Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-03-02
Harvard University--The Rejection of Judge
T,0ytNg.


We take from The New York Dau Rook of the 20th
inst the following sound and sensible article:
sNever we venture to say, has an insntntlo3, the
conduct of whose affairs is presumed TO De IN the
hands of men of position and intelligence COMMITTED
such an act of madness and insanity as Harvard Uni-
versity in the rejection of Judge Loring as law lee
urer on account of obedience to the law In remanong
the fugitive slave Burns to his master Whatever
opinion person may entertain OF slavery aos.racy
considered, we do not how his mind could De so
warned as to countenance dsobedience 10 an express
STA enacted by the people. The very persons VINO
claim the privilege thus to dsobey law ana TO pese
others for doing the same, are the oudest IN
their protesaions against those VINO DO not OBEY ev
cry statute which they consider just and proper
question of fact came before Judge Lorng upon which
| he was bound to express an OPINION He was no
more responsible for the law, whether it were good or
bad in his estimation, than any other member III
society," and all that required OF him was TO state
| in his decision what the evidence presented TO him
proved. jury is called upon to decide in regard to
certain statements that my be made before them and
not to determine how the result OF those statements
shall affect any particular person or persons IL
Jury take it into their heads make the law, they
rob the people of their prerogatlve and assume res
possibility which cannot be shouidered with mpunl
w. Judge Lorng, in his decision in regard TO Burns,
merely stated The truth as the evidence before him
proved, and an honest, law abiding man, he could
have done no less nor no more. --.a.
Although these fundamental principles are so PLAIN
and unequivocai, yet there are found men-men whS
claim 10 possess tring amount of virtue and intel
Iigence who place the brand of disapprobaton upon
an individual who has the homes to stand up for
good order the midst of the upheavals Of wildness
and fanaticsm which shake less settled minds about
him. Judge Lorings position, IN our estimation
is one of no ordna ~ nobility In Immediate
contact with the most depraved public senti-
ment, where dreamy distractions and visionary I'M
probabilities are placed instead Of sound principles
of Justice and morality, he stands as the PERSONNEL
ton of obedience 10 law. With whitening rebuke,
, he can point them their sumptuary acts, and
condemn them out of their mouths. And yet
with blindness which passes comprehension, they
do not see the inconsistency of their conduct or the
daneero precedents they making Tor future gen
erations.
The remarkable observation which fanaticlsm or
one idea philosophy produces on mankind, is one OF
the most melancholy features of time, and never
has it been more powerfully illustrated than in the
case now referred to- 1t forcby illustrates the great
principle that course of always leads to grea
ter and greater blindness until the poor victim is
tuay bound hand and foot in the grosses mlsconcep
lions In the formation OF opinions a. we'll as ID The
management of business affairs in order to be RICH
n | we must start right The Abolitioniss of Boston
have mounted hobby of narrow minded philosophy
which can good in society unless it conforms
to the strict letter of their ceeds They have gnor
ed the great fountain OF truth, and in seeking iron
Their own wells and csterns they have fallen into
swamps, quagmires, and mud holes which has GOV
cred them with the filthy denominations of vanity
q PRIDE and conceit. The of Harvard Unyer
sty will. hen the age from its nitrous oxyt
ntoxcation be regarded with pity and surprise Will
the stand taken by Judge Loring will shise
. bright oasis in the midst OF agewhen abstract the
cries were placed for real truth, and when common
a sense was obscured by the vain deductions of human
reasons.