The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-05-11
The Chief Judgeship.

Dy the impeachment OF Judge wright the
election Of Associate Justice to fill his place
Will be necessary, and it seems to that, instead
of creating the necessity for going into an cleo
tion for all three of the Supreme Judges, by the
election of Judge Willard to the Chief Judge
ship, it would be economy of time and money,
and we ore confident it would be more in accord
with the feelings and wishes Of the people, to
allow Judge Willard to remain Just where he is
ana select two democrats to NJ the then yaoaptt
Chief and Associate Judges seats upon the Su
preme Bench. BY that course the Republican
party would have one Of its best and ablest men
on the Bench, who, from his independent and
fair course in the past, would command the re-
spect and confidence of the two other members
OF the Court, and in that way could exercise
greater influence for the good Of all parties than
any other man that could be selected.
AS we have before stated, we are not in favor
CT elevating Judge Willard to the Chief Judge
ship, either upon the plea of policy or reward
for any good he has done; but if Governor
Hampton will place his preference for such ele-
vation upon the ground that it is necessary, that
he requires it to enable his administration to
more speedily and effectualy carry out the great
measures of honesty and reform in the govern
ment, to which he is pledged then we can lay
aside all our personal feelings and prejudices
and "accept the situation" with some grace, and
we are satisfied the people would follow our ex-
ample
We, however, are not in accord with those hot
headed indiscreet men who are dcn6uncing Gov
ernor Hampton and other prominent democrats
for the course they advise. in this natter
The Governor and his friends may have reasons
for their preference of which we know nothing;
reasons of such weight that the most extreme
democrats would think sufficient to sink all 9TH
er considerations and constrain even them
selves to acknowledge the pressing necessity for
dcvaing from the strict line of party preference,
in that instance, at least.
From the day when he wrote his letter con-
cerning the nomination of State ticket, before
the Convention met, Gov. Hampton has not made
single false step; but has displayed a far high
er order Of Statcsmanship and political diplo-
macy than his most intimate friends supposed
he possessed, and through hiY. more than
through all other men and agenties, was they
tory over SSrfff6ptiSS and inifamy obtained and
the fruits of that victory secured to the State;
and we can see. neither reason nor sense in the
efforts now matle by some over-zealous partisans
to thwart his wishes and policy. No one can be
afraid that Gov. Hampton will do aught detri-
mental to the highest interests of the State; and
no one who knows him will entertain the shadow
of a doubt as to his fcalty to the principles of
the party that elected him.
Willard is not our choice, by long shot, but
the State is not ''out of the woods yet and if,
by n stroke of policy, Hampton thinks he can
take her out and place her in the broad and safe
road that leads to honor and prosperity, in the
name Of all that is good and great, let us help
him do it rather than attempt to throw obstacles
in his way.