The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-11-19
The Election Of Judges.

| luc EtectlOn OI Judges.
The joint assembly for the election OF
| judges was held in representatives hall Fri
| day forenoon. Lieutenant-governor Orms-
bee presided and Secretary OF State Porter
acted as clerk. The gallery, lobby and CEN
trail aisle were filed with ladies and gentle
men, among whom were Governor and Mrs.
| Pingree, Hon. and Mrs. w. III. Dubois Hon.
/ Charles Dewey, Hon. Bliss N Davis of
Danville, Rev. s. w. Dixie of Royalton,
Hon. Justus Dart Of Springfield, and many
members of the bar from all parts of the
| state.
| CHIEF JUDGE.
Mr.. Dillingham; of Waterbury said that at
| the annual meeting Of the Bar Association
he was much interested in the annual adj
dress OF the president, Hon. b. f. Fified,
upon the judicial tenure of office. In that
it was shown that in all the New England
states except in Maine and Vermont, the
tenure was for life But here in Vermont.
although the judges are elected for only two
years, nevertheless we had been in the
habit of continuing our judges in Office year
after year, so that the time was substan-
TALLY for life. He nominated Hon. Homer
e. Royce of st. Adams, whom he eulogized
as an able, honest and learned judge. He
trusted he would be reelected unanimously
Judge Royce's nomination was seconded by
Mr. Stranahan of st. Adams, Mr.. Fletcher
of Essex, Mr.. Needham of Leicester, Mr..
Pilling of Bennington, Mr.. Fisk of Isle La
Motto and Mr. Abel of West Haven Mr.
Glover of Groton nominated Hon. Jonathan
Ross OF st. Johnsbury. Senator Hobson of
Essex and Mr.. Fairman of Fairfax sec
onded his nomination. Senator Ide of
Caledonia said that he was authorized by
Judge Ross to say that he was not a candi-
date for the Office of chief Judge, and that
his nomination for the office was entirely
without his consent. He should have the
pleasure of presenting his name for the first
assistant judgeship in few minutes He
then made a strong speech in behalf of
Judge Royce and in favor of a permanent
judiciary. He said that if it came to
be understood that at every session of
the legislature attacks were to be made
on the judges, no respectable and sef-re-
speeding gentleman would take the office
The charges against Judge Royce were un-
true and had been proven to be untrue He
was an honor to the state and his loss from
the bench would be deplorable Mr.. Stick
ney of Bethel referred to the charges made
against Judge Royce and said that his in
tegrity and purity had been vindicated by
the fairest and most searching test known
trial by jury. A jury of his peers, unpreju-
diced and intelligent, had convicted the
slanderer and found after fair and impair
tial trial that the judge was innocent. That
ought to be enough. But further, if there
was any ground for the charges, he believed
that his associates upon the bench would
not sustain him as they do now, and hone.
one and all, that he will continue upon the
bench. 1t was the duty of the legislature
to re-eect Judge Royce, for he deserved it,
He most heartily seconded his nomination
Mr.. Dearborn of Vershire, in behalf of the
eight democrats of Orange, cheerfully united
with the eleven republicans of Orange
county, and gave all their votes for Judge
Royce. This statement was received with
applause Mr.. Kentield of Hyde Park, Rev
t. A. Hopkins of South Burlington and
Major Josiah Grout of Derby seconded
VIHn E,,11
ter said that his constituents had told him
that If he allowed Judge Royce to be kicked
out he need not 90 back there. He lived in
Manchester and he hoped the joint assem-
bly, would fix it so that he could go back. |
This sally was received with loud laugh
ter. Senator Mott of Grand Isle said that
Judge Royce had held court in Grand
Isle county for many years, and he knew
that every citizen of the county wished
for his reelection. Mr.. Bailey Of New
bury, in behalf of the republicans of Or
ange county, seconded the nomination of
Judge Royce. Judge Thompson advocated |
the reelection OF Judge Royce as a duty the |
state owed to its public servants. Judge |
Thompson drew most mournful picture of |
the good things which a man sacrificed |
when he went upon the bench. So lugu-
brious was it, in fact that every one won
dered that the judge should have any aspira- |
tons for such place himself. He evil |
IDENTIFY sought martyrdom with open eyes
Mr.. Clark OF Halifax said that judge, like |
Caesars wife, should be above suspicion. |
The people Of his section agreed with him, |
and the test was fatal to Judge Royce. He |
believed that the honor and good name of |
the state demanded the defeat OF Judge |
Royce. He said that Judge Royce had per- !
sonal enemies among the members of the |
bar of Franklin county. Could he try cases |
impartially in which those were counsel? |
He would be more than human if he |
could. The opinion OF large majority of |
people of Windham county was against |
Judge Royce. Mr.. Hubbard of Burlington
Fairfax again spoke against Judge Royce.
He said that the majority of the people of
Franklin county were against the re-elec-
ton of Judge Royce. For years, he said,
Judge Royce had been on trial by the peo-
pie of that county. They had conferred
honors upon him all his life, and they had
lost confidence in him. The decisive trial
was on the last freemen's meeting day,
and the verdict was against Judge Royce.
The matter had been carefully considered
and investigated by them, and their de-
cision should be respected by the freemen
OF the other counties. He wouldn't do a
thing knowingly to injure Judge Royce, but
he had duty to perform, and that duty
made him vote for man that stood upright
with unblemished character and great abil-
ity and learning-Judge Ross. Major Grout
warned the general assembly against the
specous eloquence of Mr.. Fairman. He
said that the verdict of Franklin county was
POLITICAL the verdict OF Orleans county was
Judicial. Senator Ide said that all the coun-
ties but Franklin were eminently satisfied
with Judge Royce. He sympathized with
Franklin county, but the solution was per-
fectly easy. Let the legislature provide that
Judge Royce should not sit in Franklin
county. The rest of the state wanted him,
and it should have him. In regard to the
idea that judge should be above the reach
Of Islander, where was the man so high that
could be beyond it? Mr.. Butterfeld of Will
mington said that the present clamor against
the chief judge had arisen mainly because
he had administered the law impartially
and utterly untrammeled by prejudice and
This statement was applauded.
He said he should be false to his oath if he
failed to record his opinion that Judge Royce
should be reelected. The chair appointed
Senators Idle and Hobson, Messrs billing
ham, Glover and Grout 10 be tellers. The
result OF the balloting was:
Whole number of votes cast.
.or choice'
Homer Il. Royce had ...,,...................lbO |
Jonhlhah MOSS hhu ,;'.,..'.'..,.........s.,.U
III. Henry Powers had. |
Johathan heunelu'' '''''.........'.....,....!
james barrett, ..,,..,....,................l
And there were seven blank votes. The |