The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-07-12
SATURDAY. JULY -. 1890.
.IrcAL ENDORSEMENT.

Tho meeting OF the city bar, held on Thurs
dav. 10 recommend Judge of.the ChancerY
Cour, 10 the appointing power. was timely
and appropriate. The position OF chan
cellor. LEFT vacant by the death OF the Jusl
Fi,zbugh. is the most important judicial
office IN the Commonwealth. In this cour'
are administered vast trusts and petty
estates. the affairs Of the millionaire ana
the pensiener. Here the orphan ana
the widow find protector, and here infancy
and arc are alike secured from the grasp oil
ayarice and Jealousy.
While every resident Of this city, and
thousands without. are or may be person
ally interested in having night admiuls-
tration Of this 50 important office, none are
more competent 60 advise the Executive
than those members Of the bar who Dan!
appear in advocacy Of the rights OF clients
before this court, and who, therefore, have
every opportunity Of knowing, not only the
ability. but also the integrity, purity ard
fidelity ofeyery lawyer who appears therein
The Governor did well while considering
the appointment TO ask the expression OF
the city Bar; and any one who witnessed
the meeting at which the appointment was
considered must have been impressed by
the action taken and the manner in when
the work was done.
While THE TIMES had only the interest
which every citizen has in the appointment
10 secure the best man, the language used
by one OF the speakers was peculiarly ap-
propriate. and bespoke the high sense OF
the honor Of the profession, when express
ing the sentiment ''that there was no candi-
date worthy OF the honorable position to
which many aspired, who was afraid to
submit his qualification TO the opinion OF
his brethren"
The qualities that make judge are moi
found in every great lawyer. Therefore, 1t Is
that the general public might often be mis-
taken in supposing that the lawyer OF most
reputation, or with the most lucrative and
extensive clientage. the best person to be
elevated TO the bench. The qualities that
render lawyer great at the Bar often I'M
pede upon the Bench.
OF course there are many requisites COM
mon TO both positions, such as honesty, en-
ergy and courage; but the patience, the
weighing and balancing Of both sides Of a
question, the labored and well-djgested
opinions so necessary in the judge, are by
no means essential 10 the practitioner,
while the wit, pathos, eloquence, brilliancy
and self-confdence so potent in the lawyer
are too often out Of place on the bench.
"When wit takes the judge.
LearnIng's a drudgeW
That the Governor was influenced in the
admirable appointment which he has made
by the action of the city Bar is reasonable;
and it is a compliment TO the honorable
profession from which Judge Leake has
been appointed that all who were appli-
cants for the position should have been will
ling to take the opinion If their fellows as
20 the most suitable appointee, and thus
save TO the Governor much Of the labor
and yexation incident to filling an office TO
which so many good men aspire.
The Richmond Bar has always been re-
markable for the representative position
that il occupied in the community, and It is
believed that so long as that spirit shall
prevail which actuated it in regard to the
appointment Just made by the Governor 1t
will be entitled TO the confidence and
esteem Of all good men.