Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1882-09-29
The Coming Conventions

hiihaiy iheetiuSS were held In the dit
terent election districts of this county on
Wednesday last, aud, tomorrow, two
county conventions will assemble II. This
Vlllage-the one for the purpos.., of send
ing delegates to the Congressional conven,
ton, and the other to send DELEGATES n
'he judicial convention, both of which
sald conventions will meet in Upper
Marlboro on Tuesday next 1t seems to
ne now generally conceded that there will
be no contest for the Congressional nom
lnation, but that Hon Andrew G Chap
man will be unanimously accorded the
customary and very appropriate courtesy
Of a second term in Congress-
| The chief interest, therefore, centres up
on the judicial convention, which will be
called upon to nominate a candidate for
Associate Justice upon the bench of this
circuit for the next fifteen wears. The
proper administration of the judicial of
flee is matter of the gravest concern to
the whole community, for almost every
household is apt to be, sooner or later,
directly or indirectly, affected by legal
adjudications in the courts. The highest
privileges Of citizenship, the dearest rights
of life, liberty and property, as we'll as the
most sacred ties of the social relations,
often depend upon an honest and intelli-
gent Interpretation and administration of
the laws. Minds properly adapted to the
delicate and intricate inquiries which
pertain to legal Investigations, and an &C
curate application of our complex system
of laws to every case that may arise in the
courts are very rare, even in the legal pro
/ fession. Many men are very able and
successful advocates, who are by no means
qualified for the Bench The kind Of tai
ent required for thorough investigation
OF the authorities bearing upon one side
of case, and forcible presentation of
the law and the facs going to sustain the
claims of one or the other sutton. are es
sentially different from that perfect equan-
unity, calm judgment, accurate perception
unwearying patience, mastery of legal
principles and legal logic, and above all,
unbiased mind and answering rectitude
that is required to weigh the arguments
and authorities presented by skillful adj
vocates on both sides of case, detect the
falacies in ingeniously constructed argu-
ments, protect the jury from deception
and delusion, and so apply he law in its
purity and excellence to every individual
case as to work perfect justice to all par
| ties.
| Such talent is rare indeed. and hence it
| is that the utmost care and prudence
should be exercised in the selection of
the candidate who is to be clothed with
the judicial ermine. 1t has been forcibly
commended that, as the people are incom
petent to judge of the proper qualification
| for this responsible Office, and are apt to
be influenced by mere considerations Of
popularity and good fellowship, which
are rarely ever possessed by persons quail
flied for the judicial functions, that, there
fore, the election of judges by popular
suffrage is wrong in principle. The con-
stitution OF Maryland has however. wheth-
er wisely or unwisely, reserved to the
people the power of selecting the judges
of their courts, and, therefore, it becomes
ofthe highest importance that the greatest
care should be exercised in the.selection
of the candidate whom the people will be
called upon TO support for that response
BILE post.
1t is to be hoped. therefore, that the
men who will meet in The judicial conven-
tion next week "a the representatives of
the people of the four counties Of the cir
cult, charged with the trust of nominal
ing judge, will be men of prudence and
judgment, not willing to be carried away
by any idle sentiment or deluded by false
claims. 1t is to be hoped that the conyen-
ton will fully appreciate the high duty
which now rests upon the Democracy Of
this circuit in the matter of the judgeship.
and act accordingly.
This county will, of course, send dele
cation in favor of our honored fellow citi-
zen, Hon. John W. Mitchell The TINES
has heretofore expressed its opinion as to
Mr.. Mltchell's eminent fitness for the iu-
dicial Office, and the emiDence of his quail
fications have never, in any quarter been
called in question. We earnestly hope
that Mr.. Mitchell will receive the nomi-
nation by the convention at Marlboro,
because, in the light of all the information
we can get from every source, We believe
he is at once the most highly qualified
lawyer in the circuit for the judgeship, and
the most available candidate for the posi-
ton.