Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-12-11
pEmocRArIC TrCREI
rr,r rLECTIoS OF JUDGES.

The election OF Judges IN this state
will be brought before the coming Con-
s,itutional Convention. We have tried
the experiment of election by the Lsgls-
Ia,ure and of choosing these officers
directly by the people. The experiments
made sre now part Of the history OF
the govern ment, and will serve as valu-
able Information in determining what
ia hest for The future. The stability OF
our government certainly depends
more upon an honest and capable
Judiciary than any other one thing
The Bench should be above the passions
and prejudices Of the hour. A Judge
should not permit his Judicial ermine
to drsggle in the cesspool of party Nth.
he sbouid be far removed from every
thing exciting, which might tempt hui
man nature from the path OF truth,
Justice and right. 10 word. the Judges
should be independent, and then it will
not be hard for any one Of them to admin
lister the law according to ats letter
and meaning. The first Constitution
of this State was framed IN
1916. and by the ablest men that
have lived 10 this country since its IN
dependence. Under that Constitution
the Judges, Justices of the Peace and
Attorney Generals were elected BY the
Legislature, and held their offices through
oqt good behavior.
And in those good old days the people
went so far as to intrust the County
Court with the authority Of electing the
Sheriff., Coroners, Trustees and Consta-
bIes, and gave to the conrts the power
Of appointing their own Clerks. But 10
the course of time the tsres of populsr
election sprsog up in the political hels,
which clicked out aud destroyed system
soat, in itself, had been fonnd to work
admirably. The convention OF 1884 was
called, aud the office Of Judge was inter
fered with oUly so far as to limit it to a
term of years; bat with the others above
alluded TO were elected directly by
The popular vote. As time wore Or, and
men became anxious for Office, the cry OF
The demegogue vas heard throughout the
iead, cIamoring for the election OF judges
by the people. I. was thocght impolitc
at the time TO oppose this move, bseapse
no one could be found who would dare
ran counter to the wayward opinions OF
the popnlace. Politicians wers looking
TO their own private advantages, and id
not possess the honesty and msnhness
to tell the people what VAS TO their inter
est. Up to.le52 this feeling had grown
60 siroug that each and every parry
seemed 10 vie with one another in bidding
for popular favor. So the question was
submitted by the Legislature, whether the
lodges end Attorney General sbould be
be elected directly by the people. aud 1t
received Jorge msjority Of votes in iis
favor. From that time until now the
candidates for Judgeship hare played the
political hsrlot The bench has been
degraded to q three-legged stool, that
may be kicked over BY any and every
political clique n the country. Judges
that we're under the old regime, inde-
pendent aud free to execute justice, are
now afraid, TO perform their duty TO the
full extent and spirit Of the law Tney
mast FIRST know that such a course
would be 10 accordance with popular
feeling. His Homer will proceed as can
fious as blind horse would 10 Geld o.
pitfalls.
The right Of appointing Judges should
as was formerly the case, be with th'
Governor Of the State. by and with th'
advice and consent Of the Senate /
this is not adopted into the new Con
EtituGSt. It would then be well TO lesv'
the election with the people, and to limi
the cffce to good behavior. Either mod
Of election. with the addition to th'
latter. would obviate. to q great extent
the evils arising from our present jaaicia
.-rtar.