Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-02-25
was the accused cited to appear, though Judge

was the accused cited to appear, though Judge
Peck was indeed present as matter of favor,
and on his solicitation, in his own words ser
gratiG," before the committe, combining him
self, however, to mere crosse examinations,
without introducing testimony to rebuf, or IN
his own defence. (See Peck's Trial, page ~
In the great parliamentary case OF Hastingf'
so illustrious in English criminal history,
the wealth, power. and influence OF the colos-
sal culprit, were not sufficient alone to give
him hearing before the parliamentary CON-
mi,tse prior to impeachment; but it was ne
o,ssary that he should petition for it in the
nature of an humble suppliant. Yet, said
Mr. Nicholson in Chase's trial:
"But although be was acquitted, has his
innocence been established. No, sir: bis &C.
quit'al has fixed a foul stigma upon the Eng.
lsh character; and it has been said that &c Q
plumber Of empires was the best proof of his
innocence, for by that he was acquitted"
In the case of Judge Watrous now before
Congress, in which our readers are aware We
have taken great interest, from our knowledge
OF tho facts and of the parties, it is evident
from the memorials presented and from the
report Of the COMMITTEES that strong and un.
controyerted evidences Of guilt have been in
trodu:ed-snd that the matter is so far before
the public that impeachment must follow as
thing Of course. Congress would not stultify
its own committee, and the friends Of Judge
Watrous, if he be innocent, would demand for
him the vindication which q trial can only
give. He has long had knowledge of these
proceedings and has not asked to appear, as
in the cases cited, in person or by attorney, In
the preliminary examination. 1t is no longer
private matter, but question between the
judiciary and the People. To stine it would
be to do great public wrong. It would be
impossible to know hereafter what amount or
kind # malfeasarce would be necessary to
satisfy the morals and fashion Of tie day.
The report Of the committee fixes a foul stain
upon the judiciary, and no other committee,
but Only the Senate itself, can free it of that
stain.
Is IL conceivable that a judge will he al
l9Tld to exercise all the high functions of his
office during toe coming summer and fall,
whose impeachment has been thus pressed
asked for by the legislature CT State, by nu-
mercus private persons, by the unanimous re-
port Of committee specially charged with
the matter, for there has been 10 minority
r3port,) and by the entire delegation Of the
states Of Texas and Louisiana, who are mot
interested in tie actions of this furctionary?
1t is not Is it possible that such a Judge
could be useful Would the rights of State
by such course be respected, or would thew
be treated with contempt
What probable cause" for Impeachment
higher than has been shown, could be asked
for 1t would be evidence in the nature of
the a1ions Of Euclid.
Let this impeachment fail, and it will be be-
lieved in the country that this boasted power
Ct preserving il it's purity the administration
Of justice is but fiction to delude the unwary.
As may we'll bo imagined, wba. bonus
would this held cut to injustice, wrong and
oppression, already but too common in this
land
Congress has began within its own bcdv TO
make examples and fearful ones too of alleged
offenders, and shown the utmost solcituds to
protect its fair escutcteon. Itsh2uld not end
here in the work, tu. remedy wrong and pun
Ism wrong doors in all the cases where il il
the exclusive tribunal provided for that pur.
pose. The rights Of the humblest citizen are
as important as those of a member Of Con-
gress, Of FEDERAL Judge, or the rights Of the
whole community togehc-.
Something has been said about the uucer-
taihty and cost Of an impeachment. Upon
this point there lie but one remark: has not a
great writer said, "The whole machinery Of
the state, Kings, Lords and Commons, all the
complicated apparatus of the system of gov.
eminent end simply in bringing twelve good
men into the jury box, and is not one honest
judge often of equal Importance, our courts
will show, with these "twelve honest meL1"
The Indisns.-A proposition is now being
agitated here, which has for is end the policy
of removing all the Indian tribes except those
located immediately on the Arkansas and
Texas borders, to Western Minnesota, and
there providing for them permanent homes
IL strikes US as being fraught with danger.
The tribes proposed to be concentrated there
a'e, many Of them, almost in state of nature
numerous, fierce and untractable. They
have tradisionary feuds, one tribe with another,
running back far beyond their memory of
anght else. cooPed up there, the chances
are that these feuds will break out ilto wars
of determination. If not, and they ka,mo.
niAe. it will require force of it nc y be 100 coo
men, TO keep them from all uniting against the
whites on their borders Better let them re-
main where they are Besides, we have no
idea that the Government could stand the flu
ture pressure for their removal from their prom
ised perpetual home, any better thsn it
has been abe to Withstand similar and 80 far
successful pressures Of interested parties to
bring about their remov al further West, when-
ever and wherever they occupied soil neces-