, 1859-12-03
4 LIBEL SUIT.

Tao Chicago penrcru. Of yesterday informs
lis that its proprietor has lecn sued l.y Mr. \.
B. Judd il au action Of libel Hy further IN
q,t;ry wc learn that the declaration Of tho
plaintiff rccites some dozens Of charges Of w.
rious crimes, punishable by imprisonment i'll
in tho pcnitcniiary-whicl, havo been brought
aga:nat Mr. Judd in the columns Of the Chic,-
n Democrat The public must see the pro-
priety Of leasiug 80 grave question to the
courts which lake cognizanee Of these matters.
Nor would it have been our province to mako
any allusion To Whatever 10 the action, but for
tho lengthy appeal, which, Mr. Wentworth
makes in his paper, to public sympathy, i'll
advance Of the verdict Of jury. We shall
not be drawn into discussion Of tho merits
Of the case BY anything whicl, can lie said br
Mr.. Wentworth We content ourselves with
tue simplas, recital Of the facts precedent,
which have been before the public any lime
during the rast year.
Mr.. Judd is private citizen. lie enjoys
q distinction in his profession rs 4 lawyer, ani
not .,,.ly 50, but he has represented this couI-
IT, in the State Senate eome sixteen years.
Tie acccptability Of Ills services may he III
some degree inferred from the extraordinary
tanurc of Office which the people have COT.
fsrrcd upon him. Ills social standing in this
community needs no man's endorsement.
Since February last the columns Of tue Chica-
20 Democrat hayc tecnlel with abusive Ut
ticlca charging or insinuating the following
crimes upon Ar. Judd: J. Specializing on the
funds Of the Suite Treasury; .. Participation
with Gov. Matteson in hi8 frauds upon the
State Treasury; ;. Inducing tho late Treasurer
10 loan money ont Of the Stale Treasury; I.
Corruption i'll ill forms in his capacity Of State
Senator; 5. Pcculation Of funds contributed
to tho Republican state organization. And
not content with charges Of this character, the
editor Of the Democrat has attacked him in his
social relations and his family circle. moi spar
Ing even tl,e ladies' Of his family.
Tie proceeding now brought forward mere.
lygives Mr.. Wentworth the opportunity to
justify his charges or submit to the penalties
provided By law ia such cases. II true. they
cau easily be shown in that light TO twelve ius-
partial men. If noi il will not be for him ta
complain that the laws Of Illinois were
framed to protcc. character as well as life ant
limb, and 1lIat lie must pay the penalty Of Iii
deliberate falsel,oods. Neither his enormous
wealth, nor his ownership Of a newspaper vii
shield him from the legal consequences Of hi
acts.
II question Of taste be raised in this ma:
tar il roay te eaid that Mr.. Judd ia tho prow
judge Of lie protection due to his public an
private standing and tot' c various members {
his family. II the criminal allegations vii
which The Democrat has been flied were CO.
fined to the community w.lcro Mr.. Judd m
his accuser are known, they would fall haru
less, and. VIC arc sure, a court Of law woul
never re IesoFtcd to in the premises. But Il
injury is not confined to this city, nor even
this State. Mr.. Judd's professional and bus
ness relations with men in other parts Of Il
country are extensive, and such as to require
rotutation Of these accusations. lie has laEa
trusts reposed in him us a man Of unblenish'
character. VIC know, aud Mr.. Wentwor
knows Mr. Judd's steadiness Of purpose, wh
1,is course has once been determined upt
And We havo no doubt this suit Inns been int
tuted after full and dclibera.e consideration
ali the consequences to result from it.