Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1869-03-06
HON. JosEpH A. CHAPLINE.

II is matter Of paramount, i'm poriance,
that OUT Circuit Court Judges should
command, and be worthy 10 command.
the confidence OF the people. II there lie
no, good sense enough in this observation
TO commend il TO your readers. let it 20.
shall mol elaborate ii. Indeed an elsbo.
ration Of it, would require a dissertation
upon the character and importance OF
transactions and interests OF men in all
the varied affairs Of life.
The appointment Of the Hon. Joseph
A. Chspline 10 the vscan, Jud2e.hip of
this Circui, has, if may judge from Ger
tain newspaper articles that have read,
and certain conversations that have
heard, ELECTED some disapPTobs,lon IN The
community. IN This there is nolh ng SUI.
prisina. day. in This country, l!
would be utterly impossible TO make an
sppoin,men, that would meet with unit
versal spprobslion. Nor is ibis Peculi.
gritty of this age alone. The iedersllss
looked on the election Of Thomas Jeffer-
son TO the Presidency, as the destruction
OF the American Union and had Alexsn-
der Hamilton got into power, the adhe-
rents of Thomss Jefferson would have
deplored The event as The destruction Of
American Republicsnism. And as acsse
more in point. may remind you, that at
about The same time. IN another country.
one OF The most eminent Judges that ever
srsced bench, | mean Lord Mansfield,
Nkh nj
house burned, and even his library thrown
into the flames. So much for mere dis
appreciation. You observe that use the
phrase "some" disspProbs,ion /: for let
those deny i, who may, Joseph A. Chap
line is generally. an influential man, and
personally, very popular one.
Now does the appointment OF Mr..
Chapline give sufficient cause for any dis.
appreciation Whatever That is The
question on which desire in your paper,
with your permission, 10 Offer lew %.
servs,iops. deny it. | have been in
formed ,hs, Mr.. ChaPline, some time
since, admitted his want OF qualifications.
Good From that very admission | ar.
que the very best sort OF performance OF
she duties of his Office How much bet
ter such an admission aud the difhdence
which il exhibits, than the brazen inexpe-
risnce that is ever ready to rush into any
position. With every respect for Mr..
Chapline, however, he is not The Judge
Of his own qualifications. That office
will be performed by tne community {;
and they will enter on the performance OF
il with q hope the more ssnguine Of plea.
ssnt results, from the fact ths, he enters
on his With the diffidence. which every.
where aud always marks real ability.
The obi c,ions 10 SIR. Chspline's ap.
poinlnent, IS lars. | can learn them sre.
hi. iuexperience and politics. Now there
10 8 time for ell things, bu, is it not a lit
ue TOO soon to charge sjudge. who Tor
many yesIs has been a practcing lawyer,
with inexperience. before he has decided
\ single case, and with political prejudice,
before he has had an opportunity on sin
gle orca.ioE Of exhibiting his iTpsrtisli'
". Had the objections which | have re-
ferred to been slways considered insuper-
able then the English Cour, OF Chancery
would have been deprived Of more than
one Chancellor whose decisions guide US
10 dsy,are The lights thai guide US through
the dark and intricate paths OF equity Ju-
risprudence {; but who when first appoint
ed Lord Campbell in his lives OF them
tells u were utterly incompetent! by
,hes sme rul,s The City OF New York
would hsve been deprived Of the services
Of such men as Charles p. DAILY. who tor
more than twenty years has been an hon
or to The Bench. seeing that when FIRST e.
lected, he was quite Inexperienced. Anc
10 end nv Illustrations, Msr-haI. the
6,,and creates, of the Grief Justices oil
the Supreme Cour, OF the United States
during whose political career The Bench
of the Supreme Court was throne o
GOh,. he il seems. had been politician
and was considered by large patty lhro
the country as unht,and worse than unhi
r., The office TO which he wa. appointed
The place sir. to learn to be an officer
consulting lawyer, is in your office dong
your business. answering questions, ant
giving advice /; the place 10 learn to be
iury lawyer, is standing before jury
The place TO learn TO bs a judge, is sitting
nm the Bench. Al the start there may
perhsps, be occasional hesitation ths
io,ces OF the intellect. for want Of oigani
.s,iop, may not always be up in time
Demo.lhenes, Sheridan, Webster, ant
other eIea, orators. Hammered in ihei
early speeches the Union,from the same
csnss, los, many offs early battles. Blu
ability, time. and discipline. invariably
eorrec,s ,bi, difficulty, and finally on the
gUines. sets the guineas stamp. And sc
fsr as Mr.. Chapline is concerned, con.
fden,ly expect tina, he will be good
Judge, and, in spite Of 8 little lfansien!
objection, satisfactory one 10 the whole
Circuit.
Although have alresdy taken up loo
much of your space. yet beg to Gag
few words on another malIter in This con-
nsclion. A recen, Act Of the Legislature
makes judicial sppoinimenls,In case OF va
oancy. for The fuIl term, instead OF TO the
eleclion following the appointment. THIS
legislation is csviled at. 1, shouli be
hailed with unqualified satisfaction. Mark
whs, it's results are. polilicsn elevated
TO the Bench Tor few months will. met
itably. remain politician. Every mem
ory takes him back to the political arena;