Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1869-05-22
TIE JUDlCIAL ELECTION.

JUDICIAL C1rcult been called upon TO
decide a questioned such profound in
terest and vital Importance as the one
now before them. Never in the his
tory Of party warfare have we, as a
people, fought q political battle on
whose issue so much hung, or con-
Quoted q Judicial contest involving
questions Of such fearful moment
In all of our past elections of every
kind ithasrarely happened that there
was not merit in both of the contend
ing parties and In both of the con-
testants for office-points of minor
importancea loneseparated theE,, and
the defeat of either was not an ire
parable injury. But we honestly be-
lieve that the defeat of Mr. Rice i'm
this contest would be public calam-
ity such as has never been felt by our
people before. We believe that 1t
would he an evil that will prey like
an Unsuitable vulture on our fortunes,
take from us more than one bulwark
of individual liberty, and make life
itself dependent rather upon the
strong arm of resisting force, than de.
fendedby the broad shield of the law,
wisely and impartially administered.
People of Montgomery county, are
you aroused to a clear apprehension
of how deeply you are interested In
this contest? Are you fully alive to
your interest I'm this matter? And do
you comprehend the magnitude of
the interest you have at stake? If
not, by all you hold most dear, by
your remembrance of the past and
your hopes for the future, arouse your
selves at once to u realization of what
you may lose by your inactivity, and
to what you can gain by manly and
decided action.
The candidates for the Office of Cir
cult Judge are well known to ALL
Jas. e. Rice was born bred and has
lived past the meridian of an honor
able and useful life among us. He
has been tried by many fiery ordeal
and has ever been found "true as
steel" He comes before the people
not IN the attitude of a partisan poi
Sicidn. He is candidate for high
and responsible position, and trusts
to obtain it without breathing
"threatnings and slaughter" against
his opponents, or holding up promises
of official benefits to his friends. And
If elected, there is not single man
in the District, white or black, who
does not know, if his mind IL unprej-
udiced by eliminating falsehoods,
that the scales of justice will be held
by firm and manly grasp, and that
the laws protection and its penalties
will he extended to all alike, ire
spective of party and of color
w. A, PETER Is likewise known to
all-not, however, from his long res
idcnce and citizenship among us, but
by what he has declared himself to
be. He is known as the promulgator
of the most startling proposition ever
enunciated in n republican govern
ment. As candidate for an Office
which knows no party, no politics, no
creed, no favoritcs and 10 foes, he UNI
blushingly declares that he giants and
asks no support outside of his parti-
san adhercnts, and proposes to meas
urc legal ability by political stand
ard, and prostitute Judicial purity to
political corruption and intrigue. As
II candidate for an Office which re-
quires that its incumbent should en-
ter 1t free and untrammelled, he has
bound himself to obey the behests of
his supporters, and promises them
that they shall hold certain positions,
no matter how untitled by training
and education they may be, so they
have attained that height of political
perfection which he enjoys.
The people of this District must
choose, on Thursday, the eth inst,
which of these men shall administer
their laws for tho next eight years.
Prompt and united action and n de-
tcrmincd effort will insure success.
{ every voter will so to the polls, the
victory is ours, beyond the possibility
of doubt. We can elect Rice If we
wW, but not by irresolution and mae
tivity-not without votes-not with
out every man will come promptly
forward in the discharge of his duty.
DO not say that you will not vote be-
cause there is no use. We tell YOU
there is use, and Rice can he elected
If full vote Is polled in every pre-
clnct. DO not say that YOU will not
vote because your nelghbor can not.
This Is the very reason why you
should, foI II Is your solemn and inn
pcrative duty 10 act for him when he
is incapable of acting, and to help
him In this great emergency, when
he is bound hand and foot and can
not help himself Do not, above all.
give in the paltry excuse that You
can not spare a day from your occu-
patlons, What is one ddy devoted to
this work weighed in the balance
against eight gears of mal-applica-
ton and partisan administration of
the laws? What il the loss of one
days profit compared to n probable
loss whose magnitude you can not