Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-03-22

been but two party votes this session, and they
we're important am sick of the matter as
the Senator himself
Mr.. BELL. A personal attack has been
made upon me, utterly unprovoked and un
founded. Prior to the introduction OF certain
members Of this Senate imported from the
House, there was some degree of courtesy
observed we had not this personal crimina-
tion and recrimination, nor were these repeat
ed interruptions experienced in carrying on the
business of this body. | have no objection to
answer here or elsewhere, for my conduct,
public or private but tell the Senator from
Franklin, in reference to the Judge be has
mentioned in the northern portion of this State
that my action on that question was not in the
slightest degree influenced by his connection
with partya That gentleman was heard be-
fore committee of which / was q member,
and evidence was furnished that he was in the
habit of adjourning the court for the purpose
of calling political meetings 10 the very temple
of justice itself that he took advantage of his
judicial position to influence, improperly, the
party questions of the day. Now, sir, | do
not object to this. Any man has right to
hold his own opinions in party matters, but
when heard he adjourned his court for the
purpose of assembling party meetings, deem
ed it case in which investigation should be
made. 1t was not made, and found, at last
it would have been of no manner of good, and
| was glad it was not instituted | rise to
deny that my action in the case was influenced
in any way blythe motive asserted, except as
far as he soed the eFmne by descending from
the bench to this party arena, by which he
chose to be surrounded Now, sir, in the part
of the country in which | had the honor to
hold seat upon the bench, if the Judge en-
tered party meeting for any purpose,it would
damn him in the public estimation
Mr.. MCCLURE. have but q word to say
in justice to myself, not in reply to the Senator
from Chester. | do not censure the gentle
mans conduct heretofore on any question. /
simply referred 10 the fact, that it has become
chronic habit with the Senator from Chester
when anything does not meet his views to get
up and denounce the majority of the Senate,
upon party grounds. referred TO the fact
that he had, himself cast votes in this Senate
going to the very heart of the Judiciary, at the
behest of party. | referred to that fact not
to censure him, but to show that he had cast
party VOTE and must insist upon it recklessly
While the gentleman was on the bench there
were judges who went into the political arena
constantly.
Mr. BELL only said it was not the case
in my district
Mr. MCCLURE. The president-judge of
the court of the Senator's district, year or
two ago, went ont into the country and stump
ed it from end to end.
Mr.. BELL That is since my time
| Mr. MCCLURE. | wish to be understood,
because | wish to practice all the conrtesies
due from one Senator except that he shall say
that when am going to cast vote against
him, | am doing it for party purposes. When
man comes here and holds up his hands in
that way, he must have clean ones.
Mr.. LANDON. l have no speech to make
but as allusion has been made to men and mat
tiers with which | am connected, | ought to
intimate as much as to say that have heard
before what has been said. Otherwise, if !
do not, when the:repOrt of that eloquent speech
goes into the northern part of Pennsylvania
men may inquire where their Senator was
Foreign matter has been dragged in and fad
myself indirectly,aS you all see, dragged IN with
it from my connection with the men, Now, q
certain Judges character has been brought in
here, end | really think, sir that the less fire
quently that matter is alluded to by certain
political party, the better it will be for them
before the country. 1t is said, SIR, that man
disgraced himself by descending from the
bench and holding political meetings, occupying
the time of the jury and witness in listening tC
his harangue. We know all about that.
Mr.. BELL / protest against being mis-
represented. | merely said that was the allie
cation Of members of bis bar, do not pre-
tend to know anything about it myself
Mr.. LANDON. speak from knowledge
We, that are well acquainted with the man,
think highly of him, and we are not so miSer
ably Strengthened in our ideas of mems duties
as to forbid judge from opening his mouth
We give him the privilege of holding and ex
pressing his opinion we 90 further we give
the same privilege to cIergymen We do not
uncitizenze man because he is in the pulpit
or on the bench.
- A mans man for a. that"
That man at certain times would express his
opinions at the request of the people There
was clique of that bar that came to Harris
burg they came as a self.constituted commit
tee they crept out Of their county at night
and said to every man who saw them, " Keer
still, don't let it be known" To the credit OF
this Legislature, they were whipped out, and
when they came back, they took the towpath
instead of the public highway. AS to the sen
tments of the people, they approve the course
of that man. When an effort was made to
destroy our judicial district, we conceived ii
very near akin.to border rufianism transport
ed to Pennsylvania. Whenever the bones OF
that contest shall be dragged up from their
sepulchre by our friends from the opposite side
the efluvia of past memories will neither be
very peasant to them nor to their memories
The less said upon this matter the better for q
certain party, and for certain men, Those
who know this man, honor him, and when they
invite him to make a political speech they e1