They believed and privately asserted that his open declarations on that point not only carried an implied reflection upon his party in connection with previous elections, but that he was taking an unnecessary risk in his own case.

Chiefly for these reasons, the Judge, though a strong and able man, was denied the courtesy of a nomination for a second term.

It had always been the custom to allow a member to serve at least two terms; but this honor was denied Judge Van Eaton, the nomination being given to Honorable T.R.Stockdale, of Pike county.
Stockdale was a different type of a man from Van Eaton.

He was in perfect accord with the dominant sentiment of his party.

He felt that he had been nominated to go to Congress,--"peaceably and fairly," if possible, but to go in any event.