Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-02-19
lFrom eorraspondsntof the Richm md Enquirer ]
Impeachment Of Judge Watrons.

| have been aware for some time of the
main feature of the great impeachment case,
which will shortly occupy the attention Of
the country, and is Row under sdsisement
in the Committee of the judiciary. in the
House. From an indisposition to say any
thing about il in the Engutrer, frem the fact
that distinguished member from Virginia
was On that Committee, subject of real
interest and grave importance has thus been
withheld from ycur journal. The publicity
,f the sfair--lhe universal gossip in the
press pro aad con. render it unnecessary to
observe any further silence, and accordingly
I feel il duty to the accused official, and
the people OF the State Of Texas, to notice
the whole affdir-
Judge J. C. Watrons, as the United
States Judge OF the District of Texas, with
Circuit Court powers, is charged by that
State with fraud and corruption. Several
ciiizens of the State particular;se the charges
brou. ht forward by the Sta'e Legislature,
and the press with great bitterness of feel
ing continue to demand tbs Impeachment
or the REMOVAL of the Judge. The following
charges, presented by the Hon. Mr.. Bell,
for Mr.. E. Spencer. will give IN idea of the
gravity of the case:
/. That John c. Watrons, while he was
.he sole presiding l.dge OF the Federal
Court Of Texas, acquired secretly and 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 possession, under
. claim Of iitie,- o! your memorialist AMI
other persons claiming title to said land.
3. That the said John C. Watrons, as
Aforesaid made the purchase or acquired an
interest as aforesaid. with the understand
ing and Intention of li,isating and deter
mining the validity Of said eleFen league
grant in the Federal Court of Texas, Of
wh ,ch he was the sole presiding Judge.
8. That the said John C. Watrons as
aforesaid, counselled and procured the entire
apparent legal title 10 be made TO nom
resident of the State OF Texas, as thereby
TO confer juris,' iction on the Federal Court
of Texa. to hear and determine any sui;
that III light be brought to test the validity OF
the seven league grant.
!. That suits we're brought in the Fede-
raj Court of Texls on or about the llrh day
Of January, A. D. 1851, in the name of a
resident citizen of the State of Alabama
as sole plaintiff sgainst memorialist and
other occupants of said lan1, in all consist
ing of eleven cases, in which suits various
10 ha hasn
then and there the sole Presiding Judge.
8. That John c. Watrons, Judge as afore-
said, while said suits were pending for and
during nearly four years, frauduiently and
corruptsdly concealed his interest in the
subj CT matter of litigation.
6. After the detection of the interest OF
said Walrons in said suits, he caused an
order to enter. OF record therein, changinc
The venue.
:. That after the removal Of sad suits
the title of the plaintiffs to the said eleven
league grant, was attempted to be sustained
among other documents, by virtue of an in
strumen. in writing. purporting TO be a
,ower of attorney, phici said instrument is
forgery, ard known such to the parties
offering the same. all OF VII ch was dJne
with the previous hnoulsdge, edUicc and as
sent OF the said john g. Wa,rons, as aiore-
said.
The press Of the coup;ry b g two duies
to perform in such cases-one, the defence
of the innocent, and the other TIE prosecu-
,ion of the guilty. No man should be too
high for its shafts, and ne too humble for
fer its friendship. If Judge Watrons is
guilty. Of any one of the accusations placed
at his door, he should be removed ut once
from the bench. l. innocent, he should es-
tablish it by the only proper means provided
by the laws of Congress. ! know nothing
of the merits Of The case, one way or the
ether, but is it not evident that public JUS
lice, the important rights of litigaats, and
the character and influence of the Judicirry
demand thorough investigation of this
matter, and u decision which will settle it
one way ur the othe;.