The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-02-20
Election Of Circuit Judges.
From our Extra of Tliursday.1

Election OF Circuit JuuSCS.
LFrom our Extra of Thurseay.l
1t is a fact. Thomas Thomson, ESD,
of the Abbcvillc Bar has been elected
Judge of the Eighth Circuit. The wei
come news reached us to-day at three
o'clock in the afternoon. The following
telegram from our State Senator speaks
for itsclf.
"CoLrMn1A, Fen. 18th, 1873.
"To Col. Thomson Effected Judge.
"Eotc one hundred and thirty seven to
two. j. G. MANWELL.'
Tho nominations in the Democratic
Caucus had been tclcgraphed to us last
night and us the Democratic rule is that
all Democratic members are bound to
stand by the action Of the party Caucus
we then knew that Col. Thomson's call
ing and election were sure. The follow
ing are tho names ofthe Caucus nominees
for Judges in the six circuits.
: First Circuit-PrcsSlcy.
Second Cirruit-.tlhricll.
Third Circuit-Sllaw.
Fourth Circuit-IIudSnn.
Sixth Circuit--Mackcy.
Eighth Circuit-ThomSon.
Abbcvillc is jubilant over the result of
the election. Merchants, farmers, law
ycrs, poor ~"tax-pavcrs" and all, rejoice to
know that their distinguished fcllow-citi-
zen has boon raised to the honorable po-
sition of Judge. We congratulate the
town, the County, and the Eighth Circuit.
The Press aMd Bnnncr of yesterday said
that soon tho Eighth Circuit would be
proud to speak Of
THOMSON,
and without being either II prophet, or
the son Of Il prophet, VIC arc delighted to
find that our prophecy has had so early a
fulilment. The ncwly-clcctcd Judge
stands not upon the order of his going.
lie will proceed to Columbia Tomorrow
morning to qualify, and then will go to
Aiken to complete the %uneNpired
term of court there. Afterwards he will
mako his progress through the second
circuit. We regret that other Eyes than
ours will see Judge Thomson upon the
judicial crmine for the first time. Able
willie would have rejoiced to sec him hold
his first court here in his native town.
All honor to Judge Thomson. All
honor to those who voted for him
and worked for his election. Especial
honor to
SENATOR J. G. MAXWELL,
to whose 1aithfulness, consistency, and
untiring efforts, VIC know tina, the election
of Judge Thomson WAS mainly due.
South Carolina, the Eighth Circuit, and
especially Abbcvillc county, arc grateful
to the honorable Senator for the unwa-
vcring support he has given to the
representative of judicial learning, intcg-
rity, and purity. Faithful to the peo-
PIES interest, when the rest Of our
Abbeville delegation were lukcwarm,
wavering, or opposed, Senator Maxwell
was unwcaricd and unalterablc i'll his de-
termination to promote the election of
Judge Thomson. SO far as we can learn
publicly or privately, Il new Judge
was nominated despite the votes OF the
majority OF tho .Abbevil!c delegation.
Authoritative news from Columbia last
night informed us that all but one of our
Abbovillc members were pledged to
support Cooke.
II would have afforded us great pleas
ure to have published the vote Of our
Abbcville delegation in the Caucus on
the first ballot. With this intent we sent
a telegram this afternoon ut three o'clock
to II of our Representatives, asking for
the desired information. Up to the clos
ing of the telegraph Office at nine O'clock,
no answer had been vouchSafcd.
Now that the election Of the six Judges
is IN accomplished fact, VIC may look for
Judge MackcY to hold Court here ut the
earliest possible tinG,-which will likely
be OIL the third Monday in April.
No department Of the government is of
greater Importance to the people 1T large
than the Judiciary, and its publication
will work rs much Tor the public veal Il,
can the publication of the executive and
the legislative. Thanks to the South
Carolina Democracy who did so nobly i'll
1876, the executive and Legislative de-
]partlncnts arc no longer corrupt. Thanks
to the General Assembly for the puriii-
cation of the Circuit Bench. Corruption,
Ignorance, and political harlcquinism
now dotf the clminc with which they had
clothed themselves like asses in lions
skins. Men with that little learning
which i'll II judicial position certainly is Il
very dangerous thing,-mcn,
with Just enough of learning to mlsquotc,"
no longer occupy, and never again shall
occupy the seats once graced by such jul
rists as Wardlaw, tombstone, Chevcs, and
O'Ncall. No act Of the General ASSEM-
bly, now in session will more cltitlc
them to the lasting gratitude of their
countrylnen, or reflect more credit on
themselves, than this election of tho 18th
February 1878, which has elevated and
enn0bled the Circuit Bench of South
Carolina, and restored it to its pristine
purity.