Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1877-06-28
To the Attorneys at-Law,
Of the Bar at Fayette-
VILE.

MANCHESTER, June 18th, 1917
GENTLEMEN have this day
transmitted to Gov. Porter, my
resignation as Judge Of the 9th
Judicial Circuit. When l ac-
cepted the position in 1865, l
did SO to relieve the country, to
the extent | could, from the ter
Tribe misrule of Payne and Mil
roy. Finding myself unable to
execute the law as to all men
alike, by the military orders of
Gen. Thomas, I resigned. When
the country was to some ex-
tent relieved of military rule
and interference and an election
was ordered in 1869,th bar and
people insisted that I should
become a candidate. Owing to
the limited elective franchise
then allowed, l regarded the
prospect of my election as
"forlorn hope"-but contrary
to my expectation, l was cleo
ted.
Again in 1870, when the cleo
tive franchise was extended to
all alike, my friends urged me
| to become a candidate again. /
consented and received the
compliment of an election with
out opposition. Since which
time, l have tried to discharge
the duties Of the office, to the
best of my ability-and so far
as | know, have done so to the
satisfaction of the law-abiding
portion OF the community.
When this Circuit was estab-
lished in 1888, it was the 18th
Judicial Circuit, and was COM
posed Of the counties of Lin
.coln, Franklin, Coffee and War
rem. This was then considered
Fone-thirteenth part of the Civil
and Criminal business Of the
State pertaining to the Circuit
and Criminal Courts--the en-
tire business of the Circuit and
Criminal Courts in the balance
of the State being done by twelve
Judges. Since that time the leg
islature has added TO this Circuit,
the counties of Grundy, Van Bu-
rem, Moore and White, making
eight countieS-some of which
are large and wealthy, with a
large population.
1t is fair to assume that this
portion Of the State has increased
in wealth, population 0nd litiga-
tion in proportion to the balance
of the State, and yet we see the
remarkable spectacle of twenty
three Judges in the balance of
the State required to do the work
which twelve did heretofore.
Of this, do not complain; it is
matter that belongs exclusively
to the Legislature. Had | been
consulted, however, in regard to
the recent changes in the time of
holding the Circuit Courts in
White and Warren, | would have
provided that the change should
not take effect until after the next
term of the Court; in other words,
l would not by legislative enact
ment have released all parties
charged with crimes from their
bonds; and would not have limi-
ted Warren county TO one week
in which to try the large docket
of homicide, and other felonies
now therefor this, however, |
am not responsible.
Having been in Office, and al
most all the time from home for
about 10 years, my private affairs
have necessarily been neglected
My wife and children are, and
ought to be, my first care. In
parting with the members. of the
bar, officers of the court, jurors
and others who have SO kindly
and efficiently aided me, l beg to
say | do SO with feelings of much
Kindness and regret. If | have
required you to work early and
late, remember | have worked al
that it was done in the
interest Of an over-taxed people.
Respectfully,
w. P. HICKERSoN.
P. S.-A copy Of this, I have
to-day mailed to each county in
the Circuit.