Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-02-03
fCommnnicated.l
The SuDreme UOurt.

IL is well known that the Supreme
Court of Indiana has fallen below the re-
spect of the best lawyers in the State
without regard to party politics, and its
opinions among them, instead of being /
treated with that respect which is always |
commanded by an honest and able
Court, are often made subject of de-
rision Whoever has been present at
miscellaneous private assemblage OF law
yers, where all were at liberty to speak
their private opinions unfettered by po-
litical motives or client interests, can
not have helped being painfully struck
by the unanimous want of confidence
manifested by them in the ability of the
Supreme Court and the utter want of re-
spect shown for its decisions.
Time hand again as the Legislature ex-
pressed its intention that the laws should
be construed literally in favor of Justice,
and according to their spirit rather than
letter; but the present Supreme Court
have wholly ignored this intention, and
their decisions have been narrow and
technical beyond all precedent An ex-
animation of the reported cases for
few years back, will convince any man
of common sense, whether a lawyer or
not, that but comparatively few cases are
ever decided upon their real merits, but
are disposed of on some technicallty,
and this often consists of some technical
rule of the Courts own creating, which
was never heard of before, and as uEne-
cessary as without precedent This was
| not always so in Indiana. The time was
when our Supreme Court preserved the
fountain of justice pure, and its deci-
sions were governed by tGao and justice,
and quoted by the Supreme Judges Of
other States. Those were the days when
Blackford sat upon the Bench. To re-
store our highest civil tribunal to its for
mer purity and high standing, should be
a great object in the coming election.
This Judicial District has one of these
Judges to elect. Let him be Il man OF
undoubted integrity and wisdom in the
law "-one who will reflect honor and
credit on this part of the State.
Such man is Col James G. Jones, oil
our own city. Col Baker, owing TO his
entire unwillingness to be a candidate
for any office, has declined to be a can
1 Q1Qate LOT DOmlUallOU. NO Olle Can OD
iect to Col Jones in his stead We
doubt not that even the opposite party
would willingly see Col. Jones on the
Supreme Bench, instead of the present
incumbent from this District, of whose
abilities the least that can be said the
better for his reputation. Good lawyer;
of his own party are ashamed of him
The legal abilities of Col. Jones com
mand the respect of ALL His honor anC
integrity, his sincere love of justice, hi.
superior knowledge of law, as well as his
patriotism, make him as fit for the posi-
ton as any lawyer in the State. In 1861
he was elected Attorney General, anC
filed the office with ability and satisfac
ton to all, until the Fall of 1861, wheI
he entered the service as Colonel of the
gallant AID. His health being feeble, HI
is not able at present to be in the fielt
with his regiment, and not being of tina
class who are willing 10 draw pay with
out rendering actual service, he has, a
his own request, been detailed on specia
duty, and is now performing the dutie
of the chief officer of the Invalid Corp
for this State, until his health RECEIVERS
: His health never was sufficiently robus
r for the duties of the camp. This Dis
triet needs him on the Supreme Bench