Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-11-23

As general rule, 1t would be much safer for the
people to elect In the mode prescribed BY law repre-
sensfivea IN whose ability, integrity, and pafrohsm,
they could coDhde and leave TO them the du not mere
OF framing the LAVE but also OF selectrg ens nener
oncers, TO expound and execute them.
ELECTION OF GOVERNOR
In regard to the beet mode Of eectiug the Governor
some diversity of scnmen, has existed among the men,
bers Of the committee. The minority inclne TO the
opinion that be should be elected by the direct vote Of
the PEOPLE as now provided by the constitution. The
minority believe II would bs better TO return TO TIE an
cient mode Of electng by the Joint vote Of the General
Assembly.
At the time the election of Governor was referred to
the people, it wss probably, not In the contemplation
Of any one that candidates would canvass the State 10
obtain votes for an Office which had been hled BY Hen
ry Jefferson and Monroe IL was supposed that puono
opinion would concentrate, without dhcrly upon soue
distinguished statesman and that by the spontaneous
acuon Oh tne people, sitnou' soncitstion On ns
woald be elevated 70 me cniet magi,racy. bu tns
expectation hss proved deusive ana the practice OF can
vassng acvey ior the enee mas become TOO nrmy es-
tsoilsneo 10 DC osreBa'otu, pofaoh OF your commt
tee believe that ames any chaDge would De oentncai
which would reheVe the commonwealth Oh an eVu Oh
such magnitude
IL viii bs generally conceded hat the 1ovrrnor OF VIZ
gina should be man OF mature age OF enlarged expert
ence OF vsred attainment OIL calm wisdom, oil unsuied
parity and OF manners and department 70 COM
mand universal respect.
The minority OF the committee bseve that the dene-
raj Assembly oi virginia regularly eiectea unoer tne Au
thori'y oil law represenung ihe whole Commonweatn,
and acting under the sanctions OF an onca oa'n "oud
be more likely TO make wise secton OF governor than
an exci@d conv oil irresponsible men, selected and
convened Tor paruzin purposes ana restrained oy no
sense OF RESPONSIBILITY W 'ne constituent ooo! nor oy o
obigations Of OATH With such convention, avsia.
by for an active and successful canvass would De look
ed to in preference TO those solid qualifications
yhich were the tests Of fitness in the earlier and better
daya Of the Republic.
ELtcrIos oF JUDGES ASD TEsURK oy oFFiCE.
There seems to be general concurrence of sentiment
in all parts of the Commonwealth that in all Judicial eec
tons party considerations should be disrt garded. The
ermae Of justice should never be soiled by the Gust Of
partz,n corhct Judges should be selected exclusively
with regard TO their purity Of character and judicial
qualifications and, when chosen, they should be eeva-
ted above every IL duercc which might tend to bias
their Judgment between parties ligant Their tenure Of
Office should be such to make them independent Of
popular caprice. An upright and independent judics.
~ Ia the great bulwark Of constitutional liberty. Of
ten becomes the duty Of Judges TO decide causes IN
which the sentiment Of excited community Is array
ed against single friendess individual No tempta-
ton should be held out to them to swerve from the
path Of Justice by appeals 10 their hopes Of reelection
or fears Of defeat Human nature Is weak, and no
class Of men should be placed In position In which
their personal interests NAV come into conflict with the
impartial discharge OF public duty.
Prior to the English revolution Of 1858, judges held
their offices during the pleasure Of the Crown As nat
ua consequence they were TOO often the plant TOOLS OF
arbitrary power. Alter the revolution had been accom-
pished and the principles OF constitutional liberty es-
tablshed on rm 6as the Judicai tenure was cnansea
to good behavior ana from tnat hour 70 ,ne
an Independent JUDICIARY mas oeeh the psaoum oi prs
ish liberty.
The same CONSCIENTIOUS Wnien teheersu sn inoePenI
ent Jndcary essrnusi 70 'r1euoni VI appg -
eqna' iorcs ssn-euS sH =, Wv rs,s.sI.r s.s
sovereign nels 'Hs % sos nT ha Iss;.Is
ture, represenuss 'ne P'Pu'al wiz, =, ~ S,aI
or oil an eheheu peoP'c, as W 'ns'''an "AH' s'AAN
against the usarpauons y, vran'.
Your commuee 'nerei0'e' Teominenu ,uAs .o ~n'
ure OF all the Judges oe enareea gooe oeranor I
Uuder the oohsu'uuons VI 100 Sru io.o 'uugee y,
the Court Of Appeals and Circuit Courts were elected
by joint vote Of the OF the General Assembly BY the
present Constitution il b provided that that they shall
be elected by the direct vote OF the people IN secons ana
circuits arranged by the Lfglsla ure.
Experience has shown that both these modes Of &C.
lecting Judges are liable to grave OBJ 'chons Id ums
Of high political excitement IL has been found impoe-
soie 10 eAs'uae parry SouSu' .i.' - a. ,I
nops' Wne'se' inauo ~ s'e s,-and ,S., ho,b ,hssa
oSss ~ annou,ment he discarded and tha. hereafter
ali Judges shal be nominated BY the Executive and sp-
nn,od nv and with the advice and consent Of the Sen.
~, Th;s modo of appontment secured 10 the late Fed
, ns.nt an shle and fa;tbful Judiciary and Il
,, r.oo;vcd the ss snction of the framers of the
GI,:.s,ay Gas ts.sy 81 ,ho confodsrs,a S,s,es
- - ..-,,.,. ..,, -,
JUSTICES or The rtAch-Aop. n " Arr'' ANU "
N0K. .
The duties of Justices OF tue rfsce are Gi miea nA,
ture parakng, in some degree both OF egsauve end
Judicial character They are required 70 impose county
taxes and to appropriate the county revenue wen as
to govern the local police and administer JUSTICE In
view Of these facts there was difference OF opinion IN
he committee in regard to the mode OF appointment and
the tenure Of otcs Some members preferred the sys.
TEN which prevailed under the Constitutions Q, lsIO
anu ls9o Iney conenoeu Una. .s' 20 "sn.
mr., duJio all which tins gave to the Common wealth
an upreht' able. intelligent and independent msgis.
tracy who executed the laws fearlessy and faithfully
and managed the county finances with integrity and eco
nomy
A majority of the committee however, preferred the
systsm of eecnr Justices by the people for term of
Years but all concurred in the opinion that the present
sr "a too short and that |. should be extended to six
years Should proper limitations be imposed on the
light Of srape it is hoped that the elective system
- In its nrsctical onerationa