The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-09-06
Too Greedy for Office.

From the Nashville World.
In the framing Of constitutions, most
Of the States have given the judiciary
long terms Of Office. The object Of this
was to preserve the purity Of the judi
ciary from popular prejudice.
la our State the constitution gives
Acknowledgements n term Of eight
years, in order to give them time, free
from political cares and preparation for
reelection, to discharge their duties
dispassionately. 1t surely was not in
tended by tins to allow the Attorney
General to hold his Office AS Il position
from which he might compete for some
thing higher and better, holding on to
his office az a good thing to fall back
upon in case he was defeated in the
race for something better.
Gov. Marks, when he was nominated
for Governor, had an eight year term
as Chancellor before him. lie could
have held on to this, neglecting his du-
ties during the canvass, or leaving them
to be discharged by others, and finally
if defeated fall back on n good office
Some men might and would have done
this.
But Marks was not that sort of
man. When he accepted the nominal
ton for Governor, he resigned his Chan.
cellorship at once. In this he was
right. The public had right to de-
mand that he should give all his time
and energy to the duties Of his Office.
When Democrats were looking around
in 1878 for suitable man for Cover
nor, some of Judge Marks best friends,
while thinking that he was the proper
man for Governor, and the most availa-
bic, were slow to move in his behalf,
doubling the propriety of asking him to
sacrifice Il good position in which he had
gwen great satisfaction for eight years,
and to which he had just been elected,
without opposition, for eight years
more, for the toll and uncertainty of a
canvass for Governor. The salary off
Chancellor was twenty-five hundred
dollars II year, Eight years would
make twenty thousand dollars-a con-
siderable sum to Il man that was disa-
bled for physical labor. No one expect
ed that he would hold one good office in
reserve while he ran for another; and
he didn't, With his acceptance of the
nomination for Governor, he resigned
the CHARACTERISTIC forthwith.
Gov. Marks conduct in this matter
was 50 contormable to Democratic prin-
ciple and practice, and so consistent
with reason and common sense, that his
resignation attracted but little atten-
ton, and created no sensation.
Considered in the light of recent
events, Judge Marks resignation might
be regarded as an extraordinary self:
sacrifice.
But times have changed. A con.
course of gentlemen assembled at the
Capitol on the 18th of July under the
name Of Convention. They some.
times call it Democratic convention.
Heaven save the mark
They selected n candidate for Cover.
nor, Mr.. Russell, who is an Attorney.
General of the State, with four years of
ms time unexpired. According to
Democratic precedent he ought to have
declined the nomination or resigned the
office, but he did neither.
The Office which he holds is one of
great Importance, and rich in its emolu-
ments. The man who holds it should
devote his time to the discharge of its
duties. In term time he should study
his cases, and in vacation he should
read elementary works upon criminal
law, Besides this, outrges are liable
10 be committed at any time, and the
Attorney-General should be within
each to give legal advice to his ipfe-
rors, who have duties to perform in
ringing criminals to justice.
If Mr. Russell had any hope of sue.
ess he would have resigned at once
}ut he'd none, and therefore held on