The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-09-12

The ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN NEw
YoRK-The recent charge of Judge Russell to
the Grand Jury has furnished the Journal Of Com
merce with an opportunity of paying handsome
and well merited tribute to that magistrates
judicial career. Our contemporary eulogizes in
particular that passage in the Judges address in
which he directs attention to the improper and
frequently corrupt discharge of criminals by
subordinate magistrates without compliance with
the usual formalites required by the law. 1t
thinks that the detel mination announced by him
to punish all such lacles on the part Of commit
ting magistrates is one that will be highly condu-
Give to the interests Of justice, and it expresses
hope that he will persevere in 30 praise worthy
purpose
We need scarcely say that in these opinions of
Our contemporary in regard to Judge Russell's
course we heartily concur. We have from time
to time taken occasion to support him when the
unfinching discharge of his duty exposed him
to the hostility and calumnies of those who were
interested in defeating the impartial administra-
ton of the law. 1t will be in the recollection
of our readers that when Judge Russell was put
in domination for his present Office, he was
charged with incompetency for its duties and we
ourselves encountered no small share of abuse for
supporting his election. 1t is gratifying to find,
after heightened experience of his capabilities,
that he has amply fulfilled all the anticipations
formed of him. He it was that so promptly put
down that dangerous crime which, under the
name of garroting, at one time filed the minds
of the community with anxiety and terror. The
prompiness with which criminals of this charac-
ter were brought to trial, and the severity with
which they were punished, not only arrested
the spread of this offence but also exercised
wholesome influence on other malefactora At a
time when our city was reduced to a condition of
complete anarchy, and when the conflict between
the State and municipal authorities left our cit-
gems almost wholly without protection, the fear
less and infexible discharge Of his duties, by
Judge Russell, alone sufiiced to keep criminals
in check and to prevent the city being abandon
Cd TO rapine and pillage. II was a fortunate
circumstance that in the confusion into which
we were thrown by that event We had one
magistrate honest enough to appreciate the
necessities Of his position, aud to pursue the
rigid course of duty that he had chalked out
for himself, irrespective of political consldera-
tons We assert without fear Of contradiction,
we have had no magistrate-not even excepting
Recorder Riker-who has done so much for the
interests Of justice, or who has exhibited 80 much
dignity, discrimination and inhexibility Of pur-
pose in the discharge OF his official duties as
Judge Russell.
There IL one recommendation which we have
10 make TO Judge Rufsen, as we'll as TO his
judicial brethren generally. 1t does not suffice
that the law shal be strictly and impartially adj
ministcred, but its dignity must also be main
taincd uDimpaired. What moral influence can
we expect our tribunals to have upon offenders,
whom they witness in them scenes such "a
that to which We had occasion to refer
yesterday! The manners Of the cockpit and the
barroom. and the language Of the stews, are not
exactly the modes of expression In which the
law should deal out il lessons and its punish
ments. 1t is for men like Judge Russell, who are
bold because they are conscientious, aud who
look for their reward solely to the approval Of
the honest portion Of the community, to put an
end TO this shameful prostitution Of the preroga-
tives Of the bar. With the power which the
Judges possess of Furnishing summarily offences
against the majesty of their courts, whether pro-
ceedipg from the sutton or counsel there ia no
-SsAsS>sor them passing over such violations OF
dccency and gentlcmanly conduct as that wit
messed on Wednesday last in the Lowber case
If they do not interpose their authority to stop
such low bred exhibitions, the public will give
them but little credit for desire to preserve
unsullicd the dignity OF their offices.
Mn. Boris IN ROUTE FOR EURorE.-Wc under
stand that the inevitable John NJ. Bolts, conspicu-
Gus in Virginia politics since the days Of Capt
John Tyler, leaves in the Vanderbilt today for