Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1861-05-29
EBENSBIRG. Pa. WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1861.


ed. To the request contained in it, | now
reply at once and frankly. that. since neith-
er my age nor my circumstances, my 1u.y TO
my family or to the public. permits me to en-
tertain a thought of retiring from active life,
aud as | have no inclination 20 return to the
practice of the law, am willing to be a
candidate for reelection to the Office | now
hold.
1t accords also, with my views and desire
to come before the people iu the attitude sug-
gested There is a prevalent and growing
public sentiment, in which | heartily pertie-
pate that Judge should DOT oe politician /;
ana that contests for Judicial Offices. as far az
it practicable, should be Kept clear OF party
politics. Ii Is grating to our seDce of pro-
PrIety to observe one whose Office 1t is to adj
minister justice with steady aud impartial
haud between persons OF al! parties and clas
ses. descending into the arena of local parti-
zan strife nor can it, In the naCure of things.
ever happen without impairing, &c some ex,
tent, public confidence In his entire inde-
Pendence and impartality as Judge. L
announce myself, therefore, 10 compliance
with the request contained in your letter be-
fore he. as candidate for the office Of Pres
ident Judge of the twenty fourth Judicial
District, without respect to party"
iDgs. however, gentlemen. and great iDjus-
tice to you, were l to close with this direct
and brief response to the request contained
in your letter. L is q communication from
the Tar of the district "a distr ct over the
Courts of which | have presided for mauy
years and in which. during that time very
large amount of Judicial business, civil and
cEln,inal, much OF it very important, has been
Transacted "a district ranking, in view o.
the amount and character OF its business aud
litigation, amongst the most important in the
State--a district, toe, in which, you viii par
don me, gentlemen, for saying, il has always
been my billet, without claimIng any credit
for 1t uIyse. =, causes are as carefully aud well
tried IS IL any other. 1t is not only a COM
municatiou from the Bar of the entire dis
tiict, but one sigued by all the gentle
men OF the Bar within tue several counties
composing it. Of all parties; some Of whom
are my professional scuInrs; with some of
whom [ started out 10 professional life ; ma
ny of tlem young gentlemen who have cone
to the Bar siuce have been upon the bench.
aud whose steady progress towards distinct
ion, l have watched with pride and with
al of hom l have eujoved the most iu,i-
mate and agreeable intercourse IN the different
relations In which we have met aud Mingled.
Such ca upOu me, from such source, Is,
itself, an expression of confidence aud friend
ship, stronger and more expressive than the
language which you have empl yed to con-
vey il !; and which | bave 10 words suitably
20 acknowledge. [ vsu2 il, be assured,
more highly than ] would the nomination OF
any party convcnflun, for the highest and
mos, honorable officc in the State; aud
shall preserve and cherish your letter to the
latest hour If my life, the most valued
monument l hope to leave behind me.
Your generous friendship has doubtless,
gentlemen. Induced al oversight of many
faults and Deficiencies IF Which | am very
sensible, and which caunot have escaped
your notice. [ am conscious of having, du-
ring my term of ofice drawing near to a
close. committed many errors. You are
right, however. when you accord to me, and
| believe also in the opinion expressed that
the people IF the District. of all parties, ac-
cord to NE, strict iupartiality, aud integrity
Of purpose in the peri"rmance of NY judicial
duties. As to the latter, no one occupying
auy public place, is entitled to any special
credit for babItuaIly intending to Go what Is
simply aud ouly his duty; nor is it to be for
gotten that the strongest motive which can
actuate udge is TO be RIGHT always If be
| have here only stood IN my lot with my
judicial breIherB OF the State; while it is not
as | suppose ascribable t. any superior per-
soual merit liz those of the legal profession
who have been called to exercise judiciary
fuDctons. that the entire judiciary OF Penn
sylvaDia has ever. IN this respect, stood abo-
We and beyond reproach or suspicion With
respect to the other quality referred to, if the
re is any one qualification of Judge, which
among many conscious deficiencies. ] feel
that might venture to claim. it is the pow
er of holding up a question and viewing II
feadily IN ali Its aspects, without thinking.
tor the time, who are the parties interested
or how they will be effected by the decsion.-
7 am not CONSCIOUS of ever having felt the
temp tatior to allow the weight of a feather,
10 any udgment, to the social position, pol
i,ical predictions, or religious faith OF the
parties before the court, of their counsel
| have only 10 conclusion, gentlemen, to
repeat my grateful acknowledged and
appreciation of your kind partiality: and to
pledge myself that, should it result in my re-
election, aud God would spare u,y life to the
cnmme encemept Of another jueicisl term, /
will eudeavor to bring all my energies to the
discharge OF the high. responsible, and ard
oous public duties devolviug upon me und-
er q new commission.
am. gentlemen,
Very respectfully and truly,
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