Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-03-22
il,0MMLINIGATED

do no: think ''hlrxamlrin" does ;i.: !;"r
nj L~Iauuuicr Justice when he ranks it ia "nrIc-
%.jlion'' TO the election OF Judge Thomas %
the vacant iudges!iip ri the ~c!rcu:'. ! WI
state the simple fact, ard lnt thr pubj: M
.Jndgc Thomas decide betTeea ~. :" re, liz
bars 0! the circuit began to take ac;;oH n ::
spect to the persons to be nominated 10 tie
LEGISLATURE for that important post, JUICE
Thomas was not eligible, though it was kno%n
that strenuous efforts were being made TO have
his name inserted in the omnibus bill, or to IL
ducc the pardoning power to remove IN some
other way the clog from him. Such efforts i'll
his behalf, had heen made before without SIC
cess, and there was 20 ground to suppose that
he would be more fortunate in the future than
he had been in the past. WHIT vas the bar
of Fauquier to do? They had a Grcldcd wish
to see Mr.. James Keith raised to the circuit
bench, for which they thought his judicial east
OF mind peculiarly fitted him. They thought
it their duty TO their clients and 10 Ib,' pubic,
to place so able q young man on IL" bench 0!
the circuit if their recommendation could CT
feet it. Was their unanimous recommends
ton then OF MIR. Keith 4 wrong or even 1 dis
courtesy shown to Judge IlIclnas, who was
| then, | repeat, under the ban oil Tie Four
trcnth Amendment? After this had been done
| the brand Of disqualification vas removed from
| Judge Thomas aud his eligibility 10 the circuit
| judgeship restored. The question t. re "c':r
mined j.. whether und.rtlc circumstances tic
bar OF Fauquler we're called upon 10 rrecas
from their nomination already before the iIc%-
| stature to drop Mr.. Keith and take urJuds'
| Thomos Every man can See the obligation
under which the bar had placed themselves Il
MIR. Keith, but every man cannot see that they
were under any obligation whatever to Judge
Thomas. They had not placed him Oil the
bench, or expressed any desire 10 have II uJnc;;
nor had they had any hand IN his removal
| He had been put 10 rule over them ly tnt
| dominating power in Virginia, and tceallS: Ii
had served well the power that put hlm there,
being a good officer, did that tact place the bal
of Fauouier under any obligation to rcpudiatt
the gentleman Of their choice aud confer thel
rec ,mmcndatiou on judge Thomas loS'ead
think not Tor can | thiak that their iciusa
10 do 50 can fairly be construed into opposite!
to Judge Thomas. [ will not institute an!
comnarison between Mir. Keith ana Juig'
Thomas. but will assure 1.-THE business met
and bar of Alexandria who are representa-.
as being much troubled ri the course whlcl
the lawyers Of Fauquicr have thought rropG
to pursue, that Mr.. Keith, II elected, VII
make them a Judge Of the best description
His mind has great Amplitude anu volume, /
quick and vigorous, and has uncommon power!
OF discrimination. He will carry to The hiRi
Office great dignity Of bearing, united 10 lnt'g
rity without bIemish and without suspicion
He has not as much Of the knowledge that l
acquired by routine, as some Older lawyers, bu
his genius will soon enable him 10 master al
that sort of thing, whilst it will enable HIM Il
compre. end aud decide with satisfaction to tn
pubiic aud bar those complicated gnd dltloul
eases which have to be set up as !an!marks i
the profession. TO crown, and NJ Ii were t
utilize these ADVANTAGES Of nature, he Is
Young man and has a robust constitution. "
are about to enter upon 6 ne" era III 'Irr'nla
and it would be the part OF wlsions to llcI
ont for judicial life such characters n h'
Keith, in scripturaI phrase, to rut tn" n:'
wine into new bottles. Let me add in conctu
sion that it is not my purpose to speak on
disrcspcctiul word OF Judge Thomas, but onl
to viniicatc the right Of the tanqulcr bar t,
adhere to their recommendation "i Mr.. kcltl
to the circuit iudgeship. y.
Wurrrnton, Va, March 2n.