Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-01-26
The Supreme Judgeship.

The Supreme Judgeship.
One of the most important branches of our
Government, both National and State, is the
Judiciary. In the hands of the Supreme
Court of State is placed the power of decid-
ing upon the constitutionality of all legislat-
i've enactments, and its decisions of questions
Of law. which may be appealed from lower
Courts, is final. Courts have more direct
bearing, and are more clearly connected with
the rights and liberties CT the people, than
any other department of Government. and
surest safeguards of our free institutions.
That none but men of acknowledged ability
and tried integrity should be placed in po
sition to WELD the almost unlimited power
which the Supreme Court possesses, is clear
ly apparent. The Jefersonian test, SIS he
honest, is he capable" ;" should be applied to
every applicant for judicial honors and none
but those who come fully up to the standard
should be allowed to wear the ermine. In
order that political prejudices and party
strife might not interfere in the selection of
candidates for the Judiciary, the Constitution
of our State has been so amended that the
election for Judges is held separately from
that of State and county officials. Men who
aspire to occupy seat on the Supreme Bench
should be above resorting to political trickery
to secure their advancement, and every pos
sible guard against the interference of wire
pulling politicians should be thrown around
the election of its members. Our Supreme
Court is composed of five Judges. one of
whose terms expire every two years. The
seat now occupied by Chief Justice Curry
will become vacant on the first of January,
1868, and the election of his successor trans
pires on the third Wednesday of October
preceding. Candidates for the position are
being spoken Of by the press throughout the
State, and their qualifications freely COM
mented upon. The name of tie Hon. S. w.
Brockway, Judge of the Eleventh Judicial
District, has been frequently mentioned in
connection with the office, and we heartily
endorse the nomination. Mr.. Brockway is
we'll qualified. in every particular, for the
position, and should the people of this State
be SO fortunate to secure his services on
the Supreme Bench, we are fully confident
that they will never have cause to regret
their choice, and that ne will prove one of
the most prompt and efficient Judges Cali
fornia has ever lad. Judge Brockway is a
lawyer of undoubted ability, one of the most
eminent jurists in the State, ripe scholar,
and his honesty and integrity are unimpeach-
able. While officiating in his present capac-
lty he has gained most enviable reputation
among the members of the legal profession
by the promptness, fairness and impartality
of his decisions. and made hosts of friends
among all classes of the citizens of this Dis
trict. A more fitting selection for Su-
preme Judge than Mr.. Brockway cannot be
made.
HorE is Gods best gift to man. What
would life be without IT. A blank, a void,
mere existence of the body bereft of the
light of the soul. "No hope" expresses a
world of sadness. Man lives on hope. 1t
may be crushed and broken, but it never dies.
1t is as immortal as the soul. 1t cheers and
comforts during the night of adversely, whis-
pers words of consolation to the bereayed
and afflicted, sustains the despairing, and
buoys up and urges on to renewed exertions
those who are oppressed with want and care
1t visits the chamber of the invalid, and even
the chill presence of the Dark Angel, wait
ing to impress the signet of death upon his
brow, and the gloomy portals of the Valley
OF the Shadow of Death which open before
his dimming vision, cease to be objects of
dread. 1t penetrates the prison cell and the
condemned felon clings to hope, up to the
very moment when the black cap is drawn
over his face and the fatal trap sprung. The
wrecked mariner at sea, tossed and buffeted
about by the tempestuous waves of ocean,
with only plank between him and eternity.
still has hope. Friends may prove false
the brightest anticipations of happiness may
be blasted; the heart may be borne down
with sadness and grief; sorrow, despair and
depression may take possession of the soul
and make life almost unbearable; but hope,
bright beaming, benifcent hope, the beacon
light, the day-star of mans existence. breaks
through the dark clouds like sunshine after
shower, cheering the heart and sustaining
the faltering footsteps. Thank God for hope
IHE SToRM.-This section of country has
been visited, during the present and the lat
ter part of last week, by one of the most Sc
we're storms we have ever known. 1t has
ralned, showed, "sleeted," and hailed, some
times separately, and at others altogether.
1he consequences are that we are enveloped
IN vast sea of mud, the roads rendered al
most impossible, and business of all kinds
seriously interrupted. Miners have had to
suspend operations until more favorable
weather, and the farmers will have to wait
for their land to solidify before they can
commence work. As it is now, a plough
would leave no more trace of its passage
through the soil than it would to stick your
finger into dish of water. By dint of hard
driving the stages make their regular trips,
SO that we are not entirely shut out from the
outer world. We are getting resigned to our
fate. For augnt we care it can rain until it
washes the Sierra Nevadas into the Pacific
Ocean, and snow until it covers the Big
Trees. ''It's an i'll wind that blows nobody
good" and the stormy weather appears to