Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-03-18
The Chief Justiceship.
Position of the Candidates.


cle of this State are to elect a man TO the
responsible Office of Chief Justice Of the
Supreme Court.
The contest is not exactly political
one. The Democrats have made n party
nomination. Hon. II. N. CoTHREN, while
the Republicans will generally support as
an Independent Candidate, the present
Chief Justice, Hon. LUTHER S. DIXON,
who also was supported by q large mum
Der in the Democratic Convention.
OF Judge DIxoN's fitness for the place,
we can give evidence from both parties.
He was solicited to run as au Indepen-
dent Ca dida,e. by very many of the best
lawyers in the Safe. both Democ,at
and Republicans. The Republican mem,
bers of the Legislature, in caucus on this
subject. passed the following resolutions
"Res0lUed. Thnt we have full conf
dence in the ability, uprightness and
impartiaIity, as a Judge, of Hon.
Luther S. Dixon; that in the dis
charge of the high and responsible duties
of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court,
we believe he has been covered only
BY an earnest and CONSCIENTIOUS desire
to administer justice under the Cons;itu-
lion and the laws. and that we have en-
tire faith in his loyalty and answering
patriotism.
ResolVed. That we DO not approve Of
conducting judicial elections upon parti-
san issues.
ResolVed, That this caucus adjourn
without baloting for candidate for
Chief Justice.
Horace RUBLEE, long Chairman Of
the Republican State Committee, says:
Our opinion of Chief Justice Dixon
has already been freely expressed. We
fully endorse the opinion expressed by
The caucus in regard to bis fitness, aud
and believe hi> reelection is demanded
hy the best interests of the State. There
is between hlm and tho candidate of the
cOpperheads all the heaven wide differ
cnte that exists between unconditional
Cnionisn and earnest LOYALTY on tue one
hand, and sympathy with the cause Of
the rebellion. affinity WITH the views of
its leading spirits, and bitter hostility to
all the measures calculated to promote
the enforcement Of tho constitution and
laws IN the rebeiIious States, on the
u.her. There is in addition to this all
the difference between them which exists
between a man of pure and unexception
able habits, and man of Incorporate
and di>solute habits. Judge DIXON is
moreover upon the bench; hs has had
the benefit of three Years experience:
and unless some very good reasons exist,
unless there Is prospect Of effecting a
great improvement thy = change, we are,
as u general rule, IN favor of rejoicing
judges of the Supreme bench. We
shall therefore give our vote and innu-
ence for Nh. DIXoy.
On tie Democratic side wo have the
testimony Of Hon. E G. RYAN. who is
considered one of the very aLlest lawyers
in the State. He labored hard to secure
Judge DIxoN's nomination in the Dem.
ocrat'c Convention. and in his speech
before that Convention, snid:
know the object of this convention
IS 20 nominate person 10 every respect
fit for the position of Chief Justice. 1t
exacts 10 other qualification than fitness.
The candidate should be man of ma
ture years, OF sound Judgment, some
what above the grade of fair lawyer.
He should ho good lawyer. aud above
al lie should possess a legal mind which
can lie led away by no political heresies,
one who docs not seek the law in vague
theories, but one who. when he lays his
hand on the constitution believes every
word Of the oath which he has taken to
support it. We want sound constitu
iional lawyer, which is only convert
bic term for Democrat. | don't care
for his antecedents What | want is a
man who has intelligence enough to see
the law as it is, and who has fearlessness
enough to pronounce judgment in aecor-
dance with the Law, even though the
Presidents long sword hangs poised
above his head :
As man fully coming up to This
standard, L nominate Luther S. Dixon,
the present Chief Justice. as candidate
before this convention. Sir, know him
Without pretending 10 any intimate &C
quaintanee with him prior to his appoint
ment as Chief Justice, | have since that
time known him well. l have seen him
when, if ever he belonged to the Repub-
lican party-which | very much doubt
he had to choose between obeying his
party aud obeying his conscience, aud he
obeyed bis conscience avery time. l have
seen him when a very little clubbing