Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-03-09

aud lnvincible. lie had seen nothing
in so many words in the constitution
which prohibited the establishment of
sinecureS There were IL is true, a
gainst the spirit and genius of our in
stituiions. There were in all Govern
ments, rare aud strong cases, whose ne
cessities compelled depaT ure from
principle. This was one an impeach-
ment could not lie-an impeachment
could not be sustained, where there was
no crime. An enquiry 10 the nature of
quo uarronto, could not be prosecuted
with benefit The Legislature had an
undoubted right to create any number
of Judges. Mr.. Il. drew an animated
picture of the virtues and services of
Judge White, and the suRerings OF the
District over which he presided. II
Judge White lived 10 years, what was
to become of the District
Mr.. Christian said that this question
was not to be determined by an appeal
to feeling II was said that Judge
White having committed no crime,
cou d not be Impeached. Mr. G. read
the article of the constitution relating to
impeachments.) Does th- article con-
fine impeachments to crimesS The
language @as crimes. offence, or other
means, which endangered the safety Of
the commonwealth. Suppose the Whole
general court bench paralyGed within
twenty -four hours? Would not this en-
danger the safety of the state2-Would
they not be liable to impeachment, aud
Il all were subject, was not a single one 7
Judges were appointed late in Iife--the
whole Judiciary were advanced in years
and the time was not distant when
the whole of then would be incapaci-
tated. Pass this bill, and there was no
end to applications of this character
Judge White ought to be imreached---
the members from his circuit ought to
impeach him Then it would be time
to make appeals to feelings, and then
he for one, would vote him an ample
competency.
Mr.. May, said that Mr. Christian had
advocated the strangest doctrines he had
ever heard on the floor. lie was op.
posed 10 sinecures, to pensions, to Civ
ing relief in this ase--yet he is willing
to give Judge White a competency!
(Mr G. explained be was not opposed
to pensions for merit) Mr.. May pro
eeeded--the gentleman then was will
ling to impeach Judge White to hum
bic his feelings, and then TO pension him.
This was not question of feelings re-
latiYe to Judge White. 1t was a ques-
ton, whether justice should be admins
tered to 10000 souls; whether the CIR.
cult should be outlawed. He denied
that it was the peculiar duty of the cir
cult to impeacb Judge White--it was as
much the geHtIemsn's duty as theirs, if
it was the duty of any one. The gen.
tleman from that circuit did not think
him impeachabie-they asked Tor bread,
and the gentleman would throw them
stone. If guilty of crime, he ought to
be impeached. but il was the peculiar
duty of no section to impeach him. The
gentlemen denied that we could discon-
tinue Judge-we might increase them
ad lbitum, but we could not abolish
without a convention. Mr.. May refer
red to the admiralty courts, ard the
courts of appeals as examples to the
contrary. He thought there was no
constitutional principle involved, The
bill of rights said that justice should be
denied Or sold to no man.
Mr.. Campbell prefaced his remarks,
by saying, that SO much had been said
about Judge Whites property, patriot
ism, and revolutionary services, as to
induce the few remarks that he should
make. lie enquired to know how it
that the Judges brought to
the consideration of the House, were
all so poor3 were they poor in reality, or
was it in comparison with princely for
tunes; he presumed it was the latter
kind. lie then stated that be was aware
that the sound Of patriotism and revolu-
tionary services had their influence in
that House, (and perhaps very properly
too, but he thought Judge White had
certainly lost much of his youthful pat
rlolism; if he had not, why did he not
remedy the evils which existed in his
district, which he could do, by the
simple act of resignation, evils which
Gas depicted by the gentleman from
Spottsylgania, were greater than those
which produced the war of the Revolu-
ton. He concluded by saying that he
hoped the House would reflect on the
consequences that would grow out of