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

Of personal motives, 1t Is due that il should not
be dismissed In this condition; but that 1t
should be settled fully, beyond appeal, finally
and forever, before the tribunal that the Con-
stitution has erected in the Senate of the United
States.
The questions Of public Law presented in the
Watrous case are of the very last importance
in relation to our Judicial system: and they
should be met by Congress now, and prece-
dents made for the future regulation of the
Judiciary. In this view we hope the case may
be brought to final trial. 1t is, we repeat,
the first proceeding in the history of the Gov
eminent to impeach Federal Judge for cor
rHption; and in the decision of this case it
will become necessary to define what is meant
by good behavior as the constitutional ten
ure of the judicial office; as Judge Watrous' ad-
vocates contend if we understand them cor
rectly, that he is accountable only for offences
in the nature Of common crimes and felonies,
and not for other misconduct.
This is a question which involves important
considerations of our system of government.
1t should be met now and in this very case
Again, it is understood from the defence
made for Judge Watrous by portion of the
committee, that it will be contended that q
Federal Judge cannot be impeached upon the
a:csrtainment Of what is commonly termed
probable causes, but that it must be on the
clear proof Of guilt Here is question, the
determination Of which must affect the whole
practice of impeachment; and the definite and
final action Of Congress upon it, will be await
ed by the public with no small degree of inter.
est.
1t is these grave issues which give the case
OF Judge Watrous prominence above the cir.
cumstance of the Nervousness of the charges pre-
ferrsd against him, and even above the fact OF
sovereign State occupying the position of &C.
cuser.
The circumstances all combine to require the
action of Congress On the case in the form of q
trial On the other hand, it is easy to see that
to dismiss the case recklessiy would accomplish
nothing; but would acquit Judge Watrous in g
very unsatisfactory manner if he be innocent
1t would do most violent injustice to the pub
lie and parties directly interested if he be
guilty; it would, at least, leave everything in
confusion and conflict and it could only have
the effect of avoiding the decision of question.
OF public law of the highest and most vital in.
terest.
OUR THEoRY.-We find the views We enter.
tain upon the philosophy of import duties I'm.
der the Government Of the United States mos,
forcibly and clearly stated in the brief extract
from the admirable annual report of Secretary
Cobb, hereto appended. We therefore adop,
1t, line for line, and word for word, as express
ing our doctrine upon the subject The day
will come, not long hence, we trust, when these
ideas viii again command the appreciation of q
large majority of both Houses of Congress. a,
we fear they do not now
Such duties should be laid as will nroducs
tns required revenue, by imposing on the people
al large the smallest and the most eoual bnrd.p.
IL Is obvious that this is most effctn,IIv 49, h.
taxing, In preference to others, such article, a,
are not produced in this country: and among ar
ticles produced here, those in which the HON,
nn,. pears tne least proportion to the quantt,
imported are the httest for taxation. Tbs axoy
Is that In taxing articles made in the coun,yy
tae whole sum taken from the consumer goo.
Idto the treasury, while In the other class the
consumer pays the enhanced value not oply on
tne quantity imported, but on the quantity mad,
at home. This last tax is paid NOT to IN. TEA.
ury, but TO the manufacture, thereby renderinO
such duty not only more burdensome bni
grossly unequal; the home producer being bene
htted at the expense of the consumer"
AProINrNENr.-J. HemphiII Jones, of Della.
ware, has been appointed Chief Clerk in the
First Comptroller's Office.
The WEArHER.-The following report of the
weather for this morning is made from the Morse
IL