New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-07-29

There is 10 more alarming circumstance in the
present social and political condition of the United
States than the growing dissatsfaction everywhere
evident with the Judicial tribunals, and the grow
ing distrust in the administration of justice e.
pecially Of criminal justice. And what renders
this ditrust and dissatisfaction the more alarming,
is that they are evidently so well founded.
It is dissatisfaction at the administration OF
criminal justice far more than anything else, that
has brought ab out the present extraordinary state
of things in California, where the whole machinery
Of the State Government has been temporarily So
perreded by most dangerous experiment, the ulti'
mate result of which it is yet impossible to oresee
1t is this growing dssatisfsction with the 3D.
minis!rsiion Of justice which has led In 20 many
States--Our own among the rest-to the expert
ment of elective judiciaries-a remedy, we
are sorry to cay, which, however plausible
In theory, has thus far proved in practice entirely
inadequate to remedy the evils complained Of, and
which in some cases-as in California for instance,
not to mention those which have occurred nearer
home--has raised very miserable blackguards to
seats on the Bench. Justice however requires
the conft sson, that if we compare the very worst
Judges yet appointed by popular vote with such
men, for instance, as Judge Kane CT the Eastern
District of Pennsylvania, Judge Crawford of the
Criminal Court of the District of Columbia, and
Lecompte, the infamous and atrocious Chief JUS
tice of Kansas-we shall be driven to confess, that
however the rev method of appointing Judges BY
popular election may have failed to fulfill the wishes
nj ia "a tho old Fuatha1-
that Of Executive By its fruits,
has still less to recommend 1t.
The conservative classes, who have ever been
accustomed to look to the Judiciary as the great
bulwaIk of property and of personal rights, can
not but regard the growing contempt into which
our tribunals falling fraught with the greatest
dspgers to the community. Hence they may reason.
ably be expected to discouL tenance course of pol
icy which, by employing the Judiciary not for the
administration Of justice, but as one OF the means
of accomplishing an unlawful object, exposes
the whole system to popularaversion and contempt.
1t is impossible to imagine anything more dam
aging TO the popular reputation of the Judiciary
than the use made by the Federal Administration
of Judge LecOmpte, as an instrument of tyranny,
oppression aud outrage Ia the Territory Of Kansas.
The Border Ruffars of Missouri, the Administra-
ton at Wsshr gtcn, and the politicians who have
nominated Buchanan for the Presidency, and who
are urging his election, are engaged in plot to
make Kansas a Slave State. This plot they pro.
pose to carry out by preventing any more Free
State men from settling in the Territory, and by
driving out those who are already there. For the
accomplishment of both these equally Illegal OBJ
jects, they do not hssitate to resort to the most
illegal and violent means Steamboats, on their way
up the Missouri river are stopped by armed
bodies Of men, are searched from stem to
stern, every passenger is obliged to give
an account Of himself, every trunk and
other package is examined, and if any unfortunate
Free. State men are found on board, they are not
only sent back again down the river but are robbed
of their arms, and In many cases Of their clothing
and their money. Parties of Free-Siate emigrants
attempting to cross the State Of Missouri BY land
are in like manner stopped Onthe highways, robbed
and prevented from passing through the State.
Should any of them eyade these obstacles and enter
the Territory they are liable to be robbed and dis
armed by the Border Ruian settlers Of the frontier
towns, and should they apply to Gen. Smith com
handing the United States troops for protection,
all they get from him is lecture on The mpoicy Of
coming into the Territory under existing circum.
stsncts and bis advice to move out Of speedily
as possibly.
These outroges however, against the Free State
men, scsndaous as they are, yet dwindle into insig
ni6cance when compared with these perpetrated
BY Chief Justice LecOmpte ia his official character,
and by Marbsl Donaldson and "Sheiiff Jones
in their Official characters under colcr Of Law, and
as we have every reason to bslsve, by express in-
siructions ficm Washir gtop, forwarded from the
Attorney Generals Office. When we consider the
outrages tf which Lecompte and Donaldson have
been guilty, il is impossible to imagine that they
would remain in office for single day had they net
acted by such orders Instigattd by orders frcm
Washington, at all events sanctioned By tie Pre.i
dents tact approval, Lecoupte causes bogus in
dictn enis for ieh treason 10 b. found against the
principal Fiee-Stste leaders, under which bogus
Indictments several of them have been held In close
pi,on for months, with the prospect before them,
should Buchanan be elected President, that this
tedious and most false imprisonment will be fol.
owed BY hanging The same Grand Jury, under
Iitructions Of the same bogus sort upon which
their indictments for treason were found, indict
the hotel and the printing Offices at Lawrence
as nuisances. aud poae of Border Rafians
collected by Marshal Donaldson, and brought
hy him TO Laarence, is there employed by
"sherif' Jones in burning the hotel, sacking
The printing Offices, ard in the general robbery aud
plumber Of that unfortunate settlement. Accord.
ing to Judge Crawford, II is lawful selfdefense 10