Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1880-09-04
IN Independent judiciary.

TDs. FREE Press The article OF Opequon
in the Martinsburg Salesman oil ire lcth INST,
under the above caption, Is BnHinh ~ pirro, ana
meets the issue with wpnderlul spssiu1e- Inc
independence of our judiciary, Oi Doth pollti-
cal favor and government influence, has been
looked upon hy the legal wisdom OF the land
A. being its greatest safeguard ana protection.
1t is thatiurotection which would stand by II IN
all emergencies. amid all manner OF strife and
contention. lind vet keep the even balance OF
Justice nicely regulated amid popular csamor
and over-wrOught excitement. imagine once
that this safeguard were removed; mat the Ju,
dietary were brought down To ieNei with ana
swayed in its actions by every noillentary eX-
element that Seizcs hold OF the puDhc NINA ;
that its Judges were made 10 feel themselves en-
tirx.ly dependent upon the unstable and uncer-
tain current of teInporary.publc OPINION most
IN formed without any reference 70 reason or
Judgment, and which they theniselH u often re-
noupce 50 SOoR rs a tcvered nlhu Is suiIlclelt-
liz suhdhe;l 10 permit thought once more 70 re
e:oin is eInpire: suppose that the temple of
Justice were thus thrown open, ana made Il
prey 10 every excitement ana miSgudep
clamOr: what must be the consequence Calln
and dispaSsiOnate reason would ny from such
an unholv wreck Purity would no longer
liiirsle itself with the Gnclean sacrifices that
would be offered upon the polluted aliar oil JUS
tee The known and certain meets ana bounds
so much pride and which constitute the vItail-
tv of the judiciary, and the most elective guar
antee of fife and liberty, Would be cast down
and DESTROYED. All that renders the Raw SUI
prelnc and ensures the certainty OF Its admlnis-
traitor would be razed AT the foundation and
entirely swept away. What thinking and re
tiecting man could fora moment harOOr Il desire
50 decidedly al war with all that tends 10 ele-
yate and maintain the character oil justice un-
sullied and that ensures TO eNery citizen alike,
regardless Of his circumstances, 4 ialr, calm
and impartial trial before he can be dlvcsted OF
either his liberty or property. There Is hoth,
ing so desirable in the administration OF law ana
the dispensing Of Justice - TIE WhOic commit
nitv-alite as that its functionaries should be
high-minded. firm, and independent IN the dis
charge of their dutieS-anything short of this
only tends to depreciate the Importance OF their
station and lessen their influence with theccm-
munitV What possible influence cOuldal Judge
possess whose conduct would indicate that he
followed his occupation merely ~ trade-With
an linconsccnahie thirst of g'i'n or popularity,
who appeared To have frsotten that luSticels
Gods own work, and he but an agent in the
busiresS-the sentence Of right, God own YER
diet. and he but i priest 10 deliver II? With
thinking men he could have no influence wha.-
ever. but rather their condemnation and c)a-
tempt. Even the juries 10 whom duty would
compel him toinpart direction and instruction
would suspect his integrity, and pay but = Ill
mnishcJ attention u his remarks, and still less
TO his opinions, the sincerity OF which they
would naturally question in their own minds,
although Il decent regard for the business IN
which they were engaged, would compel them
to bcStow an apparent attention.
But the meancst character that we can mag
inc 10 be connected with the distribution. OF
Justice, would be a political Judge, conniying
and intriguing partizan-thc tool of party,
or the slave of some particular sect. Such would
be the man whom we need fear; whose breath
inss would be rs mldcN over everything bright
and beautiful about theSacrcd altar upon which
law and eelIity should be administered. We
cannot possibly picture 10 ourselves more
Justly contemplate individual, or one more
worthy of scorn and reprobation. y man Gle
waited 10 the highly responsible station OF judge
should be one who will consent to be governed
by no partizan feelings; who Will not suffer
himself To be swervcd either To the right hand
or the left 10y prejudice or favor. but one deter
mined te pursue a direct, straightforward
course OF action, irrespective of the frownS OF
one PARTY or the 'spiles OF another Such a
man n the Hon Jl.iEs II 'GtoTf and we veri-
IL believe with "Gpeducn' 'if he will allow
his meme to re PIT before the Te'4ac. rs the
peoples candidate for JuAge, he WIN be srp-
ported by ~ parties
August 81 $50.