Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-03-12
Chief Justice Dixon.


which are fndiDg their way even into
Republican newspapers
Thus We see is stated that he is an out
and out Democrst-that he has said the
acts of the Administrst have forced
him to become a Democrat-that be is
opposed to the Presidents emancipation
proclsmation--thas he authorized the use
0, bis name IS Democratic candidat in
The late vsntion, and possibly other at-
cUsations of similar character which do
not now occur TO Us.
The circumstance that Judge Dixon has
| never been politician, and that his po-
| tilical views have never been proclaimed
frou the stump, renders it the more easy
% circulate and gain credence for these
| stories, Which are now gFeedily circulated
by the copperhesds with the hope OF
orejadicing Republicans, keeping them
from the polls, and thereby securing the
success of CoTHREN.
Uuder the circumstances, it is proper to
state briefly the past political history OF
| Chief Justice Dixon.
Up to the year 1856, he was Demo
crst, With great many others of his
| parry, on account of the subseryency of his
! party to slavery, as wickedly manifested
| a the attempt to force that institution Oh
An unwilling people in Kansas, be became
a Republican, and supported the Republi-
| can ticket. From that time he has voted
the Republican ticket, and has been coll
sidered a Republican. Two years after,
| when Judge COLLINS, of this Circuit, re-
signed, Judge Dixon, then living at Por
tage, and being one Of the leading law
yers of the Circuit, was appointed to
ill the vacancy, by Governor Randall
As Circuit Judge, he soon be-
came exceedingly popular and in
1859, on the death of Ohiet Justice WHI-
TON was appointed his successor. Up TO
this time no one had ever, that we are
aware of, questioned his Republicanism.-
This, however, was when part of the
Republicans of the State were very strong
ly irnbued with the so called doctrine OF
State rights. Judge DIXON was not
States rights man. He stood with Judge
HowE, our present Senator, On that sub
.jeot. He held that the decision of the
Supreme Court of the United States upon
8 case arising under law of the United
states, must be respected while the law
remained unrepealed and the decision uE-
reversed. That would not be thought
great heresy by any loyal man at the pres
ent time. But people were excited then,
they had not examined the question:
they had not taken in the full measure
of its consequences, and many were
opposed 10 Judge DIXON at the following
election. Judge DIXON ran as an indie
pendent candidate. Judge SLOAN was
nominated by the Republicans, very
large minority of the convention, however,
opposing the nomination Of party can
didate. After hisnomination, he publish
ed letter, placing himself substantially
on the State Rights issue.
The Democrats generally and quite
large number of Republicans who took
umbrage at Judge SLoAN's letter, sustained
Judge DIXON, and he was elected. We
are not aware OF any other decision OF
Judge DlxoN's that has any political bear
log except this on the State Rights ques
ton, until the recent decision in the
h"beos corpus case in which he was sus
tanned by Judges COLE and PAINE, whose
Republicanism has never been Questioned,
that We are aware or.
Bot Diminishing all merely party oonsid
erations we knou that Judge DIXON is
thoroughly loyal, patriotic, Union man.
We have all confidence in him as such.
His integrity, his impartiality, his upright
ness as citizen and as e Judge, have nev
er been questioned By any man that knew
i'm. We do not Claim for him pre.em-
nence in learning or ability. There are
other men in the State who in these re
spects might equal or surpass him. But
in those high and rare qualities OF fearless
ness in following the dictates of his con-
scentious judgment, and in holding the
scales Of justice with an even hand, un-
swerved by prejudice, fear, or favor We
believe be has no superior. In these re-
specs We believe he comes up to the tull |
of that noble portrait
ure of Judge given by tie
late RUFUS CHoATE in these words :
" He shall not respect persons in judg-
V ment. ae shall know nothing about
:" parties, everything about The case. He
- shall DO everything tor justice nothing
g for himself; nothing for hi. friend
. nothing for his patron nothing tor his
sovereign. If on one side is the legisa
Z" tive power and the Legislature and the
o people-tbe sources Of bis honors, the !
u givers of his daily bread-and on the |
s. other an individual nameless and odIous, |
. his eye is to see neither great nor small;
$ attending only to the trepidations OF the
= balance. If law is passed by an unan
:" lmons, legislature, ciamored for by the
- general voice Of the public, and a cause
IS ls before bin on it, 10 which the whole
- community is On one side and an indi
e vidual nameless or odious on the other.