Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1884-09-27

uluaIe LOT Governor OF w est v II
ginia, is something more than fifty
years OF age, having been born at
Weston, Lewis County. His father
was a house carpenter, and in his
trade he brought up his son. While
still i'll boyhood he removed his pa
rents to farm in Lewis County,
where he remained till after he
attained his majority, diversifylng
his work as carpenter by perform
ing duties incident to a residence
upon a farm. Lewis Maxwell, Esq,
his father, still lives on the farm,
having reached the ripe old age of96
years, and is respected and honored
by all who know him. After young
Maxwell came of age he began the
study Of law-prepared for it only
by such promiscuous, and we may
say meager reading as he had been
able to accomplish in thinly settled
rural district in slave State. Re
ceiving his license in 1852 he located
in West Union, Doddridge County,
and began the practice of law.
HIS LAW CAREER.
In 1857 he removedtO Clarksburg
and formed a law co-partnership
with Colonel Burten Despard, which
lasted until 1865, when General n.
Golf, Jr., the present member of
Congress from this district, and it
was continued until 1867, under the
firm name of Despard, Maxwell &
Golf, when elected to the bench of
Supreme Courtof Appeals, and since
his retirement from that position he
has continued the practice of the
law at Clarksburg.
Ever since the formation Of West
Virginia Judge Maxwell has been a
central figure in its politics. Always
active in the interests of his native
State, it's citizens here stood ready
to testify their appreciation Of his
activity.
HIS POLITICAL CAREER.
In 1868 he was elected State Sena.
tor from the Clarksburg district. In
1864 he was returned to that body
serving through both terms as Chair
man of the Committee on Judiciary.
Early in 1866 Senator Maxwell was
appointed to the vacant Attorney
Generalship and filed that position
with distinction till his elevation to
the Supreme Bench the same year.
Judge Maxwell remained upon the
Supreme bench until 1876 when
by the operation of the constitution
he was replaced by Democrat.
Retiring to Clarksburg he has since
continued in the practice of his pro
fession. At the earnest request of a
large majority of his party in 1880 he
consented to again make the run for
position on the Supreme bench
but this time he, as well as the others
OH the ticket, was defeated,
As Judge of the Supreme Court
Judge Maxwell became very popular
with members of the bar irrespective
of politics on account of the concise
ness and perspfcuity of his opinions
and the great industry he showed in
their preparation. Judge Maxwell
has always manifested a repugnance
to holding office, and thisrepugnance
was always overcome with great
difficulty.
THE REASSESSMENT ACT.
Judge Maxwell has always main
tanned that the exemption law is
constitutional both in letter and
spirit. He also insists that the power
of taxation resides only in the Legis-
lature and the supplemental assess
ment order the Governor is in the
face ofthe exemption law and in fla
grant violation of the Constitution,
and is the only exercises of the Ex-
ecutiye power of taxation known
since the Declaration of Indepen.
dence. Judge Maxwell also holds
that the ruling of the Supreme Court
sanctioning the power of the Execu-
tive to issue such an order and hold
ing that subalterns must obey it,
whether constitutional or not, is a
long step toward Imperialism.
Both as a citizen and an efficient
Judge, Maxwell has shown himself
to be thoroughly in sympathy with
the people. Coming from them he
has always believed the masses are
iustinctively right. He can be safe
ly trusted in all the issues effecting
the State involved in this campaign.
He is now, and always has been,
Intensely hostile to running the State
institutions, the Insane Asylum, the
University. the Asylum for the Deaf,
Dumb and Blind, in the interest Oh
any party, which win ultimate IN
their destruction. s.