther man, why may not we, the other voters.
,e satisfied to support him9
There are other reasons, it seems to me, why
We should re- elect Thompson. He has spent
hirty years OF the prime of his life in the dis
harge OF the laborious and responsible duties
# Judge, in manner that las secnrcd to him
he character of being, if not the very ablest of
he Virginia Judges, at least equal to any Of
hem; and it Is well known to many 81 Won
hat be quit the Bar when q young man, and