The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1882-04-08
QleA1toplt::; 4 ol''n'"
THE JUDGESHIP.
A Letter from DR.. Mitchell.

To THE EDITOR OF THE CECII WIG:
Two articles published during the present
week, one in The Cecil Coupty Vars. I'll"
other in the Wilmington Ecery Ers"ing,
seem to require some notice from me.
These articles raise the question us tn
what took place i'll an interview between
MI Constable and myself III regard tn the
approaching nomination for the judi &c
ship. and make it proper that | should
state what TRANSFERRED between us in that
interview. Much as | dislike TO be drawn
into Il newspaper controversy. justice to
myself and to Judge Stump requires. that
the facts should be stated and given the
same publicity as has been given to the
incorrect statements contained i'll the ar
ticles referred to. Among the many mis-
statements contained in these articles,
shall only refer to one or two matters.
First. as to the interview between Mr..
Constable and myself, Mr.. Constable is
represented as saying that the interview
was at my solicitation. This is not true
He came Of his own accord to my office
un the Friday evening preceding court
week, last month, and commenced the
conversation by referring to his late visit
to Philadelphia to consult DR.. Pepper as
to his health. He said he feared that he
would not be able to enter again upon the
practice of his profession. but would be
compelled to seek some other employ
ment. and that for these reasons he had
concluded to be a candidate for the Judge
ship: that he regretted being placed in
the position of opposing Judge Stump
for the nomination. but that with him it
was a case of necessity. The sincerity
of tins statement | doubted at the time.
as | had heard that he had been endeav
oring to induce Mr.. W. 5. Evans to be a
candidate for the position. He said that
he would not be a candidate for the Con-
gressional nomination this Fail, as there
was no probability that the candidate
would be taken from Cecil county, and
that it would not pay: and will state
III this connection that it has been gener
ally conceded that if Mr.. Constable had
desired I. delegation from this county t.
the Congressional Convention this Fall.
he could have secured it without opposi-
ton.
He said. as 10 the Judge Shir. he
would talk with some Of the politicians
of the county, who would be i'll Ellton
during the approaching term Of court.
and that he would see me again on the
subject, he further said that if his health
improved. lie might decline to enter into
the contest for the nomination for the
Judgeship. As he got up to leave. he re-
marked that he intended to be a compe
titor for Gov. Grcome's place in the | nj
tea States Senate next year. and that he
was opposed to any delegation going to
the judicial convention. calculated to give
Groome any advantage over him in that
Ia
any one who would not pledge him self tn
oppose Grnumr i'll the tail of 1882. To
tins | replied. Il will see about that -
BY this remark, | did not mean that
wuuld see Mr.. Constable again in regard
to the pledge which he proposed to exact
us condition of his support. | never for
Il moment entertained the proposition. or
| had any idea of bargaining with him for
the purpose Of securing Judge Stump S
nomination, however much | desired it,
| In this fully concur i'll the reply made
by Judge Stump when he was approach
ed on the same subject. and | would not
have been guilty OF the folly of making Il
pledge which would have the effect of
making at least, one half OF the Demo-
cratic party inmical to Judge Stump
II was evidently the object of Mr.
Constable to exact from Judge Stump
and myself a pledge that We would sup
port him in 1888, i'll his attempt to make
himself the successor of Gov. Groomc in
the I. ;. Senate, in return tor promise
on his part to refrain from opposing
Judge Stump. This was the whole tenor
of his conversation: and so far as could
judge, he seemed to have no other object
in view. Judge Stump and myself, with
out consultation with each other, declined
the entangling alliance, and preferred
that he (the judge should ask for his
denomination without re terence to the
question Of the Senatorship. with which
we considered it had no connection
| have given above Il correct statement
of what took place between Mr.. Consta-
BILE and myself, at the only interview We
mad i'll reference to the nomination of the
Judgeship
| am satisfied that Judge Stump is
nearly the unanimous choice of the party
i'll the lower counties Of this judicial Cir
cult. and but for the opposition to his
nomination which has been raised by Mr..
Constable, and which has been prompted
by his failure to exact terms from Judge
Stump and his friends in regard to the
Senatorship, | am sure he would have
ment of his party i'll this county.
As to the present controversy between
Senator Groome and Mr.. Constable,
have at no time had part or lot in it, and
have always been opp sed to it's being
drawn into our party politics.
The article ia the C,rU C1HBty .Ncrx,
makes reference to the defeat of Mr..
Alexander Hriscoc in ISIS. and insinuatcs
that fhic SIIlt in
tributed to me. This insinuation is wholly
without foundation, in fact, Mr.. Briscoe
knows, that after the nomination assur-
ed him of my earnest support. and it is
well known to those who make these in
situations that | labored for the success
of the whole ticket, and made special eff
forts for Mcs.is. Briscoe and Miller. whose
opponents We're two Of the most popular
men i'll Cecil county, who had been sue
cesstul candidates in former campaigns.
If after giving Mr.. Briscoc the assurance
| did, he and his friends believe the false
accuse tions that have been made against
me III regard to that contest. nothing that
| can say or do will be likely to change
their opinions on the subject In conclu-
sion | will merely state, had it not been
ior the tactlous opposition of Mr. ConSta
bic to the nomination of Judge Stump.
or place that he, Constable--did II It
himself desire, and which no other Dem
.'crat of the county was seeking, there
not have won d been any contest in the
county this tail-aS Mr. Constable could
have had the Congressional delegation
without opposition, had he SO desired.
II. II. MiTCHELL.
ELton. iprH :. 1885,!