The mountain Democrat., 1863-10-03
TO THE VOTERS OF THE ELEV.
ENTR JUDICIAL DXaTRECT.


II is the policy of the Constitution that
the Office of Judge shal! not be . political
one. In furtherance Of that policy the
ensuing special election is 10 be held.
To have the best attainable judiciary,
Judges must be elected with sole refer
ence to their fitness for the positions to
which they aspire. But all men will not
be influenced by considerations so eleva.
ted in depOsiting their ballots for judicial
officers. 1t is, nevertheless, to be expect
ed that party spirit will be more circum.
scribed at judicial than at other elections.
A Judge, in his official capacity, can
never have anything to do with the poIit-
icol issues Of the day. His whole duty Is
reformed when, according to the best Of
his ability, he decides every case and
question before him according to law.
Connected with his position are not
honors and emOluments alone, but, also,
fatiguing labors and weighty responsible
ties. The law throws the shield of its
protection around the property, character,
and life Of every person within its juris.
dictional limits, and he is the expounder
of the law.
A competent knowledge Of the law,
clearness and depth Of intellect, ,incorrupi-
bile integrity, untiring industry, decision
of character, firmneSs Of purpose, and in.
exhaustible patience, are all qualities that
are much needed on the bench. But
those qualities are never all united in
perfection in one man. There can be no
perfect Judges, because there are no per.
feet men.
1t is for you to decide how far any can
didate Tor your suffrages is qualified for
the station to which he aspires.
Should become your Judge, will in
dustriouSly discharge the duties Of the Of
flee according to the best Of my ability.
1t is not probable that any Judge Of
this District will ever be called upon to
render judicial decision in regard to the
legal validity of any act Of the present ma.
tional Administration. The merits and
demerits Of that Administration are ulti-
matey to be determined, not by 4 Judge
and jury, but By the great tribunal Of the
American people.
Here, it would be most congenial with
my own feelings to bring this circular to
a close but, we're | to do so, it might be
said that shrink from disclosure Of my
political opinions. To prevent so great q
mi>apprehenSon, | will aim briefly to de.
fine my position.
! have always been Democrat. l vo.
ted for Jackson, in 1882, for Douglas, in
1860, ard in the intermediate time, for
every regular Democratic nominee for the
Presidency. NJ sunshine or fair weather
Democrat, have been with the Demo
cratic party in all its victories and all its
defeats. This circumstance, I am aware,
does not prove that l have been right
but, to the minds Of all reasonable and
impartial men, "is .T8ast Sd "sasis&Eesorar~es-
tablish my past and present sincerity of
purpose. !, like other men, may err in
judgment. In having always been Dem.
"crat, ] may have been always wrong.
But, Of the correctness of Democratic
principles. have never doubted in my
life. | have always adhered to them, he.
cause ! have always believed them best
for the country. They have been always
right or always wrong. Men change {:
principles do not.
But do not understand that Demo.
Gratis are blamed for having voted for
jackson, Van Buren, Polk. Cass, Pierce,
Buchanan and Douglas. 1t is claimed,
however, that the existing rebellion has
callei for the diSbanding of the Demo.
cratic party. Do we ask why it is that
We should disorganize our party in conse-
quence of the rebellion? We are told that
the Union is important and the rebellion
wicked, and that we cannot subdue the
rebels without sustaining the Admins.
tratiOn.
No intelligent man can fail to perceive
that the Union between the States has
been an incalculable advantage to them.
Had the thirteen colonies made separate
struggles, first for redress Of grievances
and afterwards for independence, they
would, one after another, have been sue.
ceSsively overwhelmed by Great Britain.
But the Union between them gave them
a strength which enabled them to gain
their independence. The Union under
the Articles of Confederation was, never.
thelesS, very imperfect one. Our Ma.
tional Government was about to fall to
pieces. Our independence, though pur.
chased at so gaeat price, was about to
be lost. To prevent so great calamity,
the Constitution Of the United States was
adopted. That Constitution, "the master
work Of master minds" formed "a more
perfect Union" Under it, the Govern
ment went into operation on the fourth
day of March, 1889; and entered, imme-
diately, upon career Of greater prosper.
ity. History, indeed, records no instance
in which any other nation, in the brief
space Of seventy two years, ever made
such strides in all the elements of pros
peritY and greatness, as did the United