Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-04-30
WASHINGTON NEWS and GOSSIP.

'~, ~ "Aos e0oms 70 u 70 Do lhOOfoo
efort to generate a popular impression that
judicial decisions should really Be Of no more
weight than those of Tom, DIX, and Har-
~" upon points Of Law, grsvsly sets down
1883, or about that period, as that Of the COM
menosment Of the practice Of the English
judges of giving reasons for their opinions
The reading Of the writer Of the article In
question is decidedly modern, It strikes rs; in
somuch a. 1t is we'll known to all versed in
the history Of the English law courts, that 70.
ports Of cases tried in the reign Of Henry III.
are preserved, and to this day not unffequently
quoted and otherwise referred to-thus going
back to the year 1852, four hundred and TWEEN.
ty-six years before the earliest period set down
BY the Tri5mns's historian.
The editor seems to be inclined to have points
Of law left in the condition Of points of the.
ology In those churches in which no authority
exists according to their creed, which ranks as
final arbiter on all points of dootrinal faith,
for all their believing members. In many
churches, particular theological points of diff
ference among the faithful have existed near
ly as long as the organisations themselves,
and are being squabbled over at this time, as
6ercely as hundred years ago. One leading
reason for the remarkable vitality and ubi-
guilty Of the Catholic Church-its power to
maintain itself wherever the foot of civilized
man tresds-is the invariable habit of its mem
bers to regard a. settled, not to be again die
putsd over, all points of difference in faith
that have been adjudicated by its highest (ec-
court.
Those in business, however disputatious they
may be over points Of religious doctrine, in
ysriably desire to have questions of Law finally
settled; mono evincins greater anxiety to that
end than those of the legal profession, who
live by Hsputing law points for others If
the ideas Of the Trtbuns's editor prevailed,
the legal opinions of judicial officers would DO
worth no more in the final settlement of human
(business) affairs, than those of any smart dis
putatious individual. We should have a nice
time of it, indeed, in society, under such a
state of circumstances, wherein no mans title
moro especially if smart lawyer practicing
before stupid, prejudiced, excitable, or cor.
rupt jury, undertook to seek it for another.
In those times, when verdicts against law and
evidence are now and then rendered, and when
mobs undertake to set up higher law than
the Constitution and statutes Of the United
States, it is the duty Of all really considerate
citizens to frown down all such efforts as that
of the Tribune, to bring the judiciary into pop.
ular contempt
An Important Regulation. have moro
than once taken occasion TO protest against
the practice Of speculation on the part of ofa-
GERS of the government on the frontier, show.
ing that 1t not only tends to generate an i'm
proper disoharge Of the public duties Of those
SO engaged, but to justify unjust and illegal
conduct towards the Indians In others. The
circular, now being sent out from the
Interior Department, bears out all We have
said on the subject, and shows that as far as
they can do 30, the practice Of speculation on
the part Of government employees is to be bro
ken up by the present administration. We
designed publishing this circular on Friday
last, but have not been able to find room until
to day. 1t will be perceived that dismissal
from Office is clearly intimated as tho penalty
Of violation of Its provisions or their spirit
after the date of the acknowledgment Of its
receipt:
TIE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
DEPARTMENT or THE INTERIOR,
Washington, April rs, 1855. I
SIR: IL view Of the large number of bounty
land warrants about to be issued by this De
partment, under q recent law of Congress
granting additional bounty land for military
service, and the tendency to speculation which
will thereby be engendered, deem it proper
to admonish the officers and agents Of this De-
partment Of the improperly Of their becoming
interested in any such traffic.
Dealing inland warrants or scrip. by officers
OF the General Government whose official posi-.
tons give them advantages over private oiti.
.sns-and few, If any, occupy positions which
do not to greater or less degree afford pecu-
liar privileges and offer corresponding tempta-
tions-is an obvious abuse Of official station and
even where the officer possesses no such unu-
sual facilities the suspicion Of neglect Of duty
which private speculation naturally excites in
the public mind tends to destroy that conf
dsnce which it should be the ambition OF every
o6acer to command.
While the practice, thus deprecated, may
not be generally and expressly Inhibited by
the strict letter of the law it is in the estima-
ton of the Department, as manifestly incon-
sistent with its spirit as it is improper; and
with these views On the subject it is hoped and
expected that no Officer OF other emnlove of
this Department, Of whatever grade, will on
gage in pursuit which cannot fail to bring
odium upon himself and the Government he
represents and none who do will have cause
of surprise or complaint at a withdrawal from
them OF the confidence which induced their
appointment
You are requested TO inform the Department
of the date Of the receipt, by you, of this cir
cular. Respectfully, DC DO,
r. McCLELLAND,
Secretary Of the IHterior.