Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-03-24
The RemovAI OF Judge Loring.

Az many stains az the escutcheon of Massa-
chusetts has received from the indiscreet and
incorporate fanaticism of portion of her
people. the foulest of them all is the consum-
nation of the Legislative and Executive con-
i piracy to remove Judge LoRNG. While the
rash acts of her citizens, melted by the demon
spirit of the mob, have blurred, the fair pages
of her history, the deliberate official act of
her Governor and Legislature, has placed on
them blot, which the good deeds of a limit
less future cannot wholly wipe out 1t is an
undisguised attack upon the personal honor
and conscience of citizen, and upon the in
tegrity and independence of the Judiciary.
We are too far Off to enter into an elaborate
review of the case. but being based upon hos
tiity to Southern institutions. we briefly refer
to the facts.
Judge LoRING has for many years held the
Office of Judge of Probate for one of the coun-
ties of the State, and also that of Commits
sioner or Justice Of the Peace for the United
States. Prior to the passage of the fugitive
slave law of 1885, there was no conflict; nor
indeed::till May, 1854. In that month a fugi-
tive slave, Anthony Burns, was arrested in
Boston, under the act of Congress of 1850,
and carried before Judge LoRNG, who re-
manded him to his master. This case created
extraordinary excitement in Massachusetts,,
and much Interest throughout the Union.
Judge LoRING Immediately became the object
of all the concentrated wrath of the aboli-
tionists and other fanatics. They pursued
him with bitterness and unresting malignity
which have no parallel He was prosecuted
with the grossest abuse, every descrip-
tive word applied to him was superlative.
Two successive Legislatures addressed the
Governor for his removal. But Gov. GARD
NER twice withstood the clamor and refused.
A new Governor, if not before, now immor-
tally Infamous, N. p. BANKS, was elected. The
Legislature appeared more determined than
ever to compass the removal. Two plans
were set on foot. The Senate entertained
bill for the consolidation of certain courts,
which would effect the end, and the House
framed the customary address. The gracious
Governor complied with the address, and
the Judge was removed fromoflice. By
hold their Office during good behavior
There are two modes of removing them
by impeachment and by address to the
Governor. The first lies in cases of NAL
feasance, bad conduct-the other in cases
of sickness, insanity or other incapacita-
ting natural causes. The charge against
Judge LoRING was that he had obeyed the
laws of the United States in the delivery of
the fugitive Burns to his master, and SO violat-
ing law of Massachusetts. This, if an offence
at all, merited impeachment. But the black
republican Governor and Legislature knew
that an impeachment would fail !; and so they
took an unlawful course to accomplish their
aims, which they knew would not fail. And
so Judge LoRING falls. OF course his place
will be filled by one who, placed in a similar
position would not act as Judge l.. did but
in violation and defiance of the laws of Con-
gress, made under the Federal Constitution.
Thus Massachusetts, has taken next to the last
step to disunion, notification. She holds her
own Ubiquitous laws superior to those of the
Union. So far as Judge LoRING is concerned,
he has shown himself an upright and honest
judge, determined, at all personal hazards, to
conscientiously discharge his duty as an Off
Ger Of the State and of the Federal govern
ment In becoming a martyr to his conscience
and his duty, he has magnificd his fame, and
made himself great by his moral heroism.
But for the bright hopes of the country it is
a sad omen. 1t is disgraceful to Massachu-
sets as State, and will ever so remain.