Wilmington journal., 1874-07-03
ssIs. FgLEER,s CARD.

the Conservative candidate for Judge
Of the Fifth Judicial District, SO
thoroughly unmasks the position taken
by Eadical candidates for Judge, that
we publish it IN fuII. We are truly
glad to learn, as we do, from private
source, that the campaign is progress
ing very fayorably for Us in Mr..
FulIer's districts, and that there
IS no more chance for Mr.. Bux-
ton to beat Mr.. Fuller than there is
for Mr.. Russell to beat Colonel Me
hoy.
From the Nadesboro Arsus.l
\ CARD TO THE PEOPLE oE TIE FIFTH
JUDICIAL DISTRICT.
In the Spirit of tie South OF The
Goth inst, | find 81 card addressed by
Judge Buxton ''to the people of the
Fifth Judicial District
Fl I regarded this rs anything more
than an electioneeripg trick, / would
keep silent and let it pass for what it
is worth. But rs it is only another
way Of doing what Judge Buxton con-
demns in Lis card, and is evidently
the strongest appeal which he can
make 20 the people, an uncovering of
his main position, 1 ask permission to
reply to it in the most effective way.
Three points arc sought to be made,
which / Will notice in their order.
1. Judge Buxton will not ''talle the
stump and canvas for Judge" l have
made no stump speech probably
shall not DO SO, unless matters assume
a different shape from that in which /
find them now. But 4 small half hour,
before any audience III the District,
would be all that any one would re-
quire to strip Judge Buxton Of his thin
covering, and show nim to be the can
didate of the Republican party-slre
of the vote Of his own party friends,
and endeavoring to divide the Conser-
vative party by all appeal to their
sense OF propriety, and their abhor-
renee of partisan Judges. We thor
oughly understand the position assUn-
ed, and Judge Buxton would have
done better to leave his views to be eX-
planned by his friends. if lie really de-
sired to keep himself free Of party
politics.
2. "The people 90 not want parti-
san Judges, for they are public nuisan-
cos." This sentiment is true, and IS
heartily reiterated. We nerer had
partisan Judges in North Carolina I'M
til we had LcluLIica,a Judges. And
there is not Conservative lawyer in
the State of any reputation, who is
capable Of becoming partisan Judge,
in the sense in which doubt
less Judge Buxton intended the word
to be understood. A partisan Judge
is one who would 21Crreyt justice to
su6ScFCG party ; who would mete out
the penalties of the law with favor or
vindictiveness, according to the party
affiliations of the Judge and culprit; or
who would in some way, because OF
party, make difference between those
upon whose rights he was to pass.
But a party man need not administer
his office in any party sense. lie
would deserve and receive the hearty
execration of all good men. 1t would
be gratuitous insult to suppose that
any one at all fit for this position could
descend to such ineffable meanness. s.
Therefore, I take it that Judge Bux-
ton did not in the remotest degree IN
tend to imply that any such conse-
quences are likely to follow, if shall
defeat him in the present contest:
3. The Judge naodestly aliudes to
the fact that he was elected in 1868 as
the candidate of both parties.
Let me tell him now in all candor,
that if the Conservative Committee
had been properly informed as to his
political opinions they would never
have honored him in this way. They
knew him to be q gentleman of edu-
| cation and social position, and fair
legal requirements. They knew
where he 0ught to be found in refer
ence to the political questions of the
day, and they either inferred that he
represented the opinions which the
good and true white man Of the State
desired to promote, or they We're mis-
led as to Judge Buxton's real sentl-
ments Not by himself, or by design,
probably, but just as certainly. We
know that, since his election, he has
not enjoyed the confidence OF the Con
servative party; that he has voted
and acted with the Republican party
that they intend to support him in
/ the coming election--that he VIII be
elected, if at all, by negro votes; and
that he Will be repudiated by nine
tenths of the morality and intelligence
/ of this district. And this because he
is q Republican and because this Is
| an all-SulHcieul IeaSoH why SOuSei va
tives should not vote for him.
The question is NOT whether we
shall have a partisan Judge; but
whether, with qualifications of char.
acter, position and attainments, a.
least equal to any that Judge Buxton
can claim for himself, the people o.
this district Will bestow an Office which
is in their gift-which belongs to then
alone, upon lifelong political friene
and fellow-worker; or upon politica
enemy, whose only appeal is to theil
ataa11serited generosity and magma
ssiDlity.
Yours respectfully,
BARTHOLOMEW FULLER.
| Wadesboro, June Oath, 1874.