The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-05-28
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Fridday, morning, May %, 1875.
The Judiciary of the Future.

For some time past we have noticed in
several of our exchanges, in the accounts
given Of the proceedings of Court in
their several localities, the significant
statement that the docket was cleared,
or the learned Judge announced that he
meant to clear the docket, or that his
Honor displayed equal zeal and ability
in the discharge of his laborious duties.
or that the session wns protracted and
cncroached upon the hours of rest, &c.
"Thinks TO myself" what does That
meant After npch' pondering upon the
problem, it stood revealed and demon
ssfated. Z lAtthe next General Assembly
there will be held elections for eight Cir
cult Judges to serve for four years. The
approach of this session is the approach
of the application of test to these eight
Justices, whether they have acquitted
themselves we'll. and whether thoy shnll
be entrusted with these high functions
again. The time has not come to discuss
their merits or to show the deficiencies
and shortcomings of any one of them.
We can only say in general that somo
have beennssiduous in their duties, while
others have. not. Some are, learned in
the law, others are ignorant and behind
hand in reading, study and research.
Some have brains, but from this reproach
several can claim exemption. We will
say this, however, in favor of the judi
ciary, z In the general prostration of in
telligence and banishment of virtue and
character in the departments of
the State Government of South Caro-
lima, it has stood fairer than any other,
because the old impress was more
deeplyl imprinted upon it than upon
any other. Unlike the executive and
legislative branches, it has not done any
very outrageous and scandalous things,
and not many positively bad. It hns
been very blind at times; it has been
immensely. devoted to technicalities; it
has felt the force Of the corrupt public
opinion which surrounded it, in neutral
izing its independence, md it has been
content too much to float quietly along
the current. It has done some good,
but has escaped doing q good deal that
was bad. But now that the err of re-
sponsibility is dawning, and men of
force, of convictions and determination
of character are required on the bench,
not to speak of the always indispensable
traits of learning, love of justice and
strong abilities, these merely compliant
and compliment traits will not do. The
Judge of the coming period must not be
addicted to blinking or Logging. He
must not consider SO much the honor of
his easy seat as the obligations which he
owes to Justice and the people. He
must realize that there nre evils to be re-
dressed, plunderers to be brought to
account, villains to be overtaken and
punished, rights to be enforced He
must be of receptive, not repellant,
mood. AS he has been Indifferent and
unconscious all along-we speak not of
also must he now or soon be wide
awake, be able to look straight before
him, and to see not primrose path
hedged with his own honors, gratifca-
tions and ease, but n rugged road of duty,
at whose end, when he has faithfully and
fearlessly traversed it, he will find the
good will and commendation of his
countrymen,t and the approval of his
own conscience. tfE
Too Much Massachusetts.