Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1857-02-03
rRnM CRY.
Correspondence Of The Richmond EnquIrer.l
WASHINGTON, January 10, IS

Correspondence Of the Richmond Enquirer.J
WASHINGTON, January 10, 1857.
IMPEACHMENT OF THE UNITED STATES yUDSE
FOR TIE DISTRICT OF TE~xAs-GRAxE hAKGE
DUTY OF THE PREsS-THE JUDlClARf-II
SHOULD Blk ABOVE SUSPICION
have been aware for some time Of the main
features of the great impeachment case which
will shortly occupy the attention OF the eoun-
try, and is now under Amusement In the Com
mittee of the Judiciary in the House. From an
indisposition to say any thing about 1t in the
| ENQUIRER, from the fact that a distinguished
member from Virginia was on that committee,
a subject of real interest and grave Importance
has thus been withheld from your journal. Inc
nnbIicitv Of the afair-the universal gossip In
the press PRO. and con. render 1t unnecessary TO
observe any further silence, accordingly fet
il a duty to the accused official, and the people
/ Of the State of Texas, to notice the Whole snalr.
lodge j. c. Watrous, as the United States
Iudge of the District Of Texas with Circuit
Court powers. is charged by that State with
fraud and corruption. Several citizens OF tht
State particulariZe the charges brought forward
bv The state Legislature, and the press with
great bitterness of feeling continue to demand
the impeachment or removal Of the Judge.
tn following charges, presented by the Hon.
AIR. Bell, for Mr.. E. Spencer, will give an idea
Of the gravity OF the Gaze:
1. That John c.. W3troUs. while he was the
sole presiding Judge Of II Federal Court OF
Texas, acquired s~ecretly aud under cover OF
another mans name, an Interest In an eleven
league grant, with notice that the land covered
BY said eleven league grant was IN the actual
adverse possessions, under a claim OF title, OF
your msmorialist and other persons claiming
title to said land.
.. That the said John c. Watrous, while
Judge as aforesaid, made the purchase or ac-
ouired an interest as aforesaid, with the under
standing and intention Of litigating and deter
mining the validity of said eleven league grant
in the Federal Court of Texas, Of which be
was the sole presiding Judge.
3. That the said John c. Watrous as afore-
said, counselled and procured the entire appa-
rent legal title to be made to a nonresident of
the State of Texas, thereby to confer jurisdic-
ton on the Federal Court to hear and determine
any suit that might be brought to test the va
. Iidity Of the said eleven league grant.
4. That suits were brought in the Federal
Court Of Texas on or about the 18th day of
January, A. d. 1851, in the name of a resident
citizen OF the State of Alabama as sole paintifi
against memorialists and other occupants of
said land, in all consisting of eleven cases, in
which suits various orders were made, the said
WatrOus being then an there the sole presiding
Judge.
5. That said John C. Watrous, Judge as
aforesaid, while said suits were pending in bis
court as aforesaid for and during nearly -four
years, fraudulently and corruptlY concealed his
interest in the subject matter of litigation.
6. After the detection Of the interest of said
Watrous in said suits, he caused an order to be
[ entered, of record therein, changing the venue.
Z. that after the emoval Of said suits, the
title Of the plaintiffs to the said eleven leagu,
grant, was attempted to be sustained among
other documents, by virtue Of ah instrument il
t writing purporting to be a power of attorney
which said instrument is a forgery and known
as such to the parties offering the same, all o.
T which was done with the previous knowledge
z advice and assent Of the said John C. WatTous
as aforesaid.
The press of the country has two duties t.
perform in such cases-One the defense Of tn
I innocent, the other the prosecution Of the guilty
E No man should be too high for its shafts, AM
G none too humble for its friendship. If Judg
Watrous is guilty Of any one Of the accuse
tons placed at his door, he should be Temove
e at once from the bench. If innocent, he shoul
t establish it by the only proper means provide
, by the laws of Congress. | know nothing o
the merits of the case, one way or the Other
o but it is evident now that public Justice, tn
important rights Of l~itigants and the chaTacte
= and influence Of the Judiciary demand a thor
. ough investigation Of this matter, and a decis
ion which will settle it one way or the other