Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-10-03
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

Though much is written upon these
subjects, there is an indefniteness in
the suggestions thrown out, which
fastens upon the popular N md no well
defined idea as to how the needed re-
form is to be attained. One suggests
a reduction of official salaries-losing
sight of the fact that liberal pay is
security for competent services, and
that poor pay will not command
honest ability, because talents, can
make more money out Of Office than in
it, and true economy calls for an in
crease, rather than decrease of official
pay. The wiser policy would be to
pay well-fxing the amount of COM
pensation wherever practicable, and
strictly prohibiting perquisites.
But any system of economy to be
success, must have a broader base
than saving a dollar here and there,
by taking it from the already meagre
compensation for the faithful discharge
of high and responsible duties. That
base should be the elevation of public
virtue and making the judiciary, in all
its departments, independent of popu-
lar prejudice and caprice-elevating
and keeping it above the influence Of
that political. corruption inseparable
from partizan intrigue and universal
suffrage. In the better days of the re-
public, an independent judiciary not
only worked like a charm, but was
justly looked upon as the great con-
servator of public virtue-the pendu-
lum that regulated the machinery Of
government, and impaired to social
life that high tone of integrity which,
reacting upon the government, made it
it the model institution of the world.
Is it old fogyism to return to that
wiser policy? If time destroys princi-
Piles and the wisdom of earlier times,
why go back to the days of the Apes
ties for Christian inspiration?
We have ever opposed an elective
judiciary as the most dangerous inno-
walton upon the practice and theory of
our forefathers, and look upon its abO
lition as the surest means for tho res
toration of public virtue, of wisdom,
Justice and economy in the adminstra-
ton of the government. An able and
honest Judge plays a benifieent part in
the preservation of social order as well
as in the maintenance of political
Justice, and to secure his impartial and
honest discharge of duty, he must be
independent of the populaee, and his
tenure of Office dependent upon his
ability, impartiality and integrity. In
opposing an elective judiciary we ex-
tend it to every official connected with
it, from Constable up to Judge, not
only because the same arguments apply
to every such officer, but because the
system of appointment will remedy, in
part, another great political evil-the
frequency and multiplicity of elections.
These are dangerously demOralizing
under the most favorable circum-
stances, and how much more so with
a voting element eminently disquali-
fied-forced upon us by fraud and arbi-
trary power, for no other purpose than
to uphold a sectional tyranny by their
votes, and by serving as a pretext for
federal interference in the domestic
concerns of the South. The more We
can withdraw this element from the
demoralizing excitement of political
contests, the better citizens they will
become and the less the cost to the
State, for persistence in the grave err
ror of degrading the Judiciary by drag
ging its ermine through the mire of
partizan politics.
In order to retrench expenses, it is
recommended that all unnecessary of
fees be abolished. We endorse this
recommendation, and in order to give
it a definite shape, suggest that magis
trates be, ex-ofIicio, assessors in their
respective districts, that constables or
sherihs, be tax collectors and that
Trustee and Register be merged in the
county court clerkship. The Offices
thus abolished, we believe are alto
gether unnecessary, and TO have the
duties now assigned them, as faithfully
performed, all that is needed may be an
enlarged bond and a careful selection
of the officers to discharge them. Be-
sides a pecuniary saving, this plan will
make electiOns-if we must have
them-less complicated and withhold
the temptation which withdraws from
honest industry, 50 many able-bodied
seekers after soft places.
We know the reluctance with which
the peop!e sanction such changes. but
we ask them to consider whether or
not. there is more practicable mode
of removing the pretexts for federal
interference with the internal police of
the South, than is to be found in re-
moving from the colored voter, the fire.
ouent temptations to indulge their in
ordinate passion for political excite
ment and, at the same time, dis
arming their white Radical masters of
the power to keep in constant activity,
their hatred of the whites. To get rid
of so great a social evil and to furnish
fewer excuses for the exercise of fed
eral tyranny, every true southern man
ought to lend his influence to the sys-
tenn of appointment, as the only present
means of abating the great nuisance
which has its source in the demoraliz-
ing tendency of frequent elections.
Gov. PoRTER's eRning speech is