Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-01-11
NEWS AND GOSSIP.

which this bill has passed the House of Rep.
resentatives, is really true criterion Of the
feeling of this community on the subject We
have talked with men here of all classes, Of
all vocatious, and Of all parties, and have
found that wherever an objection or doubt
has been expressed upon this subject by per-
son with whose pocket the bill does not pro-
pose directly to interfere, it has invariably
been founded upon some misunderstanding.
Some Of our citizens object to the bill, be-.
cause they suppose that it makes the judges
removable at the will of the President. This
Misrepresentation has been most industriouslv
disseminated How often must it be nailed to
the counter? The eighteenth section of the
bill provides that the judges ''shaIl hold their
offices during good behavior for the term of
ten years, and may be re-appointsd' Is it
not we'll settled that such a term. protects the
judge from the Executive arm during his
term? The authorities upon this point have
been already cited by the writer of the article
signed Jefferson" which appeared in the
National InteiHgencer, in reply to commu-
nication which was published in the same
journal over the signature of "Madison"
But notwithstanding the prompt confuta-
ton Of Madison's" notion, it appears that
another contributor to tho columns Of the
Intslftgemcer has attempted to reviveit Upon
his own bare assertion that the judiciary is to
be rendered subservient to the Executive
power and without even the pretence of
proof or argument, Democrat gives vent
to his Indignation in passage which closes
in the following choice and ele CANT dictisn
fully oppose such an innovation upon the
rights of the citizen, and frown upon this at
tempt to procure the passage by Congress of
this fatal 6lo,c to oar Liberties by the de.
struction of their only bulwark, the independ-
ence of the judiciary"
1t is evident from this that the apple Of dis
cord has been thrown in our midst and un-
less nipped in the bud, it threatens to burst
forth into confagration tn at will deluge the
whole land
Closely allied to this is another msrepre-
sentation touching the method of appointing
the judges. 1t has been noised abroad that
they are to be elected by the people. The
shortest answer to this wilful Justification is
that 1t IS not tJa6. And we may add here,
what we ought to have stated before, that
there is really nothing in this bill distasteful
to those who are partial to life tenure. The
evil Of elective judiciaries consists, in our
humble judgment, not so much in the method
of appointment as in the tenure of Office But
tits very obvious, that where the method of
appointment is changed-wheFe the power of
appointment is left with the Executive, the
reason upon which the objection rests no
longer applies.
There is another idea which prevails pretty
generally in this community, and which, like
the dug. in the balance, has determined the
opinions OF many Of those who were in doubt
about the merits OF the bill under considera-
ton Many person suspect that the honora-
bic member OF the Judiciary Committee who
reported this bill was actuated by personal
considerations. But even if SO, what of that
We ssk the pertinent and practical question,
Wh:I; " that If the mover of the bill wac
aetuaied solely by personal motives, (Which
is not true,) and if he was the sole author Of
the biH (Which is not true,) let us make use
OF him. -four Judgment approve this mea
sure; If We feel that it is of vital importance
to our welfare and prosperity; if we know
that, this opportunity neglected, we may never
have another, why should we reject the
profered boon merely because we imagine
that its acceptance will graft the feelings Of
a single individual? Do we not know that
the day Of its rejection will be day of exul-
tation and triumph to many who have been
stimulated by just such motives to put forth
all their energies for the purpose of defeating
this measure! We declare aloud hat we will
not allow ourselves to be Influenced by any
man to become party to his private quar-.
rels. But if we sacrifice our dearest rights
merely for the purpose of rebuking him, are
we not influenced by him? Is not that, to use
a homely expression, cutting off our nose to
spite our face & -H AA1-
But it is well known that the mover Of the
bill was actively engaged in this cause long
before ne could possibly have been suspected
Of such motives, even by those Eho are I'M
acquainted with that high and chiyalrous
sense of honor which is so conspicuous in his
character. 1t is we'll known that his vigor
BUS and independent propagation of the prin.
cipies Of reform was the very thing that
brought him into odium with parties who may
not fare so we'll under reform, and gave his
enemies an excuse for this cry of personal
motives - a..
The next objection which We have eneoun.
'ered, is Of most extraordinary character
1t appeals directly to the worst principles of
he worst class Of men in the community It
,as been represented thai this bill gives
snap judgment This term is certainly
unknown to our law. What does it mean
u 1t means that an honest creditor is to be |
allowed to recover his claim against dishon-
'st debtor speedily, We answer that it ought
10 20 So II 1t means that the honest poor |
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