Weekly Trinity journal., 1859-04-16
Dignity of Office.

In the higher courts of England judges are
invested with artificial dignity in the addition of
huge wigs and gowns; and however absurd the
custom may appear 10 Americans, there is phi
losophy in retention of the ancient habit. Des-
pite our republican notions of simplicity, there
is not doubt but that the laws of England are
thus rendered more terrible to offenders and are
more respected by the people because of the
magisterial assumption of importance, though
the monstrous head-dress may be but indifIerently
stored with knowledge. We would not be pleased
to see the grotesque antiquity on the benches of
American courts, or to see fool disguised as
gownsman, pompOusly administering law but we
believe that in excess of asserted independence,
too little Difference is paid to persons invested
with administrative powers. As much as any
other, we despise sycophantic man worship, and
could not esteem villain or a bockhead wor-
shipped because he had by accident ascended to
exalted place; but certain degree of respect
must be apportioned to ministers of law, or the
law becomes contemplate in proportion with the
offenders familiarity. There is no inconsistency
in free electors paying extraordinary respect to
an individual adjudged worthy of occupying an
honorable office. The office is their own prosper
ity; the occupant is the priest chosen to minister
at the altar of justice; and while thus engaged
he should not only be greatly respected by people
in whose name he ministers, but should be pro-
tected from the taunts and jcers of personal enc
mics. Our courts now are but i'll protected
net tbo nj re Of tbo
levolent. If base and untruthful enough, we
might assert that Judge Daingerfeld's court is
incompetent and corrupt; we might disseminate
the assertion beyond the reach of successful dis
proval, and might, perhaps, succeed in imposing
on many thoughtful persons and might, in some
degree, destroy confidence in his court The
Judge would have no remedy but suit for defam-
alton, or personal resentment; the first means
would be undignifcd and expensive; the second
would involve breach of law that would dis
qualify him for office, or enable us to denominate
him street fighting ruffian So, offending in the
ourt-room, we should be fined or imprisoned;
but we may print contemptuous language, and
even falsehoOd, and enable ten thousand persons
toread it, aud nevertheless escape accountability
This is curious principle of law; it is like the
jurisprudence of the pedagoguc who numerically
thrashes the urchin for making contemptuous
grimaces in school, but who will submit 10 soning
on " idle Saturday"
He is a bad and reasonable citizen who, from
personal causes undertakes to destroy any portion
Of the system Of justice we care not what be his
professions of piety or patrotism; he may fatten
on the sacraments and swaddle in the American
flag but he is a seditionist at heart, an enemy of
the public peace. Against the Vaccinations Of
such there should be statutory provision. Private
is protected from the malicious lbeler
and with equal propriety should official integrity,
otherwise impeached, be preserved from ground
less calumny-the more because the rights and .
property OF thousands may depend on its preser
walton. This proposition is invncible.