The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-02-22

v,
with a view 10 fasten Mr. Clay on the whe
party as their candidate for the next Presidency
Mr. Clay is like noble race horse he has many
good points-many strong poin,s-inany admirable
points about him, but he has also many strongly
Objectionable points. We very much doub, that he
would make good race and we are half inclined
TO think that he would be distanced the first heat
However there is long interval before the election,
and in the meanwhile, we must sit down calmly and
philosophcaly, and dispassonatey review all these
movements, and show the probable result
The Opinions Of our Contemporaries on the
Libcls on the Court OF Oyer and Termi-
ner, by the Wall street Press.
On every hand, from the mouth Of every good
citizen, we see and hear nothing but the most un
qualified censure and indignation, upon the atrocious
course pursued by the Wall street papers, in the re-
peated publication of their gross and aggravated
libels on the Court OF Oyer and Termner And the
inquiry is all but a universal one. what will the
Court do to protect Its own dignity!
But before we discuss this point, let us give the
dspassionate opinions of one of our contempora.
ries upon this subject After stating the terrible out
cry that had been made by the Wall street press in
relation to harmless jeu esprit published in this
journal, and Of the excitement and prejudice they
attempted 10 raise in connection herewith our con-
temporary goes on very justly 10 say
If judicial tribunals to ba Influenced by the
public in the decisions they
individuals private hate and rancorous malice are
to be poured the conductors of the public press TO
q strong prejudice against the accused party: il
then becomes the duty OF the Court that
from any und n influence which may have been thus
least are uninhuenced by the popular commoon thus
excited.
This is all strctly-religi ously true-priva,e hate
and rancorous malice were beyond question, the
leading motives that actuated these journals in their
outcry against this paper, and not desire to pre.
serve the dignity OF court because tile dignity of
no court was for a moment assailed by us-the
course OF true justice we never dreampt for mo-
ment OF attempting to impede. And as TO " protec.
ton" by Court or any members of Court, why it
never entered our thoughts for an instant And for
the best of reasons-that we knew the Court could
not be swayed by any undue influence" one way or
the other Still the following remarks of the Jour.
nal above quoted from in relation to the course of
the Aldermen, are true. He says =
Suppose they had Lent their official station TO the IRA
tho alton OF the wishes and feelings
what would have been the result The judicial ,ribu
nal would have been the medium for private hate and
have triumphed over Justice
Most undoubtedly and this was all that the Wall
street papers desired Justice they neither though,
or cared about. ey knew, as well as the whole
community knew, that the jeu desprt published by
us was perfectly free from malice and not in the
slightest degree calculated to bring any Court into
contempt. But they were determined TO get nm q
false issue, il they could and make use of the pre-
siding Judge and his associate Judges, if that had
been possible, which it OF for the purpose of
venting on our head their pent up malice of the last
hive years standing. And the same paper we have
already quoted, IN speaking of the technical label
published by us, says with truth and Justice:
That libel was harmless IN lis character cor,n,,,, A..
one contained in the Commercisi and Courier i, CON
tanned no charges of corruption 1t contained no impu
cia station for iaver reward What then is the dutv
o! our citizens in relation these grave charressh
tsts and ~aheien' lmputa'ions The SANDER has gone
iorth The libeiers have demanded inv estg alton
nat nvestiga alton should Immediately take place Tbev
have assumed the responsibility of making the charges
and should be compelled TO prove them true or stand
convicted by jury. The Investigate fhsv demand
the pubie also will demand and remains 10 be seen
wnetherthe Court and public prosecu will do th,r
uo.y IN THIS instance, or wheth er they will make dis.
nnction between Jaaes Watson Webb, James Gordon
Demnsu, ana William L. Stone when they know that
erery osnonest imputa.ion contained in the articles
aoressd are false IN ry partc ular The
y, ,ne senemen assaed are suc guarantee for the
IT. therefore strict justice in this case sbanld 10 Toe
ana the aosi Hsty be taken criterion for tho
- - upon the iibellers vouId
richly merit the punishment they wi,bsd - 10y
ed upon others The charges made by ha Inii'S.
very important Character. The whole aie Vi
interested In the question and will NOT he are
tbs same are fully investigated As ci,; "nti
upon the Court and pablo prosecutor 10 sen We eau
invesugai alton is made. ee mat uch
In conAection with this same subject. The arv,r.
ing POST OF last night, has a somewha, s;u;,o,
article condemnatory Of the course pursuedbv o,h,,
journals; although, if we mistake not, rha, Mans,
was at fins, inclined to JOIN in the hue and c,v
against this paper. II now says that on couyesina
with many inisental and sensible persons thew find
them OF The opinion that fac Of S3Jo was sufficient
1t not ioo much, for the jsu delpra il was visited
upon. OF course il was and no right minded and
unbiased person can entertain any other oapion
II any one has right to complain it is ourselves
that the court did not make the fiae strictly nominal
The Pcs, goes On TO say
The wing presses, however view the matter d;e.r.
entity and tue Commercial Of Friday evening came out
win an article charging William Paxton i,llet the
'ierk oil the Court Of Oyer and rerminer essrs Plrv
ana Lee the two Aldermen sitting in thai court ana
mr. w htng, tbs District Attorney who conduc ed the
prosee ntos with sconspirscy. MIR illett is CHARGED
rn nsvIns packed the court for this purp.se-w,th
.&vng messrs Purdy and Lee 10 be selected
o sAe Dvsia Oh Aidermen, and placed on the bench
~ mIs session. Ihis charge of COLLISION and cou,ri
ance, then drawn out in the Com mercaI int In,
issue OF statements and suppositions the nrrno-, ~
Fh ich is 70 lesvc the reader If he bel,,yes
"a e, coDf ed that the 10 whose '. %