Why Did Judge Hall Choose John Jameson for Celia’s Defense?
Why did Judge Hall choose John Jameson for Celia’s defense?
Given the impact of the slavery issue upon Missouri’s politics at the time, the Judge Hall hoped for the trail to be conducted as expeditiously and decorously as possible, in a manner that ran the least risk of arousing the ire of either camp. Judge Hall needed a capable attorney, one of considerable standing in the community. He needed an attorney with proven political sensibilities, one who had not participated significantly in the slavery debates. In short, he needed an attorney who could be depended upon to give Celia a credible defense, one whose presence would make it difficult for slavery’s critics to label the trial a farce or sham and one who would not arouse the emotions of Missouri’s more militant proslavery faction in the process. And John Jameson emerged as the superior candidate for the assignment of defending Celia.
Judge Hall’s choice of John Jameson as Celia’s counter appointed defense attorney seemed a savvy political move, if not a stroke of genius. Critics could not charge that Celia had been denied adequate representation. Jameson had practiced law in the community for 3 decades and had a reputation as an excellent trial lawyer. He was a respected citizen, a successful man, a three-term member of Congress, former speaker of the Missouri state legislature. He had never become involved in the heated slavery debates. He was a slave-owner, yet there is no record to indicate that he was anything other than the “good” master, a proposition that he recent interest in the ministry would support. Nor is there any indication that he was a fire-eating southerner, determined to see the spread of slavery into the western territories regardless of the consequences to the Union. While he had acquired a reputation as a bit of a tippler during his active political career, there is no evidence that alcohol abuse rendered him incompetent, or for that matter, that he had continued drinking after leaving
Given the impact of the slavery issue upon Missouri’s politics at the time, the Judge Hall hoped for the trail to be conducted as expeditiously and decorously as possible, in a manner that ran the least risk of arousing the ire of either camp. Judge Hall needed a capable attorney, one of considerable standing in the community. He needed an attorney with proven political sensibilities, one who had not participated significantly in the slavery debates. In short, he needed an attorney who could be depended upon to give Celia a credible defense, one whose presence would make it difficult for slavery’s critics to label the trial a farce or sham and one who would not arouse the emotions of Missouri’s more militant proslavery faction in the process. And John Jameson emerged as the superior candidate for the assignment of defending Celia.
Judge Hall’s choice of John Jameson as Celia’s counter appointed defense attorney seemed a savvy political move, if not a stroke of genius. Critics could not charge that Celia had been denied adequate representation. Jameson had practiced law in the community for 3 decades and had a reputation as an excellent trial lawyer. He was a respected citizen, a successful man, a three-term member of Congress, former speaker of the Missouri state legislature. He had never become involved in the heated slavery debates. He was a slave-owner, yet there is no record to indicate that he was anything other than the “good” master, a proposition that he recent interest in the ministry would support. Nor is there any indication that he was a fire-eating southerner, determined to see the spread of slavery into the western territories regardless of the consequences to the Union. While he had acquired a reputation as a bit of a tippler during his active political career, there is no evidence that alcohol abuse rendered him incompetent, or for that matter, that he had continued drinking after leaving