Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-12-08
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

The Proposed IMPEACHMENT OF THE FED
sRAL JUDGE FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF
TExAs-Among the prominent topics continued
from the last session of Congress, calling for
prompt disposition, is the impeachment case of
the Hon. John c. Watrous, of Texas. 1t has
excited considerable comments in the public
press, which amount to a very general express
sion Of sentiment that it should be disposed of
finally by Congress, acting, as it always should,
in spirit of justice and for the public veal
Ii constitutes an important precedent, it being
the first proceeding to bring to trial Federal
Judge on open and direct charges of corruption
and dishonesty. The particular facts of the
case, too, are Of such notorious and grave in
terest as to call for investigation; and on the
whole, the question presented in the Watrous
case, appears to be not only one involving the
settlement of important public issues of public
law and Of the practice of impeachment. but
one OF the personal guilt or innocence of the
man Of the most heinous crimes that were ever
Perpetrated or ever alleged to have been per.
petrated under color Of high Federal office.
Ator number Of years. Judge Watrous' iu-
dicial conduct in Texas has been the subject of
the most violent public complaints; the State
and citizens of Texas and other States invoking
the only competent judicature in the country
mat Oh Congress-not, indeed, to affirm the
Judgment OF guilt, but only to do the simple act
OF justice OF trying the case, once and forever,
In the mode provided by the Constitution. We
intimate no opinion of Judge Watrous's guilt
or Innocence in recommending the determine
ton Of his case by full and just trial In
either case, a trial is desirable and we think
1t due to the Importance of the precedent, due
to the long sustention of the charges made
against the Judge, and especially due to Judge
Watrous, if charges 50 notorious and 80 appa-
renty sustained on preliminary Investigations
are really false, that tie controversy should be
determined by the final investigation and YER
dict of the Senate OF the United States.
"ewill briefly state the points, as they strike
US attera necessarily rapid examination of the
public documents which compose the record of
the case:
Judge Watrous was appointed by President
Polk United States district judge for Texas,
with the powers Of circuit judge attached to the
ONCE; and but short while after his elevation
to the bench, his judicial conduct appears TO
nave created great dissatisfaction and distrust
de was popularity accused of having obtained
the once with view TO specializing in land
nties, and abetting a monstrous conspiracy of
fraud on the public domain of Texas. These
accusations assumed definite and responsible
shape. Resolutions were adopted by the State
Legislature urgently requesting his resgna-
ton These appear to have been dsreyarded;
while, as his Judicial career progressed, other
acts OF bis were protested against; and specific
charges of the grossest corruption were at last
brought to the attention Of Congress with n
view to remove him violently.
In the memorial addressed 10 the Tb;-,v.
fourth Congress, he was accused, on alleged doc
umentary evidence OF the highest character, be-
ing records of courts, &C., of betraying and de-
Ifauding sultor IN his court; and he was also
charged, on full and apparently responsible
statementOf facts, with having sed his cour, to
advance corrupt and concealed interest of his
own IN certain land suits, and with having a.
sisted In the procurement of alleged illegal and
iOrseo testimony TO fortify the claim Of himself
anu partners to land prize Of eleven SQUARE
leagues.
10 THESE grave charges made under all the
circumstances of notoriety and public solen.
nifty, Judge "atrous interposed no defence
before Tie COMMITTEES Of investigation of the
rty-fourth Congress. A unanimous recon-
incubation was made by the committee of that
congress Tor his impeachment; but il was not
acted upon by the House. Finally the case
was pressed upon the attention of the present
congress, the Legislature Of Texas uryino
INSTRUMENTATION OF 1t, In the manner prescribed
Dy the constitution. Not until then did Judpe
various make an attempt for his exculpation
lie appears at last to have been drawn into a,
elaborate defence, assisted by the ingenuity oF
counsel and the testimony of favorable wit.
nesses. His impeachment is now recommended
by an equal portion Of the Judiciary Commit
tee that made the investigation; and the House
Is now called upon to determine the case by
putting the Judge on trial, or by Wholesale
Aequittal and discharge of the entire natter.
nave not indicated the opinion that the
Case should be fully and fairly tried by Con-
sies IRON any presumption OF our own that
su'h 'riai must result in his conviction of high
eres- We nave no right to presume this on
our shgn' acquaintance with the details of the
case. but however 1t may result, We think
that a trial is Important; that it in called f,r
by high considerations of duty and Of nnhI;.
policy, and that it should rot be avoided III,
~ and recklessly by Congress, to whom. and
to whom alone, the country can look for the Cor
reetion OF the abuses and the restriction of N.
limits oil the Judicial power. Todismiss the case
now would be but to make Confusion worse
eOniounded; for it would determine nothing
s.AuAiac'oriiy as to Judge watrous's guilt or
1Hnooehce' and would plunge the whole matter
again into popular disscnsions
The people Of Texas have shown that tbsv
will be satisfied with nothing short Of ,,;si
The Judge himself should be .a,i,s.d .;,,
nothing less. And, upon the whole, W. NAV
say, that after the case has progressed 10 f.r
and has excited the interest of the country
and has drawn out such conflicts of opinion in
the committeeman, and has involved 10 many
Questions OF public importance, 50 many CUES.
r0rs vt law and morals, and % many Questions