Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-08-07
Court in the place of Judge Caruthers, re-

Court in the place OF Judge Caruthers, re-
signed.
The question is, will the people-especial-
Iy the Bar-attend to this matter, or will
they leave it with the Office hunters of the
country to sqaabble over, and rattle for.
through the juggling process in which the of
fee hunters of Tennessee are such perfect
adopts.
1t may be safely assumed that the men of
worth, whose merit entities them to such high
considerations, will be slow to come forward
as candidates until some general expression
indicates the direction of public sentiment.
Men of great ability and high legal attain
ments are generally modest and retiring,
and are scarcely eyer eager in the pursuit of
Office, while men of limited qualifications are
frequently bold and ardent in pressing their
claims and never for moment dream that
the public and themselves differ about their
qualifications. No man, so far as know, has
yet indicated wish to run for the Office. And
if ever there was high responsibility resting
upon the people of the State, this is the one
of bringing out and electing. Tin these rev
dictionary times, when men are inclined, not
only to lawless acts, but as law makers, to
utterly disregard the organic law of the
State.) man of eminent legal ability, who
will bring to the Bench undoubted and tried
moral firmness as well as habits OF industry.
There is but one way to place upon the
Bench man of worth, and that is by a gen.
eral expression or interchange of opinion
with the Bar. The lawyers know the men.
and they are but few, who are entirely suited
for that position. If the Bar give way and
yield when respectable men become candi-
dates. they may for many years curse them
selves for moral cowardice.
The position of Supreme Judge is of too
much magnitude to be carelessly cast upon
some man because he is q friend, or clever
man, or respectable lawyer and wants it.
Men thoroughly qualified will have to be
brought out by their friends, or rather by
those who are interested in having the office
| well filed. Now 1 propose that we put the
best man in Middle Tennessee in that posi-
| ton after an interchange of views, and es-
pecially that we attach no Importance to the
fact that man is already candidate, but
that bis claims shall not be disregarded be-
cause he is candidate. suggest the names
of John Marshall, Edwin q. Ewing and An
| drew ]. Marchbanks.
and as we can only ascertain each others
| views by speaking out, / am free to confess
| my preference for Judge Msrchbanks, per-
| haps because know him best. He has been
on the Bench as Circuit Judge for nearly
| twenty-five years, and without a doubt in
my mind be is the most laborious man in the
trained, and his legal attachments are of the
highest order. His charges Qor he writes
all that are importantly now filed away in the
offices at Fayetteville. Winchester, Manches-
ter, McMinnville, Altamonte and Spencer, If
published would furnish the profession in
Tennessee more valuable legal information
than is anywhere to be found outside the
Tennessee Reports. (Of course / mean upon
Tennessee law) While Judge Marchbanks
has his peculiarities which are frequently the
subject of conversation with the Bar, yet
every single lawyer in his circuit has the
highest respect for him-looks upon him as
a man of eminent legal worth--and never
has it been whispered that his judgments
have been controlled by outside influences,
by wealth OF position on one side, or OBSCURE
ty on the other.
! have no means of knowing whether
Judge Marchbanks desires the position or
not; and am only interested in placing upon
the Bench one of our best men. In this !
am deeply interested, and for this | am will
ling to work, if the Bar generally will CO.
operate with me. and / hope to hear from
them. Il.
August I'd, 1861.