The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1868-02-22
Editor Of BoHear Bulletin

Editor Of BoEiear Bulletin:
In your last issue I HoEieed an article
headed "Electige Judiciary. The writer
copies ree5atfm art. g, see 5, of the Con
stitution Of Tennessee 4 propose. to notice
only so much Of this section as relates tc
3 the mode prescribed for the election Of the
lJadges Of the fnfeg5or courts which reads
this; Judges Of such inferior courts as
the Legislature may establish, slaA be
elected by the qualified voters .resfdingg
within the bounds of any district or circuit
to which such inferior Judge. orsJudees,
either in-law and equity, may be assigned,
by ballot, in the same manner that mem bers
Of the General Assembly are elected. IT
IS very plain from the above that the mode
for filing these vacancies shoald be bv cleo
ton as are elected members Of the Legis-
lature. Such was evidently the intent Of
the trainers of the Consultations and IN some
/ counties it is much to be regretted that this
] right Of clecting the Judiciary. vested by the
Constit1 ton ia the people, has not been
more fully exercised It is remarkable,
UsEy remarkable, that an intelligent people
should So leng have ta1aely submitted to this
hagrant violation by the executive of their
CoRstiftfioral right Why is it that they
thus yield to Sc. gross an outrage upon their
CoRstigq Eonal privilege Why is 1t that
every g lag-abiding citizen in the State
has lost sight Of this important immunity Of
which they are 50 unjpstIy deprived Sec. 3
Of the Constitution Is very distinct. The
language viii bear but one construction,
and that IS, that the people shall elect by.
ballot all of the Judicial officers, from the
Judges of fho Supreme Coart down to the
lowest functionaries in the land These
questions and facts lead as to inquire after
q remedy An election is the first thing. that
suggests Itself. How can that be secured ?
Simply by petitioning his excellency, Ym
G. BrowRlow, laying before him our great
grievance, and pray that he issue writs OF
election to the counties Of Hardemaa, Madi
son and Haywood, for the purpose, of elect
ing Judge of our Circuit Court We have
every assurance from the Governors past
administration that these writs would Be
granted; then the qualified voters Of the
respective counties could make their own
selection. And no doubt were they to elect
a person in every respect qualified for the
position, and Conservative in principles the
election would not be declared null and
void by reason of any fraud or irregularity
Ia the registration of voters. Brownlow
has too much confidence in the loyalty Of
the citizens Of gIIardeman, Madison AID
Haywood to dee are their election nall and
void by reason of any fraud OF ilIegality.
And why is it that the people 40 not va Ike
to q sense of their interest and duty, and
procure an elective Judiciary, ] am
wholly at loss to understand Also the
citizens of FaYetto and Shelby are alike
guilty Of this euIpabls neglect of duty
they, too. have the same adequate remedy
that we haFe5 and yet they seem to be
wholly ignorant of the fact Why do they
not read art 6, sec. of the Constitution of
Tennessee, and avail themselves Of this
remedy by. removing from the bench such
ignorant and wicked men as Hunter, Reeves !
and Leonard They elect their County
Commissioners, Sheriasi Registers, Trustees,
Magistrates and Clerks Ib seems that com
mon sense and self interest would dictate
and force them to an election Of the judi
ciary. There certainly must be some great
difficulty in the WY, otherwise itWould have
been done long since. Perhaps We had
better rest contented With our present in
.eumbent Judge w. P. Bond, who is en-
tifely worthy of the position he occupies as
a lawyer, scholar, and a gentlemaH.
CoSTExT