Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-08-09
lFtom the Sunday Despatch, July 25th.l

The PennsylUaniap Of last week gave
place TO communicating signed HAmer
gun" which was specially intended TO de-
moiish The Sunday Despatch and all other
ISLANDERS of that able urls, Judge Camp
bell" Who Mr.. Amergin is we do not
know. but the Pennsylvanion asserts that he
is young lawyer and a "Protesiant Irish
man" That he is IA young lawyer we can
readily imagine, for no old lawyer, who has
conscience, would hazard his reputation
by asserting that Campbell is an able urist. |
That the writer is Il "Protestant ltishman,n
does not seen TO us very material 10 the /
question it adds nothing more TO the force |
OF "Amcrgin's" article than if he we're a
"Mormon Duichman," though the PcnnsI. |
rdnidn seems TO place so much importance
on the fact of his nativity and religion, that
/ j is quite overcome with admiration aud
surprise
Mr. Amergn has been industriousy scar.
ching the Pennsylvania Reports, and, having
found single case in which Judge Camp
bells decision was supposed to have been
affirmed, cackes over the treasure like
hen who has found lost egg. In the JOY
Of his heart MIR. Amergn says:
'It is well that such records exist as the
Pennsylvania State Reports. In these re-
ports every important case tried before
any Judge, is reviewed and The Judgment Of
the Supreme Court passed upon it, This is
Il touchstono that quickly detects the base
metal, aud proves the true gold"
We thought we were done with Judge
Campbell. We did not intend to ,roub lie
our readers with further remarks concerning
him. But Mr.. Amergin, delrious in his Joy
over his single case insinuatcs that we have
''da,kencd counsel,n and that the records
are agninst us. We have, therefore, turned
onr attention 10 matter that we would mol
otherwise have investigated.
In consequence of the challenge, we have
taken the trouble TO 90 carefully over the
Pennsylvania Reports (including the equity
decisions of the court of which the Judge is
now a member) which contain decisions
made since he took his seat upon the bench
In those nineteen volumes, and nearly lhir-
, teen thousand PAGES, there are but four
, eases in which Judge Campbell's name ap-
pears. We propose to notice them, and
r show how "lhe touchstonen detected 'base
metal -
From 1912 10 1850, not single decision
of Judge Campbell appears on the books
The first case recorded is Smith rs Whill.
= din, 10Th Barr's 80. The circumstances
, were these Whilliin was n constable
Smith offered him one hundred dollars if he
! would arrest a person against whom war
rants were issued for obtaining goods under
false prctenccs. The arrest was made and
the constable sued Smith for the promised
> snm. The case was tried before Judge
, Campbell. Common sense would teach any
4 ono that such an agreement was in violation
5 of the policy of the law. If roasahlrs arc
T. allow ed TO make bargains with persons who
4 have been robbed, no thief would ever be
0 arrested unless the pluulcrrl person sub
I mi,,cd to more plnnder from the police
L Notwithstanding this obvious reason, and
t notwithstanding the fact that the fee bill sci
down the only compensation 10 be allowed
couslabes in such cases,
"CampbcIl j. told the jury that the only
o question was whether the plaintiff made the
= promise"
r This is the entire charge, and in brcrnes:
4 almost equals his other favoriie charge
= "Gentlcmcn Of the jury; the case is witt
= vou.n Bnt the case went to the Supreme
r Court, and the "touchsione" was appict
l. to Tie .'tase me,al'' in the following man
o ner
t "Coulter J. said there was no considera
Z ton for the promise, and the court below
therefore, misconsncd the law. it is III,
duty of constable 10 pursue, search for
aud arrcs, offenders against whom crimiua
t process is put in his hands, The office o
l. constable is created. not for the private en-
= oumcnt of the holder, but 10 conserve iht
.. public peace and 10 execute the crimiua
law of the country He is not the agent o
" employee of the private prosecutor, hut th
l. minister Of the law, doing the work Of tht
- public, which he is bound TO do tailhfnll
: for the fee prescribed by law. 10 he paid a
y the law directs. And ii would he a"ains
= public policy as we'll as against law, TO ho
le otherwise y
u The next ease recorded is that of Snydc
- vs.. Wise. 10Th Barr, 1871. In that trial
N judgment Of a justice Of the peace OF Indian
p was certified TO by cleIk Of the Count
'e Coult, and the eNempIihcalion offered i
nj evidence. The act of Congress regulain
~ the admission Of such papers is school DO
s, law, which the youngest attorney at III
n. bar would blush to be ignorant Of. Ii pre-
ydes that every such certificate shall be uC
= only signed by the clerk Of the Court, br
- by the Judge of the County Court. Thj
" is A b c law, which every student knows
" =. Nevertheless Judge Campbell admitted III
-, certificate.
- The case went 10 the Supreme Court, an
> the ';ouchsionen was applied and the 'bas
:, melaln exposed, Mr.. Brightly, who is
candidate for the Judgcship Of the Commo
: Pleas, and therefore nor courts the fave
:" and influence Of Judge CampbeH, then argr
Nv uaI 81 rOuulv AGAINST the upciSion On Il