Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-17

w '"c representatives, OF the judicial cir
su' We're against Senator Rarnes Mr.
i,'sgs declared that he was a member ~
tne ear OF that circuit, although ne aid
nor I'VE In the district. and he had seen
senator Barnes meet some OF the ahlest
'"NSsts pefore II. These dlstinguished
'neinpers OF the legal profession had
'e"eu " petition, asking for the nominal
WI, uon ol inc gentlemen whose name he
had presented II was almoa, conceded
mat the Peninsula was entitled 10 this
Judge. ~ ''''7
NhCOSNlZED BLACKSTONE'S
ABILITY.
Mr.. Saunders seconded the nomination
Of Judge Blackstone. The delegate fron
FRANKLIN said he was member OF the
Legislature at the time when Judge
BLACKSTONE was chairman OF the Senate
committee on Courts OF Justice. and he
'ner recognized the ability OF the latter,
WIN whom he was frequently brought in
contact There We're certain considera-
IONS IN respect 10 the selection OF a
judge for this circuit that made II best
to elect Judge Blackstone 10 the position.
II should be borne in mind that while I'm
the great majority of cases. the Judge
went TO the people: yet there We're ex-
ceptions when the lawyer was compelled
member than when the Legislature
sought to abolish the Tenth Circuit. over
which the late Judge Barton presided, the
point had been made that such action
would greatly Inconvenience the PEOPLE
IN the counties composing that dis i t.
IL should naturally suggest itself 20 the
caucus that II the judgeship was given
to the western portion Of the district TN
der consideration, the people of Acco-
mac and Northampton would be placed
at great disadvantage when necessity
arose for an injunction or other writ
In cases where immediate action was
demanded as they would have to cross
the bay. The same condition would not
exist on the western side If the Eastern
Shore was given the judgeship. however
for the former would have recourse TO the
Corporation Court OF Newport News. The
man the caucus should select for this
high position, declared Mr.. Saunders. in
conclusion. was Judge Blackstone, CT the
county Of Accomac.
BOTH MEN OF ABILITY.
Senator Munford seconded the nomina-
tion of Senator Barnes. 1t seemed, ne
said. that the State was to have a man
Of ability no matter who was nominated,
and for that the Commonwealth was TO
be congratulated. The honor OF the
judgeshp. however, had been held Tor
fourteen years uninterruptedy by the
Eastern Shore. and therefore he thought
it was time that the western side should
receive it.
BLACKSTONE Is NOMINATED.
Nominations were then closed and the
vote was taken. which resulted in the
choice of Judge Blackstone by a vote Oh
50 to 30 Upon motion of Mr.. Powell, the
nomination was made unanimous. Ihe
vote was recorded as follows:
For Blackstone-Me ssrs. Allen, Barley
Barksdale. Bauseman, Blakey, George [.
Bland. Boaz. Booker Boykin, browning
~. J. Campbell. Cooke. Craig, Duke
Early. Embrey, Fairfax. Fitzpatrick
Flood. Foster. Galleher, Garnett HICKS
Jackson. Jones. LeCato Matthews, w. II.
Mann. Mason, Maynard, Montague, MOT
ris. Murphy. Mushbach, Palmer, pass
more. Pitcher. Ryan, Sayers. Settle
Charles Smith j. p. Smith, Steele StuoDs'
Thomas. Turnbull, {. II. Walker, Wat
kins. Wexford. Wharton. Willard, D. W.
Williams. and w. G. Williams-5S
For Barnes essrs. Anderson, Blake
more. Chaplin. Churchman, Clement
Diggs Elswick. Hale. Hartley, Hatcher
c. II. Jennings. Kane Kizer, Massie
Muuford. Opie. Parker. Powell. Quesen-
berry. Reddy Sands. Snead, Southall, St
Clair. Surgener. Switzer G. NJ. Wallace
Watson. Wickham, and Wilson-SO
SKETCH OF THE NOMINEE.
Judee John w. G.. Blackstone. the nomi-
nee of the caucus. was born at Accomac
Courthouse. October 3, 1853. At the age
of 16 he entered Roanoke College. gradu-
ating from that institution the session OF
lg75-'76 first i'm his class and at the same
time the youngest In the fall Of 1876
he entered the University OF Virginia,
from which he was graduated with the
degree of Bachelor of Law in july, 1881.
He Immediately entered upon the prac-
tice of his profession at Accomac Court
house. but was in 1885 elected 10 repre-
sent the Eastern Shore in the Senate.
where he served eight years being re-
elected in 1889. While i'm the Senate he
was for three terms chairman of the Com
mittee on Courts Of Justice. having been
appointed to this high position before he
was % years Of age. and as chairman no
mans opinion on legal questions Carried
more weight in that body than Judge
Blackstone's. In 1898 he was defeated
after a heated contest for the attorney
generalship by Major r.. Taylor Scott.
He was national delegate to the Chicago
Convention, and as such, one of the origl-
nal supporters of Bryans nomination.
Twice has he carried into the First Dis
trict conventions the unanimous support
of his county for Congress. Upon the
resignation Of Judge John w. Gillet ian
uncle and distinguished jurist, for whom
Judge Blackstone was named he was
amounted by G1<ernor O'Ferrall as Judge
of the County Court OF Accomac, to which
position he was elected without opposi-
ton by the present Legislature.
Judge Blackstone is deservedly popular
among his own people, who have attested
their appreciation of his worth by the
ardor and enthusiasm with which they
have supported him during his present
candidacy His elevation to this more
important judgeship is just recognition
of his merit as jurist.
VIM Entertain the District Con-