The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-03-24
An Unyyortily Act.


The Boston papers bring Us intelligence of an
act of political intolerance aud injustice, " hich
nficts deep reprOach the elevated character
If the venerable Commonwealth, by which il has
been committed That upright aud independent
magistrate, Judge L0ring, has been removed from
Office by the Governor Of the State of Massachu-
sctts in accordance with address to that effect
by constitutional majority of the two Houses of
the Legislature. His offence was firm and faith
iul performance of his duty as United States Com.
missioner in the restoration OF IA might've slave
some years ago at Boston-a case which caused
much excitement at the time, and which our read
ers doubtless remember. This blow at the indie
pendeuCe of the Judiciary, in Cashicring Judge
fnr lhnexibly following his conscience. even in the
iaee pi popular passion aud intimidation, has been
struCk where We should least have locked for it
His moral courage and his honesty. under the cir
cumatances, should have commanded the respect
of even those who condemned his Judgment and
his conduct deserved a statue rather than disgrace
We are lapry, however, TO find enlightened presses
Of The North, of all parties censuring this unwist
At of political prescription The Boston TIayel-
lcr. the journal and other papers Of the Freesoil
party. condemn il ia unqualified terms. The last
uHmed raper boldly says:
fhe Legislature did an unwise and arbitrary
net in passing this address the instance of few
mirgnided fanatics, supported by women and boys
"ho hav ebeen cajnled into signing petitions tor
removal. 1t is q act not called for by public SEN
'iment, and which will recoiI upon its perpetra-
lt is diseugeLious. for no reasons are given
III INt HNutthS WY Judge IGFlb1 snOuiu De re-
moved, while those which were brought forward
in the report Of the committee that reported the
address have been pretty thoroughly refuted in
The course OF the discussion"
The Providence journal, leading paper Of the
Freesoil party. justly observes:
TIE removal of Judge for an official act in
which no corruption is alleged and incompe
teBcy is charged, IS very serious matter, and we
thiuk that the State of Massachusetts, will have
abundant reascn in the long future, to regret it,,
We believe in the Independence of the Judiciary
a. absolutely essential 10 the liberties of Repub
lie. II the decision OF the courts are TO be over
hauled by the Legislature, if the Judges are
Ia be removed on prctext that would nos sub
irct them TO impeachment, this independence is
lost
The New York Courier. too, denounces the act
both Us Hnwse and unbecomiEg. 1t says:
1.-The removal of Judge Lnriug is much to be
leplored, both for its effect upon Massachusetts
and npon the country generally: for the move.
meut for the removal has from the beginning been
animated by vindictiYe, venomous spirit Those
nho really desired that he shouId be displaced
we're very few, until the leaders of the extreme
aud fanatict faction whom he had offended in the
Burns matter lashed those who were reasonably
with them upon other subjects into fury upon
this. Aud that the vengefu character of the pro-
ceeding might be unmistakable, it was pushed on
to the extreme Issue after il had become entirely
unnecessary as a means of relieving Judge Loring
of his probate duties"