The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-03-04

WI. "a Ss.S y ~>'5S' - 80 -
and perhaps prevailed mere. but the sec.
ton had as well he aoolished, Isa term Oh
sixteen years was retained. 30.
Mr. Tourgee said the pfelndices OF tnose
unacquaintea Win sns popular system nag
Deen consuieea. -, Now 1"fk y was OK
tended from eight 70 fourteen Long terms
under the elective system were the safeguard
OF the JUDICIARY. yE5 .,as
sMrsmcDonald,1 OF Cnatnam' opposed tne
amendment he Iasored irequehs eiections
of the Judges and not put man IN rr lie.
| IS Mr. Heaton SAID ne was astonisneo when
he found the term OF sixteen years had oeen
reporteds He could show by numerous pre-
cedents, that it was unexampied. 1t was IN
reality putting a man in for life. True, nom
nations had been made already emihentiy
| fit, but this term was too long, and destroy
| ed the popular system.
Mr. May said the people OF his section ia
| vored the elective system, but he could not
; Dee the advantage of making term of Of
| fee last for generation. IF the popular
policy is right, it follows that the people
| should have an opportunity to express their
opinions in reference to the officers frequent
| ly., High public officers had formerly be-
trayed their trust, and terms OF office for five
4 IL.
ulant was given to the young to prepare. 1t
will not prevent re- election if they did right,
| and if they did wrong ensure an early rid
dance. He insisted that the term was too
long the people would consider that they
were being PLAYED with. .,,
| Mr.. Welker favored the elective system,
but did not favor such short terms. His
proposition had been for twelve years. Now
| I A.. T
practices for short term 2 But if the terms
were made somewhat i6nger than the amend
ment, then the best juFists conld I've obtained.
Mr.. King, of Lenoir, an amendment pro-
viding for the retirement of imbecile judges,
by the Legislature. a f.ttdsg
Mr.. Rodman said he had endcavored to
press. on the Convention the.zother day, his
objections to the electiue system, but as it
seemed to be the sense that the terms would
long, he yielded his objections. fterms were
short, then the Judges would becomethe slaves
1 ofparty, Tor they are but men, In the superior
Court. for instance, there might he a rich
man, with intiuchce and wealth, seeking to
Cypress apoor man. Now under the threats
OF the loss OF place by the wealthy man, the
Judge might be swerved from the path OF
duty. Indeed, he thought the Judge should
forever be prohibited from seeking other
oHces, ana all temptations removed. Inc
Legislature represents the wish of the people,
but the Judges represent the justice OF the
law, not to he influenced Ur inundated
from their duty. Now IN New York, the
question OF long terms had been considered
in their Convention now sitting He had
read a speech OF MIR. Evarts on that subject.
f'e hoped that every man here could read 1t.
Mr.. Evarts was as good Repuhiican as
any one, ana pnaer the influence OF that
speech, the New YORK convention had ex-
tendeo IT'S Term 10 fourteen years. MT roo
man SAID further, that the most Intelligent
men OF the state favored long terms. tie
thought tins an experiment, and there SEEM
ed to be danger OF presenting 1t In Its worst
form OF short terms. He said the words in
the Constitution IN relation to frequent cleo
tons, referred to legislative and executive
officers.
Mr.. Tourgee referred to the fact that del
egates had been nominated for judgeships
yesterday, and their mouths thus sealed
They had accepted the nominations as the.
terms stood, and favored the retention of
them. He held. also, that short terms would
diminish the ability and integrity OF the
courts. The salaries OF Supreme court JUS
tices were very small. He was as strenuous
an advocate of the elective system as any
one, but had rather have life term for the
Supreme court, than terms so short as
proposed. The judges were usually taken
from middle life, and the term proposed
would extend probably to the verge of life.
And in such an instance, death or old age
would let the venerable judge down to
peaceful repose, without harsh measures be-
ing taken against him as proposed. He
never expected to see the time when three
men would sit on the bench together, for
sixteen years, because of the vicissitudes OF
human life. He was as radical as any one,
and warned the Convention, that as he now
% turned conservative somewhat, on this ques-
= ton, that there was danger. ara
! Mr.. Heaton said he had examined the
Constitutions of seven States and found that
seven years was the longest proposed. He
had brought the matter forward with deli
cacy. Yet it seemed to him that eight years
was long term. He desired vote by yeas
and nays.
) Mr. Cowles-what is the term in Penn
} sylvaniaa r f #'i
Mr.. Heaton-ffteen- years. Ez .aa.
MIR. Cowles-in New York; 7
Mr.. Heaton-it is not yet settled.
Mr.. Cowles-an Connectlcutf
MIR. Ashley-for llfe
MIR. Heaton said he should vote Tor GOOD
and liberal salaries always, and believed that
the Judiciary would be amply rewarded.
| MIR. Morton favored the amendment. Inc
, people were not prepared for men to be elect
ed to office for life Eight years was long
| fnrn