The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1856-02-16

aud to the future--to right and to wrong
toiustice and to truth-and from that respon-
sibility the members Of the Legislature may
hope to escape. There is q future as well
as a present. Let not that fact be forgotten.
Among other frumors, we hear it bruited
about that it is in contemplation to remove, by
address, Chief Justice Merrick and Justice
Buchanan, for the Supreme Court not because
any charges are brought, or can be brought,
against their judicial conduct, but because it
is alleged they belong to what is known as the
American party!
1t is also rumored that the majority intend
removing, also by address, the recently-elected
Sheriff, District Attorney, Coroner, Clerks
and other officers Of the Parish Of Orleans.
This rurnor is. going the rounds of the opposi-
ton journals as if with a view to the manu-
facture Of a false public opinion.
We have given these rumors for what they
are worth, and for the present shall have little
more to say. So far as the individuals men
toned are concerned, the question is of no ex-
traordinary Importance. But, the principle
involved is of the gravest character and, once
submitted to, would eventuate in a tyranny
more irresponsible, grinding and unbearable
than that which weighs down the people Of any
country in the Old World. 1t would be far
worse than the cowardly despotism of Naples
the meanest and most contemplate despotism
in Europe-for there, what, little liberty the
subject is allowed is. distinctly marked and de-
fined, and he knows precisely what he can de-
pend on. Here-should the rumors we have
referred to, be verified in practice-no man
will know how he stands, what he can depend
upon, or whether he has any rights at all, Or
whether there are any laws at all. Everything
will be at the whim and caprice of an irrespon-
sible oligarchy, denominated o Legislature.
If the Legislature can remove Messrs. Ner-
rick and Buchanan-not because they have
been guilty of the smallest misconduct in Of
fce--but because their politics do not accord
with those of the majority, the Legislature may
remove all the other judges in the State for
similar reasons. The people may continue to
elect until doomsday, but if they do not choose
men suited to the tastts of a partizan legisla-
ture, that Legislature will nnllify their will,
trample upon their choice, and tell them, vir-
tually, that they are incompetent to make
proper selections of judicial tunctionaries!
So, too, in regard to the Sherietf and other
officers of the Parish of Orleans. If the Legis-
lature can address Sheriff Hufty out of office
after htuing gone through all the forms pre-
scribed q regularly specified Court-without a
charge against his official conduct, without a
why or wherefore, save that his political tenets
are displeasing-they may address every other
sheriff in the State out of Office similar grounds,
or, on no grounds at all. The way rumors run
it is not necessary to have any groundAb any
proof, any reasons, Or anything else. All that
is required is to have the votes of an arbitrary
and constituencies majority, and the thing is
done, justice, precedent, honor, right, law and
the primal wish Of the people to the contrary,
notwithstanding. Admit the principle and
the people will have no rights-all power will
center in the hands Of the Legislature,
Crescent.