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say from his own knowledge that in several of the coun-
ties a degree of painful interest attached to the subject
more than on any other subject before the Convention.
In these localities the sentiment was general that some
defect existed in the present system, and in those locali-
ties to which he referred there was a casting about as to
the remedies for these defects. He would ask whether in
the rest of the State the opinion prevailed, reflected by the
gentleman from Harford, that there should be a change in
those administering the law only, and not in the system,
or was it the sentiment that the vice which all acknowl-
edged existed in the system itself?
He had not heard a reason assigned in this debate for
the continuance of the limited tenure in the judiciary de-
partment, and did not remember to have read any reason
assigned in any debate on the subject which had preceded
this. The only reason assigned by his friend from Har-
ford for the limited tenure was the facility which it af-
forded for getting rid of an incompetent judge.
Mr. Archer said that he had stated that under the elec-
tive system popular sentiment would have a wholesome
restraint upon a judge, which could not be exercised if
the judge derived his office from appointment.
Mr. Maulsby said it was on this very point that he
maintained the great influence of partisan considerations.
He would put a suppositious case, and hoped he would
not be considered disrespectful in so doing. Suppose at
any time between 1851 and 1864 Chief Justice Taney had
been the candidate of the party opposed to him (Mr. M. )
and the members of this Convention, and suppose his
honor the present judge of the Criminal Court of Balti-
more city had been the candidate of their party, would
they not all have persuaded themselves that it was their
duty to have voted for Judge Bond—that he was the most
proper man of the two ?
Mr. Reynolds said, as one member, he would answer
the question. Although always a Democrat, he had never
voted for a bad man on that ticket, and he should cer-
tainly have scratched Mr. Bond.
Mr. Maulsby said that was only because of recent de-
velopments; but they must admit that no matter who was
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