The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1878-03-20
THE NOMINA 7TON AND ELEc-
TTON OF SUPREME
Knoxville Tribune.

= hnoxVille tribune.
u Frem inquiries addressed to ns b.
two or three correspondents. we az
prehend there is still liability l.
e much confusion of ideas regarding
d the meaning and effect of the pre-
$ visions Of the law prescribing th'
mode OF voting for Supreme Judges
The law might have been rendered ,
T little more perspicuous in its phra
seology, but still it is plain enough,
if properly considered in connection
with the constitutional provision
: The Constitution provides. ina effect
that the qualified voters Of the tohole
State shall elect Ave judges for the
tohole State, who shall constitute the
Supreme Court, and one of when.
to be chosen by the members of the
Court, shall preside as Chief Justice
and not more than two Of whom shall
reside in any one Grand Division Of
the State. The act of the Legislature
was designed merely to provide q
method by which uniformity through
out the State might be secured in
| giving effect to the pro0iso of the
Constitution in regard TO the place Of
residence of the several persons voted
for. The fact that one name on the
ticket is to be designated for the
Eastern" one for the Middle" and
one for the Nv Western" Division,
dOes not imply by any means. that
the names so designated are to be
voted for only in the respective Di-
visions for which they are designat-
ed, any more than it implies that
the two names be designated for
1.-The State at large" are the only
two to be voted for throughout the
State. The Judges are ofequal rank
and dignity and each one is a Judge
for the t0bole State. and must be go
elected. It might follow. for exam
pie, that oftwo persons, A and B.
voted for under the designation !
Eastern Division" A might receive
a large majority of the votes in East
Tennessee, and yet B be elected
Judge from the Eastern Division, by
reason OF superior majoritios in Mid
die and West Tennessee. So in
case of either of the other two Divi'
sions. Instead OF speaking of the
persons voted for under the "Divi-
sion" designated, as Judges for the
Divisions. it wonld be better to say
Judges from the Divisions. The
point OF the whole matter is, that it
is not the purpose of the law, in any
sense, to restrict the action of the
people, as State, ia the selection
Of the entire corps of Judges; but
each Judge is to be a representative
Of the whole State, and AL are to be
elected by the people Of the whole
State, just as if there were no recog-
nized grand Divisions, the fact Of
Divisions being locked to only with
a view to the constitutional provi-
sion as to the residence of the
Judges.
A proper understanding of these
facts, it seems to US, will obviate
any confusion in the State Conven-
tion when it comes to make its nOm-
nations. It will act. we presume.
upon the same principal in selecting
its ticket. that will govern the pe"-
pie at the ballot-box. 1t is not to be
that the delegates from
any one Division. exclusively. are
to select the candidates to be desig-
mated for that Division. The dee
gates from East and Middle Tennes
see will take part in the nomiaation
Of the candidate for, or from, West
Tennessee East and West TeRnes.
see will participate in the choice OF
4 candidate for. or from, Middle Ten
nessee; and the Middle and West
will join ia the designation Of can
iida.e for, or from. East Tennessee
ust as al. three of the Divisions will
DIN in the nomination OF the two
to be designated for 'the
State at large" Therefore, the sug-
gestion we made week ago recurs
With renewed force. and that is tkis: {:
Let the convention proceed TO make
I'D ticket of five candidates, hav- :
NC reference to its constructions tc ,
he Constitutions and then. let thr /
be made as provided by ,
he lao, so that the ticket may be
printed and voted fat {
throughout the State. This pla;.
will be fair for all sections aud nn-
ust to no candidate. II can make
20 possible difference to the pros q
,ectiYe Judges how they may be {
on the ticket, since, when /
lected. they will be of equal rank
nd dignity. t
A Conscientious Widow.
4 L.