Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-11-19
~ - IN nv
w. d. RADCLIFFE,
JOHN J. FINCH,
C. e. MOONEY.
A. ARGARBRIGHT.
VICE IN PUBLIC OFFICERS.
Lexington, Ky, Oct. 90, l847.

An ARTICLE WITH AN APPLICATION.-lG there
is any class OF individuals, aside from those who
occupy sacerdolal posllions who should possess
characters pre-eminent for virtue and the highest
order of morality, il is that which has been set
aside. from the mass. and elevated TO positions of
honor, trust and power. The influence of those
in high places is of character different, as well
as more widely ditTused, than that of private ind-
viduaIs. BY the act of elevatng, the public have
measurably endorsed them, and they stand before
the world, not only as private persons, but as rep
resenatives of the body polite. In them any
dereliclion from the line Of moral duty, not only
brings reproach upon their office, but is an i'm.
peachment Of the good sense and moral feeling Of
community; and the evil which they do, not only
affects the community, in the same manner as if
they were only private citizens, but carries with
ii the high hSanctiono of place and presumed reSpeC.
liability. Farther than this, under Government
like ours where all power eremanales directly from
the people, and where the tenure Of office rests
solely in the hands Of a sovereign majority. we
may very properly Judge of the character Of the
populace by thatof those whom they have placed
in positions of trust and power. A people, pos.
Sessng commendabe discrimination and eniov-
ing anything like nice moral perceptions, will not
as a general thing give sanction TO vcebv placing
in office men who are destitute of moral as well
as SolherQuaiHcations and when, if it ever occurs,
they do, by accident or through ignorance, be-
stow favors upon unworthy men, ,ilShoudbe their
first work to set a seal of apprehension upon his
misdeeds, by promptly placing him, if possible,
in that private position from which he was raised.
There is no reason why conduct should be tolera.
ted in a public man, which would bring disgrace
upon private CITIZEN Indeed there are album
danr reasons why aconlrary course should be pur-
sued. The remarks which we have thus far made
apply to any class Of public men indeed, but to
none, perhaps, with so much force as those who
have been placed in judicial stations, who have
been raised TO sit in judgment, execute the laws
and punish the evil doer He who siteth in judg-
ment should be pure. What sort Of Justice can
we expect from men who are in the constant hab-
it of setting at nought those same laws which it
is their duty 10 administer TO others! How can
we hope that man who is himself morally de-
PRAYED, who day by day preys upon The purity of
society and the eaceandquIet of social life. will
be vigiIant in protecting that society from cnml'
nails less bold and less destructive than himself?
Agan 1t is not manly, it is not right To visit
with condemnation and denunCiatiOn those per-
sons in the common walks of life who do wrong
whilst the same crimes become dignified into par.
donable pccadlos or elegant paslmes, if COM
miued by those who are surrounded by wealth, or
render exclusive by position. No circumstances,
in any country, and especially in this should fur
nish valid excuse for the perpetralion of oura
ges upon the peace or moral sense Of commune
"; nor should any position shield the offender
,b ;,,Ji e ,ha nuhi, The
tire and the crosier are Intellectual, to change the
nature of things and transmute vice into virtue.
Through their instrumenlaity, however, society
may be more successfully imposed upon.
When, therefore, these insignia Of office are
used for sinister purposes, they should be wrest-
ed from the possession Of corrupt men, that by
them evil may not be done in Gods name. So,
also, when monster Of iniquity is unfortunately y
raised TO judicial station, public protection de-.
mands that he should be shorn Of his undeserved
honors, and abased, al least, TO position where
the influence of office will not give an undue
sanction TO his corruptons. When the Judicial
ermine covers amassol moral putrlaction, whose
pestilental odor Is calculated TO infect the whole
community, it is not only The right, butt becomes
the absolute duty Of those in power, to strip it
thence and leave the wasting, whitened carcass
of the moral leper open to public view-to scorn,
detestation, and contempt.
Those acquainted with circumstances which
have transpired in our city during the few past
days, will have no difficulty in applying this ar
ticle without our assistance; those who are not
must excuse us if we decline detailing conduct
too disgusting for "a newspaper article, but Of a
character which we trust will bring it to the no.
lice Of the proper authorities and result in remo-
wing from our supreme bench man who he's dis.
graced it.-Cteueidnd Herald.
SINGLE DISTRICTS.