Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-17

Gates g degree OF bucu hbtuto NlrateBJ
not without a head, or blind to the inter.
eat of certain outs, who would displace
the inns. The people have had nothing
to do with it, except as they have been
led by certain wire.pullers, who, for rea'
sons known to themselves, are anxious
for the substitution of their own, against
the favorites of the people, Two more
worthy or deserving men than Judges
| Sneed and Freeman from West Ten
nessee-men of a higher order OIL
character, or OF fuller minds, or ADLER
judges of their age on the bench
are not to be found in that State
il out of it. And 1t is
because they are men of real intellectual.
growth and stature that they are so high.
ly esteemed by the people, who rarely
commit the blunder Of many members O
the bar, who sometimes prefer legaI
damphools, who know nothing out of a
law book, TO men of literary, scientific.
historical and legal culture, combining
with the larger grasp OF mind. When
Judge Sneed was first a candidate eight
years ago, the very same objection was
made to him which certain pl0tteTs Tor
their favorites are now urging, viz that
he was a scholar, a gentleman and q
statesman, rather than a lawyer. And,
knowing him we'll as we have done Tor a
quarter Of century, as a man OF singu-
lar and remarkable promise, almost
rivaling Prentiss for his genius aud
Black for bis acHteaess Of intellectual
and f~ar-resching discernment, we we're
reminded, as we are now, OF the slgnih'
cant remark OF Lord Mansfield, who
said. in snswer TO a question as
to statutory law, If asked a
question as TO the oommon law
OF England | should be ashamed
# | could not give a ready answer, but
when asked a question as to her statutory
ensctments, | should be equally ashamed
if | could" There are many men, who
have even obtained the position of emf
nence in the profession. who are only
plethoric with a~djudicatioDs and preee.
dents, and who, but for their diligence IN
grabbing for the dollar, or for being
brother in law to somebody, would never
be named as men OF ability, except a.
the cross roads, where respectable peo'
pie discuss the merits Of their rival doc
iors; while, with equal attainments and
grester native sagscity, Judgment and
genius. men like Sneed are developing
invariable principles and striking out
masteriul thoughts like sparks from the
anvil OF Vrlcan. Jrdge Sneed, like
Judge Freeman, has now been on
the bench nearly eight years; and
every lawyer knows that one able
at once to displace hin, and rival his
readiness in practice and efficiency in
soundness Of judgment aud decision of
cases, must be more than a man Those
gentlemen who are spoken Of for his
place are doubtless excellent lawyers
But, besides being untried met, and
without his advantage Of experience on
the Supreme Court bench. all the world
knows they fall behind him in some OF
those qualities without which a Broug-
ham and a Story could never have at
tanned their extraordinary intellectual
stature. In order that we might not
speak carelessly, or in any language Of
unwarrantlble eulogy. We have taken the
pains to look up some Of the decisions OF
the court, rendered by Judge Sneedi and
we have found aud examined them. not
in the State reports. but in the nineteenth
volume and some other OF the Amer
can Reports" published at Albany,
New York, aud containing none
other than selections from the de.
cisions of courts Of the last resort OF
al the States, and excluding everything
rot Of general intsrost ard Importance
10 all the people Of the United States.
That his decisions should be found in
such q work is warrant enough to law.
yers as to his eminent capacity, as bis
real excellence Of character 10 all re-
spects is to the voting people Of his State
be has served so long aud so we'll. ID
Is an ornament 10 his profession and Il
bis State; aud, with all honor to mis- re
spectacle rivals, and with intentiona.
dispsragsment to none, We do not hest
tate to say that the well being Of Ten
uessee is not likely to be promoted b.
bis displacement. lis quite well enoug.
as il is. And there is q maxim in such
cases altogether seusibls - let vel
enough alone" If we have intruded o.
all, it is not for a f%avorite or a friend
but for a man who has deserved, and
with opportunity, will deserve stilkmorr
and greater honor from bis State an
his country than this election, go as j
may, can afford him.