The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1868-02-29
Editor of Pozirar- Ruzzetin

u
MR. EDrToR-In your issue of 18th Feb
ruary there was short article calling the
attention Of the citizens generally to the
constitution providing for an Elecfre
Judiciary" Ia your last issue Of the 22d
inst. there appears a similar notice, review
ing the FIRST in which the writer seems -to. f.
indeTse, in the main, the former article,
with an exception in favor Of the present
incumbentof the 18th Judicial Circuit. 1t
is not my purpose to provoke controversy,
nor to critieise judicial officers, but to invite
the attention of the people to what this
writer calls this fragrant violation by the
executive of their constitutional right" 1t
is the highest evidence Of intelligence and
loyalty in a people to know their rights,
and knowing dare maintain them. 1t is no
credit to any citizen to be " content with
a manifest derelictien from the high behests
of the law of the land. Toward the excep-
tion referred to, the writer entertains the
highest personal regard, and were he in
oficc under the provisions Of that constitu-
ton which he is sworn to sustain, he could
urge no objections to him; but when any
citizen, be be the noblest in the land, holds
his tenure of Office in violation Of law, there
can be no exception in his favor The
writer of the 22d inst. refers with some Sc
verify to several " ignorant and wicked
men, who occupy the judicial bench, and
asks why the people do not avaiIthemselves
of the constitutional mode Of removing
them. These men, in the eyes of their par
tisans, are equally worthy as others of the
positions they hold, and if exceptions are
to be made they would claim like privileges
for them. Let no exceptions be made for
favorites in Office when held in violation Of
law IF incumbants are worthy, there are
none so ready to appreciate their services as
he people most interested, and when men
have shown themselves worthy and well
qualified to hold Office, free and untram-
melled vote of the people win testify to it
If not, then q winking at the law or a spirit
Of fayoritism viii not help the matter. Let
the people speak--let their voices be heard
in the State Legislature. Petitions to the
executive may effect the desired object in
some instances-douotIess would in our
own but an act of the Legislature will be
general, and open up to the whole State
speedy and sure way Of returning to the
fundamental law. 1t is said by some that
the Judiciary should not beelective, and the
present mode of appointment by the execu-
tive is the best Whatever may be said in
favor of this policy, it is sufficient for US
to know it is in violation of the plain pro-
visions Of the constitution, and certainly no
strength to the argument can be derived
from such appointments as that of the
thing Hunter, the modern Jefreys Of Ten
nessee. And should this policy continue, we
may yet be called upon to witness. a re en-
actment Of that stain upon history recorded
of the Bloody Circuit" where the pet and
| favorite of the hour played such fantastic
tricks before high heaven as made the angels
weep" No, Mr.. Editor, the principle and
! the policy are wrong The necessity Of the
case is past. when the people should be de-
prived of their right to say who shall dis
pense the laws, binding their lives, the for
! tunes and their sacred honor. The dark
banner of desolating war is removed from
our midst, and the piping notes Of peace
are heard once more. The music Of the
anvil and the hum of the spinning g-wheel has
taken the place Of the roar of cannon and
4 the rattle of musketry, and the " hated
breath Of fear and the sad wllisperings of
sorrow. stricken hearts, has given place to
the manly voice Of freemen-intelligent
freemen-who no longer require the tender
tutalage of a guardian to tell them what's
best The people, and the people alone5 are
the proper custodians Of their rights. Let
them be heard, and let every citizen who
aspires to Office bow to their majesty. 1t is
late in the history of republican govern
ments to speak Of the Yadvantages of despot
ism. Nothing save an honest upright and
fearless gindication of law viii restore Us tc
the former purity and integrity Of courts o.
justice, which in times past was the pride
and glory of5Tennessee, Let the people
send up petitions to the Legislature to re
store the q Elective Judiciary" The matteI
has already been mooted there, and It only
needs the hearty cooperation of the peopl
to insure an election at no distant day
With any other policy am
Nor CoNTENT.