North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1867-07-31


aIy. The seventh resolution adopted by
their State Convention, which nominated
Mr.. Williams for Judge of the Supreme
Court, declares ''that warned BY past mis-
"fortunes, we ask that the Supreme Court
"of the State be placed in harmony with the
" political opinions of the majority of the
people, so that'it NAV become and remain
"a fit and faithful interpreter of the liberal
spirit of the age, a bulwark of public
faith, and an impartial and fearless expo
"nent of the equal rights of man." This
resolution has been endorsed and applaud
ed by all the Radical papers of the State,
and the Press of the 18th instant announ-
ced that "a Union State should have Un-
"ion Judiciary, and every Republican is
SCALED upon to contribute to this desira
able end by voting in October next, for
"Henry w. Williams, as Judge Of the Su-
"preme Court"
Now, what do the Radicals mean 10y
this seventh resolution, and what is the inn
port of the declaration that "a Union State
should have a Union Judiciary?' The
business of judges is to interpret the laws
according to those well-knowr principles
which underly and give security and stabil
ity to the whole structure of society,"
They are to be pure men, free from per-
sonal bias or political prejudices. They
may and will have political opinions, but
these opinions are never to influence their
judgments or govern their actions in par,
ty or personal direction. The .Constitu-
tion OF the State and nation, and the laws
enacted by competent legislative bodies.
rre to be their rule of action. No mans
cause is to be prejudiced because he may
differ from the Judge upon the bench, nor
are laws to be looked at through the misty
atmosphere of party cIamor and excite
ment. Before and in the eyes of the law
all men Of all political f.iths, all religious
beliefs, are equal, and in that attitude they
must be viewed by ajudge if justice is to
hold place upon the bench.
To this exposition of the character and
duties of Judge the Radicals will not
agree, and that disagreement furnishes an
answer to the question propounded above.
They are not only in favor of putting poi
ticians upon the bench. but for pledging
those politicians in advance to fashion all
their legal opinions and decisions "in har-
mony with the political opinions" OF The
party by which they were elected. This
is the position occupied by the Radical
party in this State with reference to the
Supreme Court and its Judges. Such
a principle, if carried into effect, would
turn the superior judicial tribunal of this,
or any other State, into star chamber,
where politica! vengeance wonld be execu
ted, and neither law, justice, nor equality
be administered. All the judges would
be heated and bigoted partisans, instead OF
calm minded, independent citizens, guided
by facts and the law; and life, property,
and character would be held by the gossa-
mer thread of popular opinion. Each
shifting phase of political action would tind
its reflection in the judgment OF the court.
To-day the needs of politicians would drive
them in one direction, ard the court must
follow. On the morrow returning wave
would obliterate the record, and cnt fresh
channel across the Liberties of the people,
the security of property, and the sanctity
of those ties which bind together civilized
society. Life, liberty. and all other rights
now surrounded by the safeguards of con-
stitutional law, and protected by impartial
Judges, will, if the Radical idea is accepted,
soon fall before the spirit of sgrarianism
which is beginning to invest with fresh
danger the movements of the ruling party
of the country.
The phrase, "a Union State should have
Union Judiciary" used by the Press, is
but another way of enforcing the idea that
in the future, if citizens desire their rights
to be respected in the Supreme Court of
this State, they must place themselves in
"harmony with the political opinions of the
"majority of the people" The State Con-
ventiou of the Radical party has declar-
ed that doctrine; it has been endorsed by
the Radical press, and MIR. Williams, by
allowing his name to be used as candi-
date, gives his public assent to the princi-
pie. With colleagues upon the bench OF
the same political faith, Mr.. Williams can
turn all tho decisions of the Supreme
Court into the path marked out by the
Radical State Convention. Instead, then.
of merchants, manufacturers, bankers and
others trusting to the supreme judicial fri
bunal of the land as an impartial body.
which will administer law without "fear,
favor or affection" they will know that po.
liticaI considerations are thrown into the
scales Of Justice, and the judges are infn.
enced by partisan considerations in making
up their opinions and judgments. This
will be the effect OF placing MIR. Williams
upon the bench of the Supreme Court
lie was nominated as Radical politician,
not as lawyer. He will decide as pol
itician, act as polificician in a word
carry ont the seventh resolution of the
State Convention, and place all the decls
ions of the Supreme Court 'in harmony
"with the political opinions of the majority
"ot the people. Age.