Year: 1872

Marshall and Williamson.


FELLOW CITIZENS =


On the first Thursday in August
the duty devoIves upon you of elect
ing a Judge to hold your Criminal
Court. The Office is one of great
Importance, and only one consider
alton should influence your vote,
and that is to select that person
who is best qualified to dis
charge its responsible duties.
! At the solicitation of many
friends, and among them the mem
bers Of the Bar at Columbia and
Pulaski, 1 accepted of .he appoint
ment from the Governor; and the
manner in which I have discharged
its duties is for you to judge,


Since the announcement of my
name as a candidate 1 have been
confined to the Court Room or sick
chamber. I have had no opportu-
nifty Of riding through the counties
and forming and cultivating your
acquaintance. This has been mis-
Understood by some, and misrepre-
sented by others, into Indifference
on my part. 1 have had, and viii
have, no opportunity of correcting
this misrepresentation. I shall
never neglect the duties Of the of
fee so generously rendered me by
the Governor of the State, or be
forgetful of the claims of q sick
family, for any office; nor can I yet
believe that the Judgship Of a
Criminal Court, in which is involved
.he lives and liberties Of the citi-
zens, can only be reached by resort
ing to a system Of electioneering,
which would have met with such
little favor in the prouder and bet
ter days Of the Republic. The
peace and repose of society depends
upon the respect of the people for
the Law, and that respect can only
be commanded by such an able,
faithful and impartial administra-
tion as will inspire confidence in the
courts.


Among the many personal friends
which I trust I have in this Judi
cial district, and whose friendship
is as "dear to me as light and life, .
yet I hope that none of them will
lend me their support from personal
feelings or personal considerations.


No, fellow-citizens, you have too
much at stake. This Office is held
for six years, and you should be
careful and cautious as to the per
son whom You select to fill it. ..


For over thirty years I have
been practicing law in this circuit.
l think 1 know the qualifications Of
a Judge; whether I possess them
Is Tot you tC decide


lie should be a man Of unques-
toned integrity, whom neither per
sonaI feelings or political prejudice
could sway or move. He should be
a man of acknowledged legal abili- !
ty. It is great mistake to suppose
that any one can administer or ca
silly learn the Criminal Law. OF all |
the offices, it is the last one that
should be trusted to incompetent
hands. The consequences of a
mistake are too serious. It may |
be the means of the guilty esca-
ping, or the innocent being pan
ished.


He should be a man Of energy and /
industry. who will press through |
the business of the court.


And lastly, he should administer
the law with that firmness which |
will inspire confidence in the vir
tuous and honest and law abiding
citizens, that the supremacy Of the !
law will be maintained, and strike |
terror in the hearts Of those who !
are disposed to trample upon and /
violate its mandates.


Should your choice fall upon me, /
all can say is that in the future, |
as in the past, I will endeavor to |
discharge its duties faithfully and /
impartially.


THOMAS VI. JONES.


Pulaski, July 5,I872.