The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1872-06-08
To the Voters of the sth Judicial Cir
c,t,i tl.ls,le srtt. - IN

wss elected Judge Of the 10Th Judicial cir.
cui, OF Virginia, which embraced all the
territory Of the present 9th circuit OF West
Virginia, except the counties of Cabell.
Wayne, and part Of Lincoln. q
As Judge, honestly endeavored to pre-
serve order, dispatch business, and to adj
minister justice to high and low. rich and
poor alike. Whether succeeded in doing
so or not, the persons residing in that cir
cult must judge, aud to them refer those
OF this circuit not embraced within its
limits Our troubles came on, aud with
many Of you, | took sides with the South.
1t was conflict had greatly deprecated,
and had long time tried to avert bat
when | saw it was inevitable, then urged
our people TO prepare Tor the contest 1t
resulted most disastroasly to most OF the
people OF this judicial circuit, and TO none
more so than myself With my money
gone, property captured, clothes all stolen,
| was removed from office, my salary with
held, aud | was left with one fily-cent
piece in my pocket returned to my
former home, intending to resume the
practice of law to make a living OLD
friends gathered around me. and retained
my services in numerous cases; but soon
came the news OF the test oath to attor-
MES Although | had committed no act
OF violence against the United States since
the time prescribed in the statnte impos-
ing that oath, nevertheless my heart lent
its whole sympathy to the South, and
was almost crushed within me at its down
fall. could not, therefore, consistent with
my notions of manliness and honor, take
this oath but knowing las any man pre-
tending TO be lawyer ought to know, y that
this statute was unconstitutional, null and
void, insisted upon my right to qualify
without taking it. But my motion was
overruled. Then nothing was left me but
to bushwhack behind some mouthpiece,
whose former preceients would not allow
him to maintain the law as ! understood
it-who, when any OF our friends were in
bonds falsely, could only plead for mercy,
instead OF demanding justice This cod
not, would not, and did not do. 30 went
to Cincinnati with my capital stock aiore-
said and commenced to make Ward :
Magic Relief well knew that had
good thing, and thought could make
somebody else believe it, but, alasl for my
knowledge OF the timesl | soon found
that nobody believed you, or expected you
to believe them; but / was in for it, and
was not OF the grit to back down, SO for
three years | trudgel along almost at star
vation's point, painting up the fences and
the rocks, before ! saw any signs Of sue
cess Some may, aud doubtless will, say
il was obstinate in me to bear all this
hardship and toll, rather than bend to cir
cumstances; but if men allow themselves
to ride every popular wave simply that
they may float, virtue and truth will soon
take their flight from society, and govern
ment will simply mean oppression.
During my hard trials met many per.
sons who knew me-some personally, and
some by reputation--both in the State and
out of it, vino told me they looked forward
to the day when they would see me REIN
stated to my old position. knowing this
to be the desire Of many OF my friends in
the Constitutional Convention and ali over
the State, and having been called on so
often 10y friends in this circuit to allow the
use Of my name while was vet under
the bond Of the l4th Constitutional amend.
ment Now that ! am released by the
general amnesty bin, can no longer re.
fuse direct answer TO the question. Yes
# II IL the will OF this circuit, will obey that
will / cannot say TO them that will be a
better or even ss good Judge ~ I was.
but ! will shy 70 them that ] will do for
them the best ! can. will be firm.
prompt, impartial, md dare to 30 what /
deem to be right, aud defy all party trials
and impeachments Partisan feeling shall
not FOR moment be cherished ! hold no
man to account for bis opinions Opinion
is free ] respect not "a man because he
thinks a. ] think, but because he does
think what he processes 70 think; because
be thinks and gives honest expression Ia
hi= thoughts We are made 10 differ. and
but FOR our different notions, We could not
subsist IN the world But while say thi.
much, must say further that DO like
The honest, decisive, firm man. and have