The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-10-03

The man who pledges himself in this div.
versitcd world, to any political dormas of
any party, is unworthy of every party and
totally unfit for ajudge. The great princi,
PIES ofjustice should be above parties and
control all parties.
The conclusion Of this remarkable
pamphlet-remarkable in the fact that
while condemning both parties it urges
the people who desire an independent,
fearless and pure judiciary, to vote for
Judge SHARswooD-we give entire
have tn ought proper to say thus much
| upon the principles upon which judges are
constituted, as being pertinent to the ques.
tion in which we are more Immediately con.
oerned, viz: the candidates at the approach.
ing Judicial Election.
l say, then, competency is everything and
that admitted age is nothing. The first
question then should be, who is the most
competent man? Now there person in
this community ifleft TO his unbiased reason,
who could hesitate in desciding that ques.
tion? lie has all the facts and daily proofs
before him. In every essential of a Judge,
the President Of the District Court of this
County has no superior; in calmness, mild
ness, afiability, moderation, infexibility
and in undoubted learning, he stands pre-.
eminent in this political controversy.
But, we are told that he is affiliated with
the Democracy. Well, ifthat consideration
should be understood to affect his unbending
rcotitude md conscientious duty, it undoubt.
cdly would be serious objection. But in
the long course Of the exercise of his judi.
cial functions, though it is impossible he may
have erred in judgment--for there is one
Judge that can never err-no instance can be
reforred to calculated to cast o shadow on
the disc of his fair fame.
Now, in regard to his compctitor--he we
are told, is q Republican. Well, he is alI
the better for that but as one error should
not blast judge (if there be one), so one
virtue should not make Judge; therefore
mere Republicanism cannot be conclusive
proof Of competency. But what else is
said in his behalf? lie is but forty-six
years old As have elsewhere intimated,
this is not nm advantage to q judge. Lord
Mansfield was over fifty when he took his
seat as Chef-Justice Of England and re
mained upon the bench thirty-two years,
when he resigned in possession of all his
faculties, being over the age of eighty years,
and never surpassed by any judge in Eng
land or elsewhere. Chief Justice Marshal
held his post as long, in the full vigour of
intellect and power and Chancellor Kent,
who was legisated out Of Office, died at the
age feighty four, in the possession of ju.
dioial faculties which the combined learn
ing Of all the judges in his State since his
time, would scarcely rival.
The fact of Judge Williams being but for
ty six years old, may be the ground Of
M nj io,, hat ho l,
live to be an eminent judge, but we are to
rely rather upon facts than fancy. We have
in Judge Sharswood, the assurance Of quail
tiles that in the case of Judge Williams, at
the best, we have only the promise Of
Which, then, let me ask, would be the more
reasonable choice 1t takes twenty years
to make a lawyer, and even then he has
something to learn. A good judge would
require nearly all that time on the score of
mere legal competency, and he should ne
eessarily improve during that time, in his
aptitude for business in his self control, in
his temper and demeanor, for all these
things enter into the formation of his judi
cial character. Now, can it be supposed
that with the few years that Judge Will.
liams has occupied the bench at Pittsburgh,
having comparatively limited jurisdiction,
that be could have derived those advantages
in the formation of judge, which were ne.
cessarily acquired and fully exhibited on
the part of his antagonist during moro than
twenty years.
But are we told also, that Judge Williams
is native Of Connecticut, and was gradua-
ted with honor, at Yale College. Well, that
cannot be denled-we do not disparage him
on account Of his having been born in
another State, or for being educated at
another institution of learning. Sufficient
answer on that score, is that Judge Shars
wood is native of Philadelphia, and took
the first honor at the University of Penn.
sylvania.
In conclusion, allow me to say that for
the reasons suggested l shall vote for Shars-
wood. In doing so do not feel that shall
compromise my principles as thorough ma
Honat Repa6hcan-in acting othertcise, l
should carry with me the consciousness of
doing injustice to a meritorious man, and of
infiicting causeless ana cureless wound
upon the purity, permanency or d integrity
of the Judiciary. My term of life is short,
but the lessons of this day may last--in
their pernicious and corrupt inHuence-un.
to the latest posterity. Let the people
then, think of this, do what they believe
to be right and stand firmly by their moral
as well as their political faith.
Dawn pAuT RPowy