New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-14

To change ones coat is easy. A coat l. some
thing external, intended to be put on or taken
of, and what odds does il make to such high
minded" persons "a the Governor boasts him.
sell 10 be whether lie wears the uniform of the
Sims Brigade or iolrishes externally little
Anti-slavery-proyided Away that his heart is
all the time the same, and that he remains from
first to last, in reality and act, consistent
Hunkerl
But then there are some things which even
Governor Gardner can't do. We have in the
Gospel caution against putting new wine into
old bottles wise canton which Governor
Gardner, while offering himself as Ant-Slavery
candidate, and which the Anti-Slavery Legisls-
ture and people of Massachusetts, in calling upon
the Governor 70 remove Judge Lorng, seem to
have forgotten. The experiment has been tried,
and as q natural consequence the bottle has
burst.
The show of argument with which the Gov
ernOr attempts to cover up his real ground of
action is highly Characteristic. As an exhibition
of modest assurance il has seldom been outdone
Governor Strong, he informs the Legislature,
did not understand the Constitution, and Mr.
Webster and the whole host of distinguished
jursconsults no attempted to get the Constitu-
ton altered in 1870, were a set of blunderers.
never occurred TO them aud il remained for
Governor Gardner to discover that under the
Constitution of Massachusetts, there is no power
of removal in the case of Judges except BY i'm
for mia in of h. al
dress for physical incapacity. The Governor
indeed speaks of impeachment for "crime;"
but the only ease in which the Constitution
Of Massachusetts, allows an Impeachment is
the case Of misconduct or mal-adminis-
q" tration in ofhce," so that according to
Governor Gardeners doctrine it is essential to
the independence and purity of the Judiciary
TO retain on the Bench all Judges ever placed
there, no matter how great scoundrels they may
prove themselves nor how odious or infamous
their conduct, provided they continue physically
capable and take care 10 commit no misbehaviOr
in Office IT. for instance, the Governors busi-
ness. political and personal friend Mr.. Hiss the
recently expelled member of the Massachusetts,
House, had gone to Lowell, not as a member of
a Legislative Committee, but "a a Judge to try
somebody for adultery, and if, after giving fur-
Gus charge to the Grand-Jury on that subject,
the very same things had happened the afternoon
or night following that did happen in Mr.. Hiss's
case, Governor Gardner being addressed by the
Legislature to remove this Judge would have
declined to do so, and yailing the sympathies of
personal and political friendship and completely
in the same guilt under discreet disguise of
d" conscientious motives" and ga desire TO do
right for the sake of right at all hazards,
would have alleged as the ground for this refusal
a special regard for the purity and independence
of the Judiciary
In the common completely of Governor Gard
ner and Judge Loring in the guilt of unfolding
the Fugitive Slave Act it is easy to find 3 sufi-
cient explanation of the Governors conduct.
II is not necessary to suppose, as many do that
he has been tempted to drop the substance in
snatching at a shadow, and that the idle hope of
emitting a figure in national politics has tempted
him to forego all chances of reelection as Gov
ernor Of Massachusetts,.