The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-01-10

The Grand Jury having failed to indict Judge
STUMP, an appeal has been made to the Legislature
to discharge the duty which ought to have been
honestly and manfuly performed by the former
body. We cannot doubt that the relief prayed
for will be speedily granted, because the delin-
quencies of the Criminal Court are too glazing to
be denied and their consequences are too ruinous
to society to be longer borne. Its very atmos-
phere is reeking with obscenity brutality and
debauchery, and is productive of evil in the
moral world, as the exhalations of putrid pool
are prolific of physical diseases. The idlers who
habitually attend its sttings learn to despise the
justice, and to contemn the authority, which pre-
sent themselves under such degraded aspects. The
Committee to which this grievance was re-
ferred will not find it either laborious tedious
work to collect facts enough to justify report in
accordance with the prayer of the Memorial. The
records of the Court will prove that its business
has been conducted with entire disregard of the
public interests About one hundred and eighty
sessions, averaging some three hours each, have
been held during the past year, and 673 cases
disposed of. In 1858, 799 cases were settled in
open Court and Ti8 in 1957-showing that while
crime has increased, the tribunal which should
have taken cogniZance of it has grown less Elf
Gent and energetic. A comparison between
it and the other Courts of the city will show
that the latter have each devoted from
two to three months more in the course of the
year, to the discharge of their several duties,
though the obligations of the former were more
imperative and its neglect of them more injurious
to the public But it is rather to what Judge
STUMP has done, than to what he has left undone,
that the attention of the Legislature should be d.
fected. In FoRD's case, he first stated upon the
bench that be would pay obedience to the de-
cison of the Court of Appeals, AMI when after
long delays, he determined to permit the traverser
to have new trial, he wilfully sent the cause
into a county where there court legally
competent to try it. He has endeavored by his
acts as well as by repeated jibes and insults, to
bring into general contempt the highest Judicial
authority of the State. He has allowed notorious
offenders to be released from custody by their ac-
complies, or by any disreputable party who could
be hired4o become bail, and whose bonds he well
knew were practically worthless. In Lemons
case he was notified year ago that the culprit
had fled from justice, and he has from term to
term refused to take any action against the surety
of the fugitive. In the illustration he has thus
given of the facility with which murderer may
elude punishment, be has done every thing to en-
courage a repetition of the crime. His lenient
sentence upon the rioters who were convicted OF
the cowardly and savage assault upon the defence
less negroes the steamer Express is too fresh IN
the memory of the public to need further comment.
But disgraceful as was his judgement, it was as
nothing compared with the opinion which accom-
panied it Not merely did he impose a nominal
penalty upon those who had committed such cruel
and bloody outrages but he expressed his maud
lin regrets that instead of assailing the passengers
they had not murdered the Captain In any one
of these instances he might and should have been
indicted 'for msbehavior' by the Grand Jury.
and for his conduct in each of them the Legisla-
ture may properly require the Governor to
, remove him from the bench. In addition to this
his personal bearing and habits, both in and out
of Court, furnish sufficient ground for the Legis-
lative interference Bad as these are known to be,
there is little reason to doubt that such testimony
can be adduced as will present them in colors
even darker and more disgraceful. We could not,
were so disposed present within reasonable
limits and in decent language even an outline of
the facts which prove that the administration OF
the laws has never, at least here fallen into hands
so unworthy In asserting that the Criminal
Court neither commands the respect of any honest
man, nor fulfls any of the purposes for which it
was created, we but repeat what unanimous pub
lie sentiment is saying from day to day. Theevils
which Judge STUMP has been instrumental in
bringing upon this city are incalcuable, and they