Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1882-08-04
The Tenure Of the Judge ship.

A correspondent writing in the Cecil
i)emo9at ct Cecil county, in which JUG i
cial circuit they have an animated contest
against the re nomination of Judge Stump
for second term upon the Bench, in the
course of an able letter makes the follow
ing observations concerning the tenure of
the judicial office
But what answer do Dr. Mitchell, Hon. Hiram
Mccullough and Judge stump give to the action
OF the Constitutional Convention viii assembled
IN the city of Annapolis in lS5l" That Conven-
tlon was controlled by the Democratic party,
which was largely in the majority. Now it is
"a we'll known that this question of the proper
period Tor Judge to hold office was one OF the
questions debated and settled bV that Convent on
lhat Convention fixed ten years as the proper
unit. assert what every well-nfoI med man
IN this county knows, that the clause OF the
constitution nXlng the term of Office To ten wears
ana abollShlng forever the monarchical life ten
ure OF the Juds sS, was adopted 10y large major
", ereIY member from Cecil county rOiIt0 in its
f0rOr, and among the Cecil members was Hon
Hiram McCullough's brother. Hon Hiram Me
Culloush must therefore have approved of ten
Years and been against life tenure in 1851. or
else he had no influence with his brotheI or else
the feeling III the county was too strong to be
ilsreg;trded. The people Of Maryland ratified
lhat constitution. In lS6t the Republican party,
oelng IN the ascendant, held another CoiiStitu-
tlonal Convention, hut there was no ATTEMPT to
mango tie ltIl-Ntar term OF the Judges. (lhlS
evidently was before the CreSwellS and GRANTEES
had seized upon all power in the Republican
party.) This Constitution WAS approveu by a vote
of the people.
In lS67 the Democrats held another ConStitu-
tional Convention, and the term of the Judges
was increased To fifteen years. so We see that
three Constitutional Conventions and both par
Ties nave deliberately approved the adjustment
II lie offices for the Judges. The people of Ma
tNithd nave three times had the question submit
tSu 10 thenl ana three times hare declared the
5dito Dor that the Judges should not hold offic,
Tor IA longer period than fifteen wears. And Vet
AFTER TINS ee-tlmeS-terated opposition by the
people, and especially the Democratic people of
Maryland 10 lille Judges, come pr. Mitchell and
hon. hiram Mccullough and force this issue
upon the democratic party OF Cecil county,
strong AS these Bosses have been IN the mast and
rs openly, III the matter of nominations and aI,-
nlhtlntnts, as they have detied the opinion OF
the party for forty wears in this county they
have undertaken more than they can accom-
| pIl>h 10 use a common saving, they have bit
ten OH more than they 'rhuw.'' II i "A Ma
grant outrage that our party should lie torn Il.
! pieces 10y an issue which ought never To have.
been forced on il. pr. Mitchell and Hon Hiram
McIullough had no right To- disturb the partN
peace by tins un-lEmucratic claim of ,Iulg,
stump right to hold office thirty consecutive
years Judge stump i y young man in the prime
! OF HE. OWNS two handsome farms in Hartford
county. has Just received furty-two thousand
collars from the party, and without Il wifi, u
child To support. Why therefore should TN,
great lh,lnocratlc perry unearn lis ILamocracv
iHr MN: Why repudiatr now what the people
ni TINS state have three times nj the ballot hHN
ainrine'i, ana what has been The settled policy
OF the Democracy Of Mary land on this matter az
Judge>hlp> FOR more than thirty wears" Ii j. N,
wonder lhat tho>" ancient statesmen complain
81 their Ill success in getting up what they Term
"a stump 'boom.' Despite their harCuean 81
forts they tind Democrats unwilling to cnihuse
and no wonder.