The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1878-02-13
Our Judicial Elections.

| ueAb. me JUICES Oh the OuPlSnC
Court are 10 be elected at that time
The Supreme Bench is composed of
five judges. They are TO be elected
by general ticket to be voted fot
by all the voters Of the State. This
court, from the fact of its being the
highest tribunal in the State, and
from whose decision there is no aP
peal. is one of great Importance.
This court can change the verdict OF
any jury; can reverse the decision
OF any Judge; can nullify any act o.
the Legislature can in all cases de-
clare what is law and what construc-
ton shall be put upon any statute
on the books. In selecting a tribu-
nal, with such immense powers. as
matter of course the people-the
taxpayers and business men, and
all who desire to see the laws prop
erly executed-shoald see to it that
the best men in the State are chosen
as Supreme Judges. Politics ought
not to have anything to do with the
matter. Qualification, ftness-in.
tellectual. moral and legal-sheuld
be the only test. 1t is to be hoped
the people will take interest enough
in this important matter to see that
for the coming eight years we shall
have a Supreme Court composed OF
pure and able men. If the party
managers and political gamblers are
permitted to manage nominations in
their own way, the danger is men
without qualifications will be put
forward. The people should be
watchfnl, and whenever meetings are
called fer the appointment of dele
gates to a State Convention. they
should. for one day, leave their bust
ness and attend in larger numbers,
and should see that delegates are
appointed who will do right; who
will vote for nobody for Supreme
Judge except lawyers of the very
highest character for legal learning,
natural ability and purity of minds.
The selection of Chancellors and
Circuit Judges is a matter of some
what less Importance, because their
decisions and rulings can be taken
up to the higher court for scrutiny
and revision. But, nevertheless,
these offices are of great conse-
quence to the people. 1t costs a
great deal of money to put a case
either one of the courts,
while an appeal to the Supreme
Court in some instances more than
doubles these expenses. 1t is there
fore important that our Chancellors
and Circuit Judges should be men
the confidence of the citi-
zens-men of ability, learned in the
law and possessed of excellent moral
characters. We are writing for the
oeOple-Republicans as well as Dem
ocrats-we know they are honest
and that they desire at all times and
under all circumstances to do right,
and hence we speak to them freely
md in confidence. We saw q great
leal Of caucusing and maneuvering
going on at Rogersville during the
'ecent term of the Circuit Court. It
Ill meant that the people were to be
that public opinion was to
De forestalled that some advantage
vas to be taken of the great mass Of
he voters, thus early in the year,
before they had become aroused to
heir own interest. Men without
my authority from the people are
assuming to be leaders, aud are set
ing up candidates whom the voters
10 not want. We warn our fellow
;itizens to be on their guard; to be
vide awake and not allow anybody
o get the start Of them or to cheat
hem.
These little town caucuses are
Iever worth anything. Young men.
ambitious to be considered leaders,
nay puzzle their heads a great deal
n fixing up things" but 1t all
mounts to nothing. The ard-head-
d old fellows from the country will
mock all their fine calculations Into
he middle of next week" the first
lick they make at them. i
The truth is these elections are
+ too much Importance to the en-
re population Of the State; there
altogether toe much involved for
ne good people, the Taxpayers, the
roperty holders and the law-leving
to give them up to poIit-
n gamblers or partisan tricksters.
nd we call upon the people earn
silly to look to their own interests
ow--to move at the right time and
The right way, and to see that
ley are neither deceived by poll
clans nor cheated by incompetent
'pirants or their over Jealous !
lends. The people want no under /
anded, secret caucusing. They are ,
opposed to midnight consultations
J selfish tricksters in this matter.