The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-02-20
8itl,uoltd 4ispatM,
saturday. FEBRUARY 20, 1869.
Mr. seSar on the Virginia Judges.


lis stated in Washington letters that a
movement in behalf of the Virginia Judges
;s about to be made in the Reconstruction
Committee, which will be readily approved
IN Congress. 4 large number Of Rcpubli.
cans from this State have urged the reno,
val Of the disabilities of all the Judges as
matter Of justice and public necessity.
Mr.. segar addressed the following brief ap.
neal on the subject to the Committee Of Re-
construction:
FEBRUARY 6, 1869.
To. Hons. B. II. Norris, II. E. Paine, aaG
James 3. Beck, SUB Committee Of the
Reconstruction Committee, House Of Re-
preScntGtiueS
Gentlemen,-Long and severe indisposi-
ton prevented 1ue from expressing to the
Reconstruction Committee in person the
nniuion propose now in this form to irdi-
cate-that, after the maturest reflection, !
am convinced it is sound policy in every
respect to grant general release from disa-
bility to the Appeal and Circuit Judges Of
Virginia.
Ii has been my fortune to have served
for quite quarter Of century in the Le-
gisature Of my State, and during this pro-
trac;ed service to have been brought into
intercourse and personal acquaintance with
most Of the prominent men of the State in
all professions and departments. And from
this extensive knowledge of her prominent
citizens Am prepared to state, most conf
IDENTIFY, that her bench has never been filled
with purer and ADLER men.
In my time, most certainly, Virginia has
never had superior Judiciary. The Judges
Of her high court Of appeals and of her cir
cult courts are, without exception, not only
gentlemen Of spotless purity of character,
bat iUrisIs Of eminent ability and learn
ing. To match them even with the widest
range Of selection would be most difficult,
if not impracticable, task. From the same
knowledge am prepared further to state
that to fill the places Of these Judges with
competent incumbents of Virginia nativity
or residence who can take the required
oath the iron-clad as it is usually term
eds a matter Of impossibility. know
0. hui one circuit that can furnish O quail
lied circuit Judge who can subscribe to the
oath, and in that case the party is greatly
inferior to the present incumbent, besides
being over seventy years Of age.
And am further ready to state, and with
the most undoubiiDg assurance, that the
presen; Judges Of the State are even pecu-
iiarly acceptable to her people, and enjoy
their confidence in q preCminent degree.
1t lie because they have worn the judicial
ermiae with epotlcSs integrity, and faith
fully and fearlessly administered tho laws
to al classes Of citizens without fear,
favor, or affection"
most deferentially submit whether such
relations of confidence and such bonds of
interest between our people and her Judi
clQry should be severed unless for reasons
irrcsisi5ly potent.
We oil know that an upright and able
judiciary is the chief reliance of every
people for the protection Of life, liberty,
property, and repu;ation-the main bull
wark Of all the personal rights Of the
citizen.
Should this grca; reliance be impaired,
this grand bulwark be weakened in Vir-
glnia Ivy putting at risk Judiciary able,
upright, and tried, and that is scarcely to
he elUai.cd, much less surpassed?
Il is fixed sentiment in Yircinia-a sort
O; common iaw-that Judges shall not ac-
lively participate in politics-that The jul
dicl5. crminc shall not he stained by the
coatsujraJious Of party politics. No Judge
III Virginia dare infringe this holy require
meDt Of universal public sentiment and
feeling.
In political point Of view, therefore, no
damage can result 10 the country Or to
any party from granting amnesty to her
Judges.
But the point I desire most earnestly to
rrcgs is that the proposed release will have
the happiest effect IN soothing the spirits,
quoting the apprehcrsions, and exciting
the hopes Of her people, and thus iuclining
them 10 full, practical reconstruction.
They will recognize in this release a
great practical boon, and constituting 1t into
a hertinger Of other kindnesses 10 come,
will learn the more to-respect the source Of
the bcneicence, and come the sooner to the
conclusion that after all the Republican
party is not SO hard task-master as eome
have supposed.
cannot mistake when declare that the
striking Of the manacleg from off the Judges
or Virginia will ditiusc unfeigned Joy
aG2rg her people, aud will usher in the
dawn Of an era Of good feeling which will
beam and beam on until It's radiance shall
have cuyclopcd her Whole domain and
Lighted up her pathway to reconstruction
and rCjinion.
No one movement could so strengthen the
Republican party IN Virginia.
| have the honor to be, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant, JOSEPH SEGAR.