, 1879-05-18
CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor 1} IHe tribune. r..
CHICAGO, MAY 17.-The judicial election is
only fortnight distant, and then the people
are to select. men to serve them as Judges in
the Supreme and Circuit Courts OF the State.
While such contests should be removed as far
as nossiblc from tile character OF O mere party
souabb1c, and while candidates may hold them
selves aloof from being parties tn such con-
tests. [ nevertheless fall to find anything
In tile election to make man any more or
less a Republican or Democrat by be-
iny voted for rs the representative OF
either of the parties. Nor should it be set
down as derosatory to the character OF any
Judge that he possessed even strong party con-
vitiit,ns. As politician. he deals With opinion;
90 A i,,rist. he is supposed to know only the Law
and its relation to the Constitution.
Interpretations OF the Constitution. however,
depend very much on the political education Of
the Judge, thus: Andrew jackson declared:
Let South Carolina seccde, and will find
1ano,,are in the Constitution authorizing me to
use the power Of the Federal army to whip her
hork into the Uuion agnin"; while james Bu~
chanan is credited with tue declaration: g. II q
State sees proper to withdraw from the Union,
it is greatly to be regretted; out nnd ~ no
authority in the Constitution "heEeoY the E1-
ecutlve can prevent It." -
Now, the laws enacted at Washington and
8pringGeld for the last twenty years, anu the
amendments to the Federal Constitution, have
all been cast from q Republican standpoint.
These amendments especially cover all the
points involved in the late War. notably State
rights, war-claims, citizenship OF the former
slaves, etc., mud the question arises, In view Of
the contest now raging at the State Capital, and
extending rapidly ali over the country, Shall We
select Judges in sympathy with our laws and
amendments, or such as are known to be hostile
to them2 Surely, no Republican eau hesitate to
decide. 49,
All things heing equal, it seems simple duty
to urge the nomination and election Of Repub-
licans to thcse places Of profit and honor, and
no otherrours should be acted on, except We
desire to confess that our party Is entirely des-
titute Of good material to fill places on the
Supreme and Circuit Benches Coneeding the
correctness Of these premises, is 1t not humliat-
inu In the extreme to see five out Of the seven
Ut our Supreme Judges selected from the Demo-
cratic party, and the Circuits are agafnst.us 10
like proportion2 This, too, when the Republicans
have had majority on the popular vote OF from
l0,UO0 to $4,000 votes. On top OF this We: arc
asked, in this strong Republican district. to
consent to tile reelection OF Dtckey without q
contest, and certain lawyers ring, having cap
turcd the Republican District Committee, they
solcmnly recommend that no party nomination
be made. Surely, District Committee charged
to consider party interests ought to have some
structiorl of that party. Above the nonipa'
tions of any lawyers ring, and on top OF ths
action OF q coWard1y Committee, may be seer
and heard the fact that the Republicans ut this
district are not going TO be thus sold out, ou'
will nominate and elect successor to Dcke5
'~''N WEsr-SDRR.