Judge Wilmot's Defence. (CONCLUDED FROM FIRST FACE.] terms ; but. perhaps left it to inferred from the general character of their talk. Since the admission to the Bar of the young man who was thus free to impugn my motives, there have been iu the Orphans* Court and in the Common Pleas erf Bradford County, one hundred and three Audits : of which that gen tleman lias had eighteen, nearly one fifth of the whole number, and very nearly one half of the whole number hi ve been given to gentlemen whose names are on the memorial to blot out that Judicial District. To Mr. Elwell have been given six ; while to Mr. Mercur, who is represented to have such undue influence over me, there has lteen given not one. These mat ters are proved by the certificates of the Pro thonotary and Clerk of the Orphans' Court, herewith submitted. I would here notice the unfounded charge, tjiat of being unduly influenced by my friend U. Mercur, Esq. Of some forty causes taken into the Supreme Court from Bradford County in the six years that I have bfen upon the Bench, 1 am not aware of but three reversals up to this time. One case, not yet reported, was a small matter of costs, between a man by the name of Maason Elsbrc, now a Dem ocrat, and the Sheriff and Prothonotary, polit ical and personal friends. Mr. Baird and Mr. Klweli were the Counsel concerned. I ruled the ease in favor of Elsbrc, against my friends. Mr Baird took a writ of error and reversed me. The first of the two cases reported in the Books is that of Paine vs. Edsall, 19th St. llep. puge ITS. 1 ruled the case in favor of Edsall, who was a Democratic candidate for the Legislature in and the client of Ed. Overton. Mr. Mercur took a writ of error and reversed me. The other case is that of Fowler vs. Jenkins 24th St. Rep. page 308. 1 know not the po litics yf either party. Mr Mercur and Baird were the counsel concerned. 1 ruled the case in favor of Mr. Baird's client ; again Mr Mer cur took a writ of error and reversed me. Thus,in the cases tried in Bradford County, in which 1 have fallen into error, thought worthy of review, I have erred against my frieruks. No political op|>oneiit from that County has ever been compelled to go outside of mv Court to obtain his legal rights. I sub mit if this striking and significant fact ought not to shield mc from the charge of political bias, with all impartial and candid men ? No gentleman whose name is on the Bar memorial ever reversed a case decided by me, except Mr. Baird, and then only to carry the cause for my political friends, against whom I had de cided. Again I have understood that it was asser ted before this Committee, by one not a member of the Bar, (V. E. Piollet) but whose feeling in this movement transcends that all others, that no political' opponent could obtaiu a License in my Courts. This charge is made in utter disregard of trnth, and of the facts spread upon the records of niv Courts. The Court in my district has been cxteremly liberal in the granting of Li censes—too liberal, 1 fear, for the good of the community or the honor of the Court. 1 feel intirely safe in the statement that uvt more than three or four cases can be found in Brad ford County, and not a grater number in the County of Susquehanna, within any year of my official term, where the Court has refused, for any cause whatever, to grant a Tavern License where the application was filed in time to give the notice required by the Statute ; and the statement I will verify by the records of the Court,time for that purpose being allowed me. Again, 1 understand that it was made a ground of charge against me, by the saiue man who so unadvisedly preferred the o ie last noticed that none but Republican Tipstaves attended upon mv Courts. This is too trifling; and yet it has more of decency, because more of truth than other charges brought against me. The vigilant informer who presents this grave ground of complaint, although seldom an attendant upon my Courts, very probably knows more about the polities of the Tipstaves than does any member of the Court. L can only say for myself, and, so far as I know, for my associates, that no member of the Court lias ever had one word to say upon a matter so important as tlie appointment of aTipstave. The Clerk has been permitted to select whoever ■ha pleased for this duty, and if there be any thing wrong connected with it, it must be in this, that the Court has surrendered into the hand* of its clerk so important a function. Seriously, 1 appeal to this Committee, if ever before a Judge was arraigned upon charges like these ? The Judicial office has, heretofore been deservedly held in high respect. I sub mit that the day of its respectability is gone, if Jadges can be brought before the Bar of a Legislative Committee, upon such accusations, by any one who may cutertain malevolent feel ings toward them. A Judicial Commission in Pennsylvania, will not be of much worth in the estimation of honorable men, if this case should become a precedent for future Legis latures. No Judge will feel safe in his char acter or office. The lines of Judicial Districts will be marked in the sawd. The tenure of the office will virtually depend upon-party as cendency in these Halls. That provision . D. WARNER,- JOHN PASSMOItB. AFFIDAVIT OF PROTHONOTARY AND CI.ERK OF j THE ORPHANS' COURT. ; ALLEN M'KKAN being duly sworn doth depose and say that he is now, anil h is been, since the Fall of lsis, I'ro thonotary and Clerk of ('ourts of * Iyer and Terminer, and 1 Quarter Sessions of Bradford County ; that during term time he i- invariably present in Court attending to his ; duties ; that from the time Judge WII.MOT came on the I Bench, in Dec. ls.il, lie lias been a constant and watch- I ful observer of his official conduct; that he never saw anything whatever, in the decisions ur deportment of saiii Judge, showing the least partiality or favoritism to wards either suitor or counsel; nothing which in his judgment and belief, would have enabled the mo-t scru tinizing observer (he being unacquainted with the par , ties.) t > haw formed an opinion as t < which of iherouii ! sc! practicing in Court, agreed or dili'crcd with the Judge in their political views, nor as to which of the counsel lieid the most friendly relations towards liiin ; that his deportment towards each and every member of the B.ir. h is heen uniformly courteous ; that he never heard from said Judge a harsh or discourteous remark addressed to either counsel or suitor : that he never saw anything in the manner of said Judge, which in his judgment could Is* construed into disrespect towards any member of the Kir : that he ho- on scv ral ca-uons noti 1 th- inark- I ed deference ami respect with which said Judge lias treat i ed some of the older me uV-rs of the Bir, wh ise names ; are <>i the 111 on >riol i-king for the annihilation of this .1 ulieial Distri t. ali-nv tg smdi members to depart fr >m ' the usual rules in ;old --ing the C >urt. even allowing in terruptions, when the Judge was prou cur ing a deeisi m i to pass without reproof or sign of di -pleasure ; that coun sel. so far as he bis been able to perceive, addressed the < Nurt at all tiui -s. with the free 1 mi and confidence that they addressed each other. Several gentlemen of the Bar reside 1"> and 'in miles distant from the County Seat, and i very frequently have some m titers of business, ui it,ions, | arguments, ccrtior.iris, or orders and decrees in the "r --! phans" Court, which they are anxious to dispose of. t-> enable them to return home ; that the said Judge, so far as this deponent, lias observed, has at all times shown a i cheerful willingnc-s to accommodate them, taking up , their business, anil disposing of it. out of its order, even [ t' the interruption of jury trials in a-'t nil progress. This ! deponent further says, that the business in said Court In- been transacted with promptitude, and so far as this j deponent lias ever known ur heard, with general satis ; faction to the Bar and the public. A Id,EN McKKAN. i Sinirn and subscribed before tnc. March 6th. lsjs, N. X. BET IS, J. P. 11. 1,. SCOTT being duly sworn, doth depose and s.iv, that he was !{••-order, Register, and Clerk of the Orphans' Court, from Dec. Ist, 1 *.*!, to Dec. Ist. 1851, of the Co. of Bradford, and th it as swell Clerk, it was his duty, and he w is during the time very generally in attendance upon the sittings of the Court, an observer of the official con duct of Judge WII.MOT : that he his read the foregoing i affidavit made by ALLEN M Kr.AV.an I does fully concur i in the general statement of facts therein m ule. 11. L. SCOTT. Strom M trch 6th, 1858, before It". 11. Decker. J. I'. JAMES H. WEBB being duly sworn, doth depose and j say, that since Dee. 1-t. 18.74, he has been the Clerk of the Orphans' Court of Bradford C unity, and generally at tended to all the duties of said office lit Court, being in said Court every term a considerable share of his time, air ] an observer of the official conduct of Judge WII.MO U; that he has read the foregoing affidavits of ALLEN M •- KEAN and If. 1,. S -orr, and d >es fully eoncur ill the state ment* liv tlieru nude. JAMES H. WEBB. Nioorn the I 6th day of M trch, IS.S, before If". 11. Decker, J. P. AFFIDAVITS OF SHERIFFS THOMAS, CODDING, AND WOODRUFF. CHESTER TIIOMAS, JOHN A. COMM.NO. and T. M.Woon- Rrke being duly sworn, d->th depose and say, that they have severally been Sheriff of Bradford County, during some part of the time since Judge WII.MOT camp on the Bench in the fall of ls.ll, and as such were much in atten dance on the sittings of th,- Court ; that they never saw anything in the conduct or decisions of Judge WILMOT, J exhibiting partiality or preference towards any member or members of the Bar, nor towards any party or suitor in Court: and they verily believe that his official conduct is entirely free from reproach, and above suspicion ; that they never heard from Judge WII.MOT a passionate or un pleasant word to either counsel or suitor ; that the inter course between the Bar and the Court appeared of the most pleasant character, and marked by mutual courtesy and respect. Deponents have witnessed occasions wiieu the scid Judge lias exhibited marked courtesy and even ; forliearance towards members of the Bar whose names | are OJI the memorial to the Legislature to obliterate this ! district ; tint the business of the Court hits been disposed | of with promptitude, and a large amount of business dis j posed 0/at every term, and so far as deponents kuow or j ever heard, until with a few days past, with satisfaction : to the Bar and tlc public. CHESTER THOMAS, J NO. A. CODDINiJ, T. M. WOODRUFF. Su-orh and subscribed M trch 6, 1858, before .V. ff. Belts, J. P. \ Here are fourteen witnesses, all of them of the highest credit and repute, and who have . the best means of information of ail men living, 1 as to the matters about which they testify.— . They do not speak idly or loosely, in the char -1 aeter of partizans and friends, but as witnesses under the moral sanctions of an oath. I kuow not ho* this evidence may impress you, but to my mind it appears conclusive and overwhelming. It is utterly impossible that ; my partiality and political bias should have grown into an iusupportable grievance, and neither of my Associates, nor the officers of the Court observed it. Can it be, that in a court where one half of the bar are ready to take note of everything which in the least would reflect upon the conduct of the Judge, and that Judge habitually yielding to improper in riuences, ami yet for six yours no out spoken word of indignant complaint? Do attorneys have their own rights invaded, and the rights and interests of their clients compromised, by a partial, tyrannical and unjust .fudge, without a word of protest or sign of displeasure ? Not an outbreak of temper ; no hasty or dis respectful word ; no lack of courtesy ; no vio lations of order and decorum ; and yet during all this time, the Judge guilty of an insupport able tyranny ; a partiality that defeated the ends of justice, and a course of conduct dis graceful to the Judicial character ! It is in credible ! No such state of things ever exist ed, or ever will exist in a free country. No this movement for the annihilation of the 13th Judicial District, has its origin in other causes and motives, than official misconduct in me. — Personal dislike, long cherished—and unsuccess ful rivaiship for public honors, lead men at times into the gravest errors, and the most in defensible positions. That some cause other than my official mis conduct prompts to this movement, is made still more clear, by the testimony that several gentlemen whose names are on the memorial to blot out that district, have repeatedly borne witness to ray impartiality and luck of integ rity as a Judge. 1 herewith submit to the Committee the sworn evidence of Bartholomew Lnporte, and three other gentlemen, showing the esteem iu which Mr. Klwell, Mr. Baird and D'A. Over ton but a short time since held my judicial character ; and the emphasis with which the} repudiated the idea ot any partiality or politi cal bias in the discharge of my official duties. I repeat, that the true cause and motives of this movement, are to be found in a personal dislike, having its origin iu jealousy and un successful rivaiship. The result of the election last Call awakened new hopes in the breasts of those whose hopes had been often disappoint ed, and who laid upon me the burden of their failures and disappointments. An erroneous impression, 1 fear, lias been made upon this committee touching the wishes of the bar of the District. The memorial ask ing that the district be blotted out, purports to be signed by eighteen members of the bar of Bradford county. There reside in the coun ty thirty-six gentlemen who have been admit ted to the bar. Of this number there are eight who have given no attention to their pro fession for years ; but are engaged in other pur suits, and who are not practicing attorneys of the Court. The names of four gentlemen who are not attorneys are found on the memorial, to wit : David F. Barstow, Win. Scott,.!. B. Ilecve and C. L. Ward. This leaves fourteen practicing attorneys on the memorial. Two of this number, Messrs. Henry C. Baird and 11. W. Patrick, speak here by their letters against this measure, and in favor of my integrity as a Judge. This would leave twelve on the memorial, as the true num ber of practicing attorneys, out of tweaty-eight asking tor the measure. On the protest against it arc thirteen members of the bar in actual practice. If to this number there be added the names of Mr. Patrick and J. C. Adams, whose letters I placed iu the hands of the Committee, it makes the number of protestants fifteen. Of the bar of Susquehanna county seventeen are on a letter earnestly remon strating against this measure, and I am not aware that any member of the bar of that county lias signed a memorial iu its favor— certain 1 am that not to exceed three or four could bo induced to sign such a memorial.— Thus the true representation from the bar of the District, stands twelve for, and thirty two against the proposed legislation. I lay before the Committee certificates from the Prothouotaries of Bradford nnd Susquehanna counties, showing who are members of the bur ; also letters fro.n the the two Bars, fully sus taining the statement here made. A labored effort has been made to fix the imfves-ion that the 13th Judicial district was created expressly for my accommodation and interest. A more unfounded impression could not exist. That Judicial District was estab lished about the time of inv birth,and Bradford and Susquehanna were originally connected, and with Tioga and some counties west con stituted the District for many years. In 1835 a new Ju licial District was-established, Pot ter and M'Keau foriaing a part, thus leaving Susquehanna, Bradford and Tioga counties forming the 13th District. It thus stood un til about the year 1839, when it underwent a change to suit the convenience of Judges Con yngham and Jessnp. The former was Judge of the Susquehanna, Bradford and Tioga Dis trict and trie latter Judge of the Luzerne, Pike and Wayne District. Thus Judge Con yngham held Court at the home of Judge Jessup, and .Judge .Jessup at the home ot Judge Conyngham. For their mutual accom modation they exchanged those two counties. The District remained iu this situation, Lu zerne, Bradford and Toga, until the expira tion of Judge Coiiynghaiu's then commission, about the year 1848 or '49, when Luzerne, with Columbia and Wyoming, was constitu ted a District. Susquehanna could not at once be restored to her old connection with Bradford, because the commission of Judge Jessup did not expire until the constitutional a nendment of IXSO took effect. To make up for the loss of Luzerne, the two small coun ties of Potter and M'Kean were attached to Bradford and Tioga, thus stretching the Dis trict two hundred miles east and west along the State line. In 1851 I was at the Capital, and desired that the western county, M'Kean, should be taken off, and attached to either the District west or south of it, both of which were much smaller than the Bradford district. This was all the change or legislation 1 de sired, and it was asked on grounds of public policy. Gentlemen in the Legislature from the western part of the State desired changes in their Judicial Districts. The Senator from Tioga, John W. Guernsey, especially desired that Bradford and Tioga should be separated, and a Bill was passed affecting some six or eight Districts, in which Bradford was restor ed to her old connection with Susquehanna, and the new county of Sullivan added, mak ing the Thirteenth District. Two years ago Sullivan was taken off to aid in making a new District (the 20th) over which Judge Wood ward presides. Thus the 13th Judicial District stands to-day as it has stood for for ty years, (save when temporarily severed for the convenience of two Judges,) except that western counties have been taken off; and this was rendered necessary by the great increase of business and population. But it is not only an old district that it is proposed to annihilate, for no reason whatever except to disfranchise a people who will per sist in voting to suit themselves, but it is also one of the largest Districts in the northern and eastern part of the State Taking the census I of 1850 as the basis, and the Thirteenth is the largest Judicial District, save one, of the twelve Districts lying north of Berks couuty ! nnd east of the Allegheny Mountains. That one, Northampton and Lehigh, exceeds it oulv about one thousand. Adopting the return of taxables made in 1857 as the basis, and the Thirteenth still stands tiie largest district in the twelve, save three—Northampton and Lehigh, Schuylkill, and Luzerne. It has to day ninety thonsaud of inhabitants, and un amount of legal business not excelled by ten districts in the State, having but one Law Judge. It is larger than the District of Lyco ! ining, Northumberland and Montour—larger, by a thousand taxables, than the District of Dauphin and Lebanon —larger, by a thousand i taxables, than Cumberland, Perry and Ju niata. Would a proposition to destroy either ! of these Districts be entertained for a mo ment. 1 have no data for presenting to this Com mittee the amount of business in other dis tricts ; but will ina&e an exhibit from the re cords of the business in.the 13th. The Xos. on the Appearance Docket of Bradford co., to the Sept' Tin in each and every year from 1*49 or I*o7 inclusive, were from 400 to j 810 : and the causes on the trial list at the I several terms during the same years, average near one hundred per terra. In Susquehanna i county the Nos. on the Docket for the four ; terms of the year vary from 206 to 407 per term, and the trial list from 07 to 138 per term. The business of the latter county is rapidly increasing. The Lackawanna and 1 Western Railroad passes through the entire ; count v, north and sonth ; and the X. Y. & K. j runs some fifteen miles through the country. This latter Company can only be sued iifthis State in the counties of Susquehanna and l'ike ; and this gives rise to very considerable imnortant business of the Courts of Susque hanna. At the session of 1850 the 20th Judicial District was established. The necessity for this District arose out of the increasing busi ness of Luzerne, which had become so large as to make it impossible for Judge Conyngham properly to perform the heavy labors of the District. This was the only public reason as signed for the creation of the 20th District.— It relieved Judge Conyngham, by taking off from him the two counties of Columbia and Wyoming, in both of which the business is small. The Bill under consideration proposes to attach to Luzerne the county of Susquehan na, having at least double the business of both of the counties taken off two years ago. I submit to the Committee letters from Judge Conyngham and Woodward in opposi ; tion to tiiis scheme, to load down one District 1 and to disfranchise the people of another. With a Constitution securing the right of j election, the personal enemies of a man, who it lis feared will be a candidate tor the suffrages j of the people, coine to the Legislature and a>k j that the people shall bo disfranchised —that ! they shall not be allowed to exercise those rights common to the whole people, and en joyed by all the citizens of every other part of I the State. This is the measure of wrong and injustice that the Legislature is asked to sanc : tion—a measure insuiting to the intelligence, and hostile to the rights of the people. To iny mind it is clear that the proposed legislation is in violation of the Constitution It will be admitted a* a sound principle, that a construction should be avoided that impairs or puts in jeopardy those rights of the people that the Constitution intended to secure ; and that such interpretation should be favored, as makes those rights forever certain and abiding. The enjoyment of immunities and rights, un ler ' Constitutional guaranties do not and cannot depend upon L-gislative discretion. This would virtually abrogate all written Constitn -1 tious ; substituting in their stead the discre tion of the Legislature. The value of a writ ten Constitution consists in placing certain . fundamental rights of the people beyond the i arm of the legislative power. The rights of : the people are primary and fundamental— they underlie the whole structure of our polit ical system. Legislative prerogatives and powers are subordinate, and must yield to the i vital,and primary rights of the people intended to be secured iu the organic law. If the leg ; islative power to arrange Judicial Districts, c.\- , ercised at discretion prior to the adoption of ; the Amendments of 1850, can no longer ex ercised with the same unrestricted freedom, without impairing the rights secured to the : people by*those amendments, then it is clear | that such power must henceforth be exercised under such limitations as shall effectually se ! cure those rights from invasion or danger.— A right constantly exposed and open to viola tion, is a m X'kcry and no right. To be of any worth, the rights of a freeman must be placed beyond the possibility of invasion un der the forms of law. Keeping in view these primary principles as the safe guards of liber ty and popular rights, and as axioms in the construction of Constitutional law, I now call the attention of the Committee to that part of the Constitution which provides for the elec tion of judges by the people. " The Judges of the Supreme Court, of the several Courts of Common Picas, and such other Courts of Record as are or shall be es tablished by law, shall be elected by the quali fied electors of the Commonwealth, in manner following to wit : The Judges of the Supreme Court, by the qualified electors of the Common wealth at large ; the President Judges of the several Cou' ts of Common Pleas, and such other Courts of record as are or shall be es tablished by law, and all other Judges requir ed to be learned to be learned in the law, by the qualified electors of the respective districts over which they are to Preside or uet as Judges." Here the right to elect their Judges is guar anteed the people ; and the constituency point ed out that shall vote in the election of certain Judges, to wit: The qualified electors of the State at lage, in the case of a Supreme Judge; and in the case of a President Judge, the qualified electors of the respective or par ticular District over which he is to preside or act as Judge. Now can the Legislature, un der a claim of power to regulate and arrange Judicial District, subvert this right ? or, what is the same thing, postpoue its exercise indefi itely ? Clearly not. Any exercise of Legis lative power that would directly lead to this is beyond question unconstitutional. The power of the Legislature must be exerised under such limitations and restrictions, as shall secure against encroachment the clear right of the people of eacli and every District to elect their owu Judge. Let us see what would become of this right of the people to elect their own Judges, if the Legislature can change at pleasure the Judi cial Districts. We will take for the purpose of illustration the measure under considera tion. Suj>pose at this session, Bradford Coun ty is attached to the Columbia, or 20th Dis trict. Judge Woodward's Commission has eight years to ruu. A year or two before its expiration Bradford is attached to the Tioga or 4th District, which elects in the fall of 1801, and allowed to stand in this latter connection until an election has taken place, and a new Judge commissioned for the 2fith District, when Bradford is re-annexed. Thus it will be seen that it remains discretionary with the Legislature, whether or not the citizens of Bradford County shall ever be permitted to vote for the Judge who presides over them.— The same could be done with Susquehanna County, by alternately attaching it to the Lu zerne, and to the Wayne and Monroe Districts. It would enable either political party holding the power of the State Government in its hands for three or four successive years, to prevent the election of a Judge obnoxious to such party ; by legislating into particular Districts, Judges elected by thepco.de of oth er Districts. It may be said that we are not to presume the Legislature would exercise its power thus arbitrarily, and for purposes mere ly political. I auswtr, that the Constitution al rights of the people, do not depend upon the presumed forbearance of the Legislature. Again, it would be easy so to arrange the Districts, as that iu a majority of them a Judge should be presiding where not au elec tor of the Discrict ever had the opportunity to casta vote for or against such Judge. Sup pose you carry the Bill under consideration a little further than it proposes to go, and at tach both Bradford and Susquehanna Coun ties to the 20th District, and as a compensa tion, put back the small County of Wyoming on to Luzerne. At the next Session it is found that Judge Woodward's District is too large, and Columbia and Sullivan are attach ed to the Lycoming District, from which take Northumberland and put it ou the small Dis trict of Union and Mifflin. Here the equality and fair proportions of the Districts are preserv ed, and the result is that Bradford and Susque | hanna have lost the No. 13, and gained that of 20. 1 n counting up the districts there is a blank f —theuumber/At'rten is annihilated —not Brad ' ford and Susquehanna Counties, but the nam i her thirteen in blotted out. The uuuiber twen | tv six stands in full vigor ; but the Counties once constituting the 20th Judicial District ; are all attached to the other Districts, und ; the Judge elected by its p ople has been transferred to Bradford and Susquehanna : and all this by the magic power of the num ber twenty six. Will it be said that this is carrying the. case too far ? that some people must be left in the District who voted at the election of the Judge? How many, 1 ask? It a majority, then Bradford caimot'be attach ed to thu 20tli District ; for it has ten thousand more of population than that entire District. But I submit that no limitation can be found here, against the discretionary power of the Legislature. We must look for a limitation elsewhere than in the fraction that would re main in a District, and who might have voted in the election of the Judge, if we would preserve to the people the right to elect their Judges. Allow me to frame two or three successive Bills, and I will so arrange the Judicial Dis triets of the State, preserving to each reason able limits and population, as that not ten Judges in the Commonwealth shall preside in Districts where a vote was east for or against then] ; and if the Legislature has the poorer to do tiiis, it is idle talk about the constitutional right of the people to elect their Judges. They have no such right ; but only a " probable chance," entirely at the discretion of the leg islature. The numbering uf the Districts is nothing. They arc just as well deliued without the numbers : yet you blot out districts bv giving them other numbers. Change the lan guage of your bi'l somewhat. Let it provide, that after the Ist of December next the counties of Bradford, Columbia, Wyoming and Sullivan shall constitute a Judicial District, and that \\ . .1. \\ oodward shall bo president Judge of said District, until the expiration of j the commission he now holds. Is not this le < gislatiug a Judge into a new District f It is ! the eountirs , not the numbers , that mark and define a District. The Legislature cannot change Bradford and Susquehanna counties into another and different District, by giving to it a new number. The counties remain the same—the people the same—the District the same ; and the passage of this Bill is only to legislate other Judges into those counties, and thereby deprive the people of the right of elec tion. This is the substance, aim, and onlv effect of the bill under consideration. Neither is it necessary for the preservation of the powers of the Legislature in full vigor, that it should possess the power, at pleasure, to change a Judicial District. There is, 1 repeat, no vital necessity for such a power.— Occasions rarely present where any such change is demanded by the public interests. There are but one or two examples of any such change since the election of the Judiciary in 1851 • and no very strong necessity existed for it in those cases ; but they were made for the con venience of the Judges, and with the general consent of the people, no question of constitu tionality being raised. The Legislature could by law provide, that upon the next election to take place iu a particular District, the people of a county, not then connected with such District, should take part in the election, and thereupon that said county should be attached to and form a part ol such district. 1 submit that it is only under some such limitation as this, that Legislation can be exercised over this subject ; otherwise your break down the con stitutional guarantee, and place the right of the people to elect their Judges, entirely at the discretion of the Legislature. The establishment of new Districts is wholly a different question. Ilere the discretion of the Legislature is unlimited. Au election must follow the erectiou of every new District. It is believed that this is the first time in the history of Pennsylvania, that an effort has been made to annihilate a Judicial District.— It worthy of grave consideration, in view of the precedent it establishes,and the consequen ces, likely to result from a liberal exercise of sueli a power. 'i here is no analogy whatever, between the arrangement of Judicial District, and the ap portionment, of the State for the election of Senators and Representatives. In the Con stitution representation is based ou taxable inhabitants, ami it is .enjoined as a positive legislative duty, that anew apportiumeut shall be made every seven years. It may result under a new apportionment that a very small fraction of the people, shall have nq Senator on the floor of the Senate for whom they have voted ; but this can only be for a brief period and amounts to no grievance. It comes ne cessarily from carrying out the Constitution. It follows as an inevitable incident upon the exercise of an express power. There is less of analogy in the case of a change in the lines of a county, by which a part of one county is incorporated into another. Here again a small fraction of the people are, for a brief ! period, placed under a Sheriff and county : ' officers they did not assist to elect. The exercised is a vital aud essential now, ,' '?' can be exercised in no way to avoid such ' The results are trifling, and from terms of the county officers, works no . • mischief. It does not, as in the Judicial I? triets, practically work a disfranchises , ; years of whole counties and large ma the people. The cases would be" more 5 agous, if the Legislature should obliterate counties, and by changes i n njj names,place the officers elected by dj e , „ of one over the people of another. S u e an net were passed merging the' Lebanon into the comity of Dauphin ru ■ * the next session of thej t Legislature, the line of division was re-established,' t counties aguiu erected ; but the name of],* phiu was given to the couuty of Lebanon that which was beforeDanphin supplied wi-j p new uame of Bourbon. Here the conutv ? I the wrong inflicted upon my character, i;. - I ! course of this novel and unprecedented ceeding. I came here to meet and rqj r H proof, "specific charges in writing," againstn:fl official integrity. No such charges uptoti.-M time, have been preferred before this lionora I Committee—none will be from any respond I source. Instead of meeting a legislative I vestigation into facts, touching my official c-.M , duct, my traducers have resorted tothest*v;H i and press, to blacken my reputation, andp:-.H | udiee the public mind, aud the legislative h H against me. They make my reasonable . H I casion to write abnsire and ; -. H putting into my mouth language I ne H : used, and intended to excite partizan preH i against me, which are published iu pn:;;_ -H | with other slanders and falsehoods,without-I ; ear-mark to fix responsibility, and thrown, ;H ' cannot tell by whom, into the office for dkr. H buting the mails to members of the I ture. Irresponsible men are pushed to play a part, their backers dare | Cases in which there is no semblance of 1 are garbled and accompanied with such _HI ments as leave inferences ogaiust rye. MB no responsibility, venture upon artiot. wk charges, while those having responsibilitv fully and ingeniously avoid this, ' however, every length short of fixing":;<:H themselves legal accountibility. An:.* man of no responsibility, (Francis , s writes me a letter at this place and to a confederate for publication, in whit* a presumes to charge me with politic! H cause a young man, charged with ana- BH B v.M.it doubt, was not convicted in \ esterday I received a measly insulting -"BB ini'.nication from a man w HI Wm. Wutkins) but who ingenioislv - H I ' f slanders inferential and argumentative. , am I to meet this i Bbf character? If all I ■ '•* I rely with confidence upon the cords of the Senate, to shield my from the slanders to which it has 1 o-en wat. exposed. No citizen of Pennsylvania, '■ H less a Judge holding her commission, wa- made the victim of an outrage, such a-1 ; been furred to endure. Mi l - never batclietl a more shameful plot aga ■ I j the good name and fame of a citizen. It there l>e before this Committee i grounded suspicion against inv officia! ; —if it appears that any man, however failed to have impartial justice meete; i him, because of my lack of integrity, L j the common right of a citizen, a constitu:; -HT trial. It there he no such charge or MI- H against nie.l here protest against a trial leged political offences. For my p -HB7 .opinions, and the manner in winch I - maintained them, I hold myself rc-pou: |L the people, ami to no other tribunal, save ], who tries the heart and searches then:. ;| of men. H ( | tlwcfllantoni. f§ OLD SOLDIERS, ATTEND! H, TFIE sub-critK r rr- ;• 'Hi v'l'&A tin- Mexican War. ' Hut , lian Wars >inv 17 •. ' now pending before Congress a bin grant i odii-ers and soldiers that have Ik-cii ■ Hp said wars. It Ls Renerally believed tlut Jj ' j B. come a law. 1 shall be prepared with di t \ Bar: and torirvs as soon us suit: law is passed, ind v *l^ to tlie procuring pensions under said at I "■ <** I J terms. 1 still continue procuring I-aaii Wa: H 1 that are entitled to them. Kevolutionary HW e",n. \fOHAIR BRAIDS aud 1 li' 4-"X hair, at HO.VIIDINb- B JOHN KENDALL wou'd f> i fully inform the [oibli that ' a j 11J- L large and commodious bono f jkSed by him, in the hover part •>' which has been enlarged .. lt " ri paired, he is ready to ofler to boarder moilations. i ! He would particularly inform Jnrvnii n. : * c tending Court, that lie will he jir* .• - HI si them upon the most ruuraoabie tonus. " j He Rolicits a share of pabfic pair B j satisfaction will be rendered in even re.-; Towanda, January 20, ls.ss. '• V WANTED B OATS, Corn, Rye, Wheat, Potatoes, and •' ■ ..^B' 'a titV Of Rye straw will be taki :i at -• otil MIXES iu exchange for CO-AL. ~ i- \V i MAt'f •!' v u H„ Dec, g, 1857. Gen. Sup. liarciay SEED, Spring Wheat 'Hi ll v/ Oats, Hav, Ac., for sale at the W- j; ,if 81,, March >, ISSB. __ b A LOVER SEED FOR S?A I V_/ Branch Clover Seed for sale 1 / HB ," Overton. Feb. 2.8. lsjs. X 1 ,,1TT! , c T ARGE and stntll (.'? '' v - I -X-d March I<\ is .s. v..