The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-06-20
The Judge of Probate.

TO take place in the Office of the Judge
of Probate for Orangeburg County
ask n small space. l cannot agree
with the article from "Justice." To
say that there arc many of the one
legged and onc-armcd victims of the
war rs fully competent to fill that PC
siLion rs the present incumbent is not
fact, when the legal and geographi-
cal qualifications of the parties are
taken into consideration, while It may
be fact when we consider the popu-
lation Of the States once composing
the Confederate States of America.
l lay it down as an incontrovertablc
fact that no man is fully competent
to ill the office of Judge Of Probate
in this State, when we consider the
jurisdiction of said Court, who has
not been bred to the bar. The man
who has made the law q study, and
who is fully acquainted with ali OF it's
theory and pyac' ice, its nice distinc-
tions and its broad and enlarged
equity, can alone discharge with in
telligence, ia:thfulness and exact JUS
ticc the duties which dcvolve npon
the Judge of Probate.
The great mistake of our people is
to worship and hong the heroes of
the war. Othcr things being equal it
may be right. But when this alone
is made the test Of qualifica-
tion and preferment it is all wrong.
TO perform with faithfnlneas and eff
ficiency the duties of Judge Of Pro-
bate one must have made the law his
study must have rut into practice
the teachings of this grand science,
and must have fitted himself both by
study and practice, for the discharge
Of all the duties developing upon
the high and delicate position of
Judge. The rights of the people arc
too sacred to DC delegated to those
(no matter how worthy, honest and
patriotic they may be) who have not
been fitted and schooled for that
honorable position. There is no one,
| venture to say, who has higher
and more exalted reverence and nd
miration for the brave and devoted
Confederate soldier than your CORE
spondent. For those Of them who
suffered privations and wounds (in n
cause just and right, but nevertheless
"lost," my whole nature is absorb
ed in love, respect and alteration !;
and in veneration and praise for their
patient sufferings, their brave deeds,
and their patriotic devotion 10 JUS
tice and right. But the rights Of
person, Of liberty and Ct property de-
mand that the laws of our State and
copnlryshauld not only be adfrlERpister-
ed, but he administered with wisdom,
justice and equity, and should not be
delegated to those whu alone for want
of education and experience in the
abstruse science of the law are not
qualified TO defend and protect these
inviolate rights Of person, Of liberty
and of property. l therefore, say,
with all due respect and admiration
for the gentleman named by "Jus
tice" for the Office of Judge Of Pro-
bate, that he cannot he as "fully COM
pctent as the present incumbent"
who has been trained and bred to the
law. hIr. Robinson is persona!
friend, one whom respect and ad-
mirc, one for whom | would ordnar-
lily work and vote, one who was fully
qualified for the position he held, one
WHO made faithfai and competent
officer, and one whom would delight
TO honor again for the same position.
The ''maxims of the law are these.
to live honesty, to hurt no one, and
to give every one his due" This l
have always endcavored to do. 1t is
due the present incumbent that he
should be renominatcd, he being, in
my humble judgment, the best quail
fled man for the position in the coun.
ty. Let justice be done though the
heavens fall. ONE or THE PEOPLE.
St. Matthews Academy.
MIDDLE ST.. MATTHEW'S,