The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-09-19
JUDGE EDWIN MAXWELL.
Sketch of the Career o.; thu Peoples Candi.
tintS for Governor .rA

JUDGE EDWIN MAXWELL,
sketch of the Career OF thu Peoples Candi.
tintO for Governor. rt
Edwin Maxwell, the Peoples candidate
for Governor OF West Virginia, is somc-
thing more than fifty years OF age, having
been born at Weston, Lewis county. Ills
father was a house carpenter, and in his
trade he brought up his son. While still
in boyhood he removed with his parents
to farm in Lewis county, where he re-
manned till after he attained his majority,
diversifying his work as carpenter by
performing duties incident to resi-
dence upon = farm. Lewis Maxwell,
Esq, his father, still lives on the farm,
having reached the ripe old age OF aG
years, and is respected and honored bv all
who know him.. After, young Maxwell
came OF age he began the study OF Law
prepared ior it only by such pron,iscuors,
and we may say mcager reading us he had
been able to accomplish in tliinly settled
rural district in slave State. Receiving
his license in 1852 he located in West
Union, Doddridsc county, and began the
practice OF law. za
Ills Law CAREER. -.
In 1857 he removed to Clarksbur. and
formed 4 law copartnership with Colonel
Burton Despard, whicl, lasted until 1865,
when General \. Goir, ir., the present
member OF Congress from this district,
was added to the firm, and it was contin-
ucd until 1867, under the firm nume OF
DesparL, Maxwell (: GoiI, when Maxwell
was elected to the bench OF the Supreme
Court OF Appeals, and since his retire
ment from that position he has continued
the practice OF the law ut Clarksburg.
Ever since the formation OF West Vir-
.inia Judge Maxwell has been 4 central
figure in It's politics. Always active in the
interests OF his native State its citizens
here stood ready to testify their apprecia.
ton OF his activity. 30 Gf
FIJI Ills POLITICAL CAREER. ST K ~
In 1868 he was elected State Senator
IRON the Ciarksburs district. In 1864 he
was returned to that body serving through
both terms as Chairman OF the Committee
on Judiciary. Early in 1866 Senator Max
well was appointed to the vacant Attor-
ncy-Genera!ship and filled that position
with distinction till his y elevation
to the Supreme Bench the same year
Judge Maxwell remained upon the Su-
preme bench until 1876 when by the OPP
cration OF the new constitution he was re-
placed by Il Democrat. Retiring to Clarks-
burg he has since continued in the prac-
tice OF his profession. At the earnest re-
quest OF 4 large majority OF his party in
1850 he consented to again make the run
for position on the Supreme bench but
this time he, as well is the others ON the
ticket, was defeated.
As Il justice OF the Supreme Court Judge
Maxwell became very popular with
members OF the bar irrespective OF politics
on account OF the conciseness and per
spicuity OF his opinions and the great in.
dustry he showed in their preparation
Judge Maxwell has always manifested Il
repugnance to holding office, and this re.
pugnance was always overcome with grea,
difficulty.
ss THE REAssESSMEST ACT.
Judge Maxwell has always maintained
that the exemption law is constitutions
both in letter and spirit. He also insists
that the power OF taxation resides onlyi in
the Legislature and thatthc supplemental
assessment order by the Governor is in
the face OF the exemption law. and in fla
grant violation OF the Constitution, and i.
the only exercise OF the Executive power o
taxation known since the Declaration O
Independence. Judge Maxwell also hold:
that the ruling OF the Supreme Court sane
,ioniug the power OF the Executivet to is
SHE such m order and holding that subal
terms must obey it, whether constitutional
or not, is long step toward Imperialism.
Both rs n citizen and an eiiiLicnt Judge
Maxwell has shown himself to be thor
oughly in sympathy with the people
Coming from them he has always believed
that the masses arc instinctivcly right
He can be safely trusted in all the issue.
ehccting the State involved in this cam
paign. He is now, and always has been
\ intensely hostile to running the State in
s,itutions, the Insane Asylum, the Uni
vcrsity, the Asylum for the Deaf, Duml
and Blind, in the interest Of any party
which will ultimate in their destruction.
Judge Maxwell's letter OF acceptance i
y very able document and has been gen
orally admired. Referring to the sins O
omission OF the Democratic party in thi
State he says: "One other thing, is tn
running OF the Hospital for tho Insane a
: Weston, in the interest Of party, when
ought to DC run solely for the benefit 9
tho unfortunate, humanity within it. ;l,5sy:
Another thing is the running oi!th
University in the interest OF party. "a.
/ Another thing is the failure to enact
/ suAicientlawto protect mines and miners.
( Judge Maxwell in this connection ais
holds that when the same court, at leas
: two OF whose judges were commissions
, by the same Executive in n proceedin
against a newspaper editor for daring t
$ comment on the action OF the court in s,l.
, .aining the Executive, overrode and Dc
y - ~ i 4 ~ e. :,