Oroville daily Butte record., 1857-08-21
Mr.. EDiToR:

MR.. EDITOR:
/ see that there is studied attempt made
by some Of the indicators of Judge Lewis
judicial course for some time past, to create
in the minds of the people an impression,
that he has done his duty to the people, and
filled his present position according to the
requirements of the law. TO such an end
aims an an article in yesterdays issue of
that tAigh toned p paper which yesterday
foated the Democratic ticket at the head of
its columns, with the exception of the nama
of J. Z. n Lewis, and to-day smiliugly un-
furls the Peoples ticket 10 its admirers
Now, Sir, the law says that whenever it
shall appear necessary before the sitting OF
the Court Of Sessions TO the presiding Judge
thereof (Lewis) that a Grand Jury shall be
called, he shall order the Sheriff of the
County to summon one. Now as to the
necessity of jury, long before the 2l Mon
day of August no one, even the County
Judge himself will deny if he does, let the
overhowiDg cells of our crowded Jail answer
On the 2nd Monday of each year, the law
says that there shall be Court of Sessions,
and the law says that the accused shall have
speedy and public trials; but suppose there
is an exception to this law about like this
provided, ai,cays, that the said presiding
Judge shall not be required to do what the
laws direct, if he should chance to be can
didate for office and the election near at
hand.
The writer of the article referred to would
get Grand Jury from the assessment roll
of Butte county-a county that polls her
five thousand votes. 1t is simply an absurd
assertion He would have US to believe fur
ther. that neither public nor private rights
have been injured by adjourning the Court
for month. 1t will only Cos: the county
about SO 900, and the accused mass in our
Jail one more months unhappy confinement
But these items are overbalanced by the op-
portunty it affords to the presiding Judge of
the court, to eectiOneer for higher posi-
ton on the Bench, and to ndi t. lengthy
articles in his own defence and adulntion,
for very questionable democratic paper
The writer further says there are indct-
ments on hand sufficient to supplythe district
court for some time The stock on hand is
four indictments. and they can soon be dis
posed Of But this is no reason why the Court
of Sessions should not have had its regular
session, and disposed of about eight or ten
other subjects who stand charged with
crimes triable in the District Court, and of
.l,:. 8 10 ti,
Sessions Culpable negligence on the part
| the County Judge in not carrying out the
plain provisions of the statute in regard to
his duty, is the charge he must answer
Aud the people will hold him. and all their
other servants, to a strict accountability
where the law is so plain and mandatory.
As to that part of the article referring to
the Judge being absent from his post of du-
ty, on the first Monday of August; there
are scores here who know the fact; if he was
not electoneering, what was he doing at
Quincy. Plumas county, on that day? Aud
where was he, on the first four days of the
| last term of the County Court certainly he
was not on the bench But says the writer,
he has not left for that purpose, (of election
eering) since its adjournment perhaps
not, but he did leave, and from his situation
about that time, he being candidate, it Is
more than probable that such was his mis-
sion.
There are three Courts fixed by law to be
held in this county during the month of Au-
gust of each year,--the County Court, the
Court of Sessions, and the Probate Court,
each and all of which are of high importance
to the people of the county. Have these
Courts been held under the law, and the
business before them properly disposed Of
Any candid man and an observer of passing
events, must answer emphatically. No
The present County Judge has been
weighed in the scales of judcia! duty, and
| found wanting Then, sir, will it do, and
are the people justified in lending their sup.
port and votes to such man for higher
and more responsible ju'licial position The
people will not be mised by venal newspa-
pers bought for campaign only; they want
something more durable and more reliable
PUT.