The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-06-29

the power that gave the justices
official life; and we have seen judg-
ships created and appointments
made in Texas, that governor
might the more successfully crafty
personal ambition. An appointed
judiciary should hold place during
life or good behavior, being respons-
ible alone to the people, answerable
to them alone through impeach-
ment and trial by the legis-
lsture. With a Judiciary ap-
pointed for life, 1t would be i'm
possible for any governor to con-
troll enough appointments to give
aid to his personal ambition. Then,
too, an appointed judiciary should
be selected alone from the unpoliti-
cal walks of life, from the purely
legal. What we have predicted of
an elective judiciary is becoming
more apparent with every election.
In the first election for state judicial
officers, under the present constitu-
ton, the evil was not discernable, for,
by common consent, it was under
stood that the supreme court should
remain about as it was already con-
stituted. At the Dallas convention
a charge was made, and whether it
be true or not, and the STATESMAN
thinks it may be true, the impress
sion was rather forcibly conveyed
that even judicial offices are obtain
able through wire-pulling and trad
ing. Whether this statement be
true as to the case at Dal-
las, where it is said a
candidate for a state Office was de-
fested in trade, made and executed,
between the friends of another can
didate for the same place and those
of a judicial candidate, still it is
believed, and thus reflection was
cast upon the judiciary. What
occurred then is to be attempted, we
fear, on a larger scale at Galveston.
1t is known that a most active can
vass is being made in favor of at
least two of the justices of the high
state courts, and that there are
other candidates most actively
working in moulding sentiment in
their favor. The eagerness with
which men announce, all over the |
state, for these judicial places, is
alarming, when it is supposable that
many of them will go to Galveston
prepared, if opportunity permit, to
trade and pull for preferment.
We are prepared to say that
there are judges who would not
descend to the plans discussed, that
there. may be real candidates who
would not barter for place, that
there are those who would scorn to
engage in moulding public senti-
ment, who would scorn to sell influ-
ence among delegates IN convention;
but there are those who might, it
is feared, do otherwise. 1t has
been held, lately, by lawyers prac-
ticing before these courts, that by po-
litical favor to justices, before whom
appeal is made for judicial decision,
lawyers hope to influence such de-
cision by log-rolling in the counties
where the lawyers have influence.
We do not pretend to assert that any
such influence has been exerted, but
it has been considered, and no one
can say that such practices never
produce the desired effect. We have
heard, too, that in at least one
congressional district the friends
of congressional candidate
have attempted to arrange with
those of judicial candidate for mu-
tual favor. There, likewise, are two
for these judicial positions
whose political histories have been
burdened with trades, and these
come in contact with at least one
man, now on the bench, who would
see his right hand removed before
he would trade or even canvass for
position. One judge retires, as it is
because he will not
descend to present modes required
for securing place. Certainly there
is reason for alarm. Certainly here
is a crying demand for modes to be
changed. Evidence accumulates
that the Judiciary may be composed
of men who may be governed
by political influences, damaging
to the judiciary. The judiciary
should be guarded against all re-
proach. 1t is the ultima thule of
social liberty, for>when the courts
become corrupt, or when they are
subjected to base influences, derived
by nomination or at the ballot box,
they will have lost their influence
for good. Popular respect for
the judiciary should be preserved, ..
and the most direct way in.which
his may be-doneis to change the con-
making the judiciary ap-
pointive. Then, too, another change I
N the constitution should be effected
No governor should be allowed to
hold Office for more than two sue /