The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-09-04
THE JUDICIAL CONVENTION.
Hon. Edward Stake, of Washington,
Gets the Nomination for Judge.

Gets the Nomination for Judge.
The Fourth Judicial District
nominating convention convened in
the court house in Oakland We'd
nesday morning to nominate a can
didate for Associate Judge.
The circuit embraces Garrett, AL
legany and Washington counties,
and upon the death of Judge Syes-
ter last winter Col. II. Kyd Doug
las was appointed by Gov. Jackson
to fill the vacancy until the election
this fall.
BY designation of the State Cen
trail Committee, Edward 4. Sollars,
chairman eff the state committee for
Garrett county, called the conven-
ton to order. A temporary organ
ization was effected by the selection
of Hon. VIM. j. Read, of Allegany,
for chairman, and Percy IL, Veitch,
Of Garrett, for secretary.
Upon motion the formality of a
committee on credentials was dis
pensed with and the temporary or
ganizatiOn was made permanent.
f. f. McComas, of Washington,
j. B. Stottlemeyer, Of Allegany,
and A. L. Gnagey, of Garrett, were
unanimously chosen as yice-presi-
dents of the convention.
Nominations for candidates be-
ing next in order, Mr.. Albert
Small, of the Hagerstown bar, arose
and said:
MIR. CHAIRMAN:-We are ASSEMBLED here,
charged by majority OF the citizens of the
three western counties of this State, with the
most important political duty which our re-
publican form of government can impose
upon any of its subjects. We are charged, as
the representatives of the Republican party,
and the dominant party in the district as
well, with the duty and responsibility of Sc
| Letting, as the candidate of that party, for
the most important office in our civil organi-
| Zation-one in whose behalf we may with
full assurance, and upon every ground de-
| mand the support not only of the members
of our own party, but OF all to whom the jul
uISlil oluSC 10, hhoU II OuShb W uSi PittSO
| above the parizanship of mere political af-
| fliation.
We may not look lightly and from mere
| party point of view, upon the Obligation
| which rests upon us: for we must notice,
first. that it Is of the very essence of Rdpub-
| licanism that fitness is the indispensable test
| and ratification for official prefermeht; and
next, that, as from every basis of calculation,
we are representatives fthe greater, numer-
ically, of the two great contending parties.
we may not, as the minority may, choose
candidate from motives of expediency only.
In such estimate of our duty, the questions
press themselves upon us: What is the char
acter of the office we seek to fill and what
manner of man shall we present?
The Constitution of the State, in creating
the Judiciary Department, and prescribing
the duties and functions of the office. fixes
certain limitations of citizenship and age
as qualifications in the incumbents, and then
provides further: THE judges Shall
be selected from those who have been admit
ted to practice law in this State, and who
are most distinguished for integrity, wisdom
and sound legal knowledge"
TO this Constitutional declaration of the
character of the judicial Office, as a most
elaborate expression of judicial character
and qualification may properly be added the
estimate of it given by one of the ablest, pur-
est and most learned of all the judges who
have ever adorned the office in any land:
Before these tribunals, the property, the
reputation, the rights and liberties, and above
all, the life of every individual citizen of the
commonwealth are subjects of decision. On
the inileXible integrity, the profound knowl-
edge, and strict impartiaIity of the judges.
ho are arbiters in these courts, rests every
thing which is dear to us in life, and which
can effect us with pith posterity; everything
which is honorable in character or valuable
in enjoyment; in one word, everything which
renders society a blessing and secures its
continuance.
at is of the last importance that judges
shall be elevated above the hope of reward,
the influence of affection, or The fear of CEN
sure. They should be placed as refuge and
protection in times of political heat, beyond
the necessity of bending to the changes of
those times, in order to gather favor or avert
calamity. They should be beyond even the
temptation of accommodating the law to
present purposes, and. by gratifying ambi-
ton OF interest, to break down the rules that
7'''iN vi IIOpcTiy ana the safety OF
rights"
In such a view of the character, dignity
ana grave Importance of the Ctiice, it may he
well to ask: What manner of man Shall we
present?
Our political organization, for the proper
conduct of public affairs and the procure
m"nt of the welfare of the people necessi-
tales popular selection OF our judicial officers:
for public well-being Involves not only the
maintenance and enforcement of those alb
stract principles of justice which are COM
mon 20 all ages and to every form of govern
ment, but all the more those principles of
Jurisprudence which are the outcome and de-
auctions from experience, through more than
century, of the organized life of that IRE
public which first trod the paths of empire"
and taught the world the pre-. eminent value
of government of the people, by the people,
for the people,
Our judicial officers are. therefore, chosen
by the people, and from the people. or ne
cessity they must be learned in the law-not
in an abstract conception of it as the state
mcnts OF the principles of Jurisprudence
only but in the principles of law as a work.
ing force; in systematizing and consolida-
ting public sentiment and public desire for