Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1866-08-25
The Judgeship Question

TO De covered Dy Jne queStlon,-Shall we
have Bar and the Judge of an impor-
tant Court, arrayed in such attitude to
each other rs will admit of neither re-
speet or confidence, and not even the
coRsGaon amenities of life Whatever
may be his personal preference and pre-
dilection, does any one believe that such
a state of things is advisable, or that there
is warrant for such action as woald in
cvitably precipitatc such a condition upon
the community? Let us, without stop
ping to argue the merit or deH,erit of
either party, take the facts as they exist,
and the consequences as they must neces-
sarily follow, and ask ourselves if .judg-
ment--the sober, second thought-will
justify the course limited at, when the
simple one-the one generally resorted
to- in such cases-the fixing upon third
man, will ward off the evil, and leave
everything to move in harmony, proprie-
ty and disnisy.. To. such extent is the
repugnance felt, that the Bar, almost to
man, are determined not to recognize
Judge CHsFFEE, as Judge, under any
circumstances, and the dissemination is
more or less prevalent, perhaps general,
that they will never consent to try case
before him. We believe we are author
lied to make this statement, and if true,
we wonld ask again, what consideration
Of personal advantage or party triumph
will justify the presentation of such a
mortifyng spectacle There Is no mis-
taking the earnestness and irreconcilable
character of this hostility, and we may
not attribute it to caprice, malevofenee,
or ineonsiderate haste. Some of those
actuated by it, are not men that move
from such impulses. 1t embraces men of
calm Judgment and discretion, and those,
too, who have been on the most intimate
business relations, partnership connec-
tions--for years, with Judge ICuAFFEE; it
embraces such men as Judges WILDER
and HITCHoocK, who are beyond and
above unworthy and unmanly motives,
and who are not usually considered as
moving under the influence of crude, half
formed opinions. When such men as
these, and such as Judge BIssELL, and
WIN. L. PERKINS, who have grown grey
in building up characters as thoughtful,
considerate, prudent and temperate men,
stand opposed to Judge C.and his election,
is it not time to pause and look about us?
Further than this, is there not meaning
and significance in the fact that some
forty men, with but an exception or two,
the entire bar. of the district,-mcn with
whom we have entrusted our interests,
and who, to say the least, are as worthy,
and entitled to as much respect as the
average of society, feel constrained, after
a business and personal intimacy Of some
six years, assert their entire want of con-
fidence in the man, is there not some
thing in it worthy moments reflection?
If the opinions of any men in the COM
munity are worthy of respect or weight
with the people, arc not these, and such
as these, entitled to consideration ? 1t
is not our purpose to draw conclusions
from these premises, or cast such refec-
tions as may wound, or leave ill-feeling,
but in all candor, as one who has hereto
fore entertained high respect forJudge
CHAFFEE, again ask, if common prudence
and discretion do not require that we
should look beyond the mere clap-trap of
hue and cry against lawyers, trenching
upon a assuming the right and preroga-
tiyes of the people, for settlement of,
this question, and to save US from the
evil, that heat and haste and personal feel
ing seemwilling to bring upon the commu-
nifty, Are not these considerations worthy
of thought and deliberate action? Are
they not sufficient to lead those who
have the remedy in their hands, to re-
fleet before deciding to bring such dis
cordent elements together. A court thus
composed would be an anomoly, and be-
sides being an object of pity and con-
tempt. the interests of the community
are liable to suffer and be jeoparded.-
The thought ofsuch state OF things is
not to be entertained for moment. Ii
Judge CHAFrEE viii not be advised by
his better Judgment, as well as that OF
many of his friends, and by consulting
b;a ovn dignity and self resnect. with