The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-08-09
From The N. Y. journal OF Commerce
SUPREME COURT OF JUDGE LYNCH

An article from the Tribune has been shown us CON-
menting the refusal Of Judge Lewis discharge the
notorious Williamson from imprisonment the decision be-
ing based on the well-known principle of law that when
party has been committed for contempt by tribunal
competent Jurisdiction he shall be discharged by
other Judge Lewis, in rendering the decision Of the
court spoke seems of the confusion that would be the
consequence OF contrary practice The Tribune observes
that If Williamson is not discharged kind of confusion
little expected by the judge will result from it. On
ing to statute regulating the proceedings the
writ Of habeas corpus, there will be found provision that
the prisoner who out the writ shall Immediately be
remanded TO Imprisonment if il shall appear by the return
that he was committed by court which had jurisdiction
and power the subject. 1t would thus appear that
this welknown principle Of the law had assumed
statutory shape in this State shape which it received
when the State in solid hands But of what import
ance is this to the wild who begin by assaulting the
constitution in the positive stipulation for the delivery Of
fugitive slaves? The we-known principle of law TO
which have advered will be found to be- in the long
run, of great consequences to the community 1t
nbshed for their protection and benefit The coadjuors
OF Judge Lynch-the abotonsts Of the North--demand
that shall be utterly dsegarded for the cake Of carrying
out their idea.
The precedents of courts Of justice constitute in the
main, the great body of the law They found
in the reports of legal tribunals, which amount in the
whole vast body of Jurisprudence and contain
tent of solid WISDOM expressed in clear and forcbe
BuaRt WHICH no otner "oThS proceeding from human
minds excel equal These precedens are appealed 10
habtuay by the bar and generally reverced except
by Judge Lynch and his associates, epf
ested the Of wise decisions preserved and
continued because their rights and interests matters in
volving sometimes life and liberty well property de-
pend upon what thus established and upon the
bitrary rules which court might otherwise apply. If
Judge left to himself decide arbarlythat is to
say without consulting the great body Of learning and of
law which is furnished in the reports of adudicated
would be safe in court except he had friend the
bench, employed broker Of the accommodating char
acer ex-ademan who has lately figured before the
public
The decision Of Judge Lewis in conforming prece-
dent ought to receive the communication of all men who
feel that they have any part lot in carrying forward
cesfny the great experiment of free government in which
still engaged. Montesquieu, in bis Spirit of Laws
tells that Che Judiciary is nothng weak is ii in phys
cal force and dependent the other powers of govern
has the disposal of vast patronage The legislature
passes great variety of which touch intimately
means of anassing fortunes The judicial power ON the
contrary depends in great part upon the community and
stands the strength of its moral weight due the wis
dom and virtue which apparent in its decisions The
article in the Tribune is calculated to break down this
strength and establish in its place the tribunal which
toype who in older times made his decisions under sheds
in caves and enforced them at midnight, when sleep
threw his mantle over honest