The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-12-23
me AppeIrtment or Judges.


Hon. james L. Afcorn:
SIR: BY the recent election in this State,
YOU are it, Governor elect; and the new
consultation, purged of its proscriptive fea-
tires, has been adopted by the people, as the
organic law of the State. BY this new cen
stitution a complete change has been made
In the mode and manner of selecting and
organizing the whole judiciary of q state.
IL has been taken from the people at large,
and given to you and your Senate why
this change and tor what purpose! This
whole matter by the voice of both parties
lately in the field is at your head and feet
No argument of mine, or that of any one
else. is needed to prove that the great rea-
son tor this change and comforting upon the
Governor and Senate of the State this power
and duty in this State, was to separate the
judiciary from all those political biases ana
considerations, both in its organization ana
action, which usually control and influence
The common or popular mind in times OF
political commotion and party feeling-and
that men may be selected for their higher in
telligence and for their true legal and moral
greatness for these exalted stations, without
regard to party questions. and who would
otherwise be unwilling to enter upon con-
test before the masses, with demagogues, OF
upon mere personal popularity.
You are a lawyer by profession, and must
know as fully as any other man, what is re-
ouired to make true and distinguished jul
dietary, commanding the respect and admit
ration of the people, and securing to them
liberal and enlightened enforcement OF
the laws in all cases. 1t is now clearly and
fully within your power, and hence becomes
your great duty, to organize distinguished
judiciary. You are not confined to men or
parties-but have the range of the whole
State and people tor your material and
choice, and in that range are many men oil
the highest and best order of mind, learn
ing, experience, ability, dignity, character,
integrity. and moral WORTH and unsurpass-
ed by any other State or country. If you
do not select and organize the most eminent
judiciary ever know in this State, the Jdult
is yours. You have before you for the High
Court of Errors and Appeals, such men as
w. L. Sharkey, VIM. Yerger, Geo. l.. Potter,
Amos r. Johnston, Wiley p. Harris. David
Shelton, T. J. Wharton. James L. Harrison,
j. w. G.. Watson, J. Z. George, Judge Sale,
Houston, Dowd, Smiley, Thos. Marshall,
Hurst, H. F. Simrall, Cassidy and that class
of distinguished and leading men and jurists
any three of whom would make High
Court of which you and the State should be
Justly proud and would reflect honor upon
the appointing power and the station assign
ed them.
For Circuit Judges and Chancellors of the
Al, nj
such men as Clayton, Fisher. Walthall,
Harris, Featherston, w alter, Chalmers,
Acker, Gen'l Davis, II. Evans, Orr, Jarna-
gan, Beauchamp, Niles, Dyer. Hooker, Han
dy, Matthews, Campbell, Luckett, Z. Smith,
is. Hudson. Geo. B. Wilkinson, General
Miles, n. G. Nye, VIM. Cothran, Meyers,
Cooper, Hamm, Martin, Maury, Winchester,
Seal, Barr, S. Evans, John ID. Freeman,
Stafford, and a host of others, before
you, and from whom may be selected men
every way worthy and well qualified.
In short 1 see no difficulty in your pre-
senting judiciary of the very first class, in
all its parts, if you desire such. If you in
tend to confine yourself in these matters to
party tools and the little creatures who new
err read three law books or understood one,
well-who never could make a living by
their profession. and to whom you and no
other sensible man would ever trust an i'm
portant case of your own, touching life,
liberty or property, then you can defeat and
bring into disrepute the changes of the Con-
stitution, the whole. Judiciary of the State,
and the purposes and objects of law and
courts. Your action on these grave matters
is awaited with great solcitude by the
legal profession and good men throughout
the State. LAWYER.