Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-03-09
JUDICIAL ELECTION.
A Call On Judge GaUt-ReasOns Why
He should Become "a Candidate for
SuDPeme Judge.

He should Become a Candidate for
Supreme Judge.
To the Editors of the Union and American.
When Patrick Henry exclaimed in the
| time that tried mems souls, 81 know not
what other men may think, but as for
me, give me liberty or give me death ~
he struck cord of the American heart
| that breathed from Massachusetts, to
South Carolina. What it was noble then
to feel and express, it is not less noble
even in these degenerate days, to utter
and to act upon. Every man Of intelli-
gence and discernment in Tennessee
must clearly know, and most intensely
| feel, that the restoration of nearly one
hundred thousand worthy citizens Of this
State to freedom, will depend, first, upon
the elevation in May next to the bench
of the Tennessee Court of three jurists of
sound constitutional views and second,
if we should fail in this election, to the
next Legislatures being so constituted
that a majority Of both Houses will be in
favori of calling convention with q view
to Kidding out people at once Of the
shackles which bind them in servitude.
If Gov. Senter, Radical as he is, shall be
but true to his trust, and administer the
registration system honestly, we can
certainly succeed, if we choose, in one or
both elections. We ask for nothing but
honesty at his hands, and though l
know him but slightly, begin to hope
that he will at least cOuntenance no such
peryersiOns Of power as have heretofore
occurred.
But, in order to succeed in either
the elections referred to, we must have
suitable candidates. | shall confine my
remarks at present to the judicial cleo
ton. l find that the three present Su-
preme Judges have been called on to be-
come candidates before the people for
the Offices they now fill. Judge Smith
| have long known, and most fav0rably.
He is learned juTist, a pure minded
gentleman and true patriot. His opin-
ions upon constitutional questions in gem
eral are proverbially sound. Without
knowing his views as to the constitution
atty Of the franchise laws, l am willing
to trust him, and feel confident that if
he is a candidate he will be elected.
Judge Andrews / do not know at all
but have heard him favorably spoken of.
He is certainly altogether preferable for
the Supreme Bench to several who have
been spoken Of as candidates.
OF Judge Shackleford have nothing
unkind or disrespectful to say. He
seems to be civil and polite gentleman /;
his knowledge of law is certainly not
contemplate and l understand that he
is not at all deficient in industry. It'll
known that he united with other citizens
last summer in urging upon the Legisla-
tuTe the repeal of the franchise laws,
which he then recognised, as he openly
declared, as a most serious public evil,
keeping up irritation in the public mind,
and paralysing the energies Of our peo-
pie. Unfortunately for Judge Shackleo
ford, he long ago made up his mind, most
deliberately, too, that the franchise laws
were constitutional. Still more unfor-
tunately for him and for us, he has
solemnly adjudged these laws to be
to all posterity. This opinion was
doubtless conscientiously given; there is |
no reason to doubt that this opinion re-
mains unchanged; if, therefore, we elect |
him we deliberately doom ourselves and |
our countrymen to slavery. Can any |
patriotic man consent to aid in this |
unholy and dishonoring consummation? |
Can Judge Shackleford himself, as pa,
triotic man, desire or expect it? Surely |
we can do better than this; and so bes
lieving most confidently, / now call upon
that upright, learned and capable jurist,
Judge John C. Grant to be candidate
for the Supreme Bench in this district l
do so at the instance, and with the cor~
dial approval, of many citizens Of all |
classes and plexions-farmers, mer-
chants, mechanics, and of many more
lawyers, too, than signed the call upon
Judge Shacklelord a few days ago.
Judge Grants fame and popularity are
commensurate with the limits Of the
State. Whilst profoundly respected in
Middle Tennessee, where he has been
residing some four or five years, he is
still better known, and still more gener>
ally loved and honored in the Eastern
portion of the State, where he was born
and raised, and where, for many years,
he was leading practitioner of law, and
chance to knOlv, a most energetic, able,
and incorruptible Judge. / demand,
hen, in the name of the people, that
Judge Gaut shall at once become cans
lidate. The true men Of the State will
lelight to do him honor
A FRIEND TO FREEDOM.