Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1873-02-01
Letter from Chorleston.
Correspondence. of The Free Press.


CHARLESTON, w. Va, Jan. oath.
Our city is at present quite lively aud has
all that activity and hustle which is due the
dignity Of the permanent seat" The Fed
eral Court has just adjourned, and Judge and
Jury alike have flown. Among the latter we
noticed some of old Jetferson's good people,
whose visit TO the capital we hope has been a
like agreeable to them and to Cnarleston's
claims to retaining the golden apple Of discord
the Capital. The Supreme Court is still in
session, and as "the mills Of the Gods grind
slowly" its session will probably continue for
several weeks yet The illness of Judge Rolf-
man ever since his arrival here has prevented
his attendance upon the sessions Of the Court,
but n he is daily improving We hope to see him
on the bench in a day or two. On yesterday
the Judges determined by lot their respective
ter ms Of Office. Judge Moore was the lucky
man and got the term for twelve years, Judge
Paul. the term for eight years, and Judges
Hoffman and Raymond four years each. OF
course Judge Moore INDUCED in riSibles COM
porting with the dignity of the Court at his
good leck, and his smile was "childlike and
peusve" Judges Hoffman and Raymond
then drew for the Presidency, which fell so the
lNk " bNt4ES LAY ll4Ouhs UuN,C NhbOlt utlu
been chosen temporary President. The Court
is an able one and, while it grinds out justice
slowly, we hope for an improvement on some
Of the decisions of this grave tribunal when I'M
der Radical rule. There are now not more
! than some dozen or two applicants for the
Clerkship Of this Court; for it is presumed
there will be some Conservative appointed to
! supply the place of Mr. Hall, the present
Clerk, who is a Radical 1t is claimed that
| the road to Charleston is " hard road 10 trav-
| e. yet Just as soon as a vacancy for an Office
/ is probable, candidates seem to get here easily
| enough aud they come from all quarters, like
vultures that have scented the spuils affair off
/ Yet they are patriotic class, for the very last
one nf them seems to be ready-to sacrifice him
| self for the good of the Commonwealth The
/ Special Court convened to try the contested
election case for the Judgesbip of.the 2nd Ju-
dicia Circuit of the State rendered its decision
to-day in favor of the contestee, Judge Charles
S. Lewis, former Superintend of Public
/ Schools. Judge Thomas w. Harrison, o Rad
zeal among Radicals, had contested his election
and, when he came here to try his contest upon
charges Of irregularities and errors, it was as
certaiued that, like Loomis who contested
| Judge Jackson's election in the 9Th Circuit, he
had no case at all. The record of this man
! Harrison is well known to many Of your read
erS for his bitter advocacy of oStracSing all re-
/ turned Confederates at the close of the war
| The whole proceedings in this case were sum-
mariy qDashed and the Petition Of Contest
dismissed The Court consisted of Hon. Jas
Morrow, Jr., Of Marfoa county, chosen by
/ Judge Lewis, Hon. Charles G. Cole, of Wood
county, chosen by Judge Harrison, and Hon.
| Samuel \. Miller. Of Kanawha county, chosen
! by the Governor. The Code provides for the
/ Court to be elected in this manner. Fhe de-
ciSiUn villas In the Loomis-Jackson case
be heartily endorsed by all familiar with the
merits of the controversy. Judge Loomis and
his tellow-sutierer Harrison have certainly and
| Justly incurred the charge of coming here on
g FOOLS erraad" Neither Of them had any
ease, aud We, had the cheek to have spe-
cial court convened to crafty petty spite and
a political bias They both have returned
home Sadder, if not wiser, men. They under
took to disturb elections upon fmsy, frivolous
! protests and have met just rebuke. ReqH-
escai en- porel
Tie Legislature, Ike many other Lesisla-
lures, deserves abuse. They Spent about six
! weeks IN quibb Ing over the Capital question.
and Immediately upon their return after the
holidays they Squabbel about their per diem
for the recess. When they wish surcease
from ssch arduoas labors, some would-be wit
offers silly resolution about the "epizooty, 4"
or to give the people a right to fish, hunt, &c.
To their honor be it said, the representatives
OF jefferson have held aloof from all that was
unsaHly and undignifed, and their constitu-
| eu.s ~ill never have caNSe to blush for the in
! dependent, manly aad wise course Of Messrs.
| Grantham, Butcher and Shirley. No County
! Is represented here by gentlemen more esteemed
for their conservative wisdom, and fidelity than
! these gentlemen, and whatever fault may be
found with the Legislature at large the people
of Jefferson can feel secure when their rights
are in their hands. More anon. ID. c."