Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-05-15

gives the court jurisdiction to decide upon the
moral character Of the counsel who NAV appear
before themi Who makes them arbiters of pub
lie morality. and what authority have they under
their court TO rule me out, or any other counsel
out upon the ground that he does not recognize
the validity OF the osth even il they believed be
vas soF but put myself upon no such grounds:
| claim in all moral and honorable respects to be
equal 10 any member OF this tribunal, they may
dispose OF thequeston as they please; il will MT
touch me
Gen HArris-The court understands there i.
no Intention 10 cast any reflection upon the r-eo-
pie OF Maryland in regard TO their loyalty or in
regard to their patriotism. lam proud 70 say
they have good records in this great coAsst
through which our country has just passed While
II IS true OF Maryland, am sorry to say Il is
equally true OF my state. many Joined the rebel
lion and have made for themselves terrible re-
cords But the circumstances Of this case were
peculiar The people Of Maryland were about to
vote upon an alteration in the fundamental Law
OF the state. on the adoption Of a new consttu-
ton Slavery was about to be blotted out, aud
IS an unfortunate fact that portion of the peo-
pie interested in the proposed change were, as a
general thing, dsloyal. and il was in reference 10
the effect that this opinion expressed by the hon
oraele gentleman in the letter referred to had
upon that vote and upon the action Of this portion
Of the people that nv objection was in part formed
Tor did not deem that they understood as did
in regard to the right of this court to inquire into
The moral standing of counsel We have no such
right.
One OF the provisions in reference TO that mat
ter is that the gentleman shall exhibit a certif
cate of having taken the oath. take il in pres
ence of the court, and this obligation or oath is
here the special question, if il does appear as a
moral draif i'm - ha
very provision of order. hence | think il proper
in me as member of this court 10 found an ob
lection of that character upon such grounds
whether an objection or not However the gen
tleman discaims any such intention, that is tact;
admission that the language of the letter nav
have been unguarded; that it had the effect sur
posed, though it WAS not in accordance with the
Intention of his mind in writing il, il unfortu-
nate thing If he wrote the letter so miscon-
strued and ii was not the intention of the writer
that of course must exOnerate him He dis
ayows having any such intention. aud claims fol
himself moral character which he is not ash
AIMED to put in comparison with that of any M IN
Der OF this court. Now il is not my intention to
measure characters at ALL simply to bring for
ward the objection, and feel il my duty to bring
and nothing else, sn objection founded on
the understanding had of the letter referred to
was sorry have to do il, but did il in No
spirit of personal ill-will or bad feeling was
sorry 1t was my duty to do such thing, but could
not do anything else with the impression had
on my mind
The honorable gentlemen will understand what
L mean by this. DE understands. too wha,
force OF conviction must be. aud that il mar
acts from principle this thing will occasionally
impose upon him some unpleasant duties Hi,
dlsavowal of any such intention ss | derived
from the meaning of his letter | am bound 70
take. but this must say. upon that there wa:
some objection
Mr. Johnson-One word more; all propas.
to say -, the order coners authority TO reius,
me admission, on the grounds claimed by tn,
honorable member. because vow have no author
ty to administer the oath TO me | have taker
it in the senate of the United States, in the cir
cut court of my state, in the supreme court o.
the United States. and am practitioner in all th,
courts in nearly all the states. and il would be
! httle singular il one who has right TO appeal
before the supreme court OF the land, and wht
belongs to the body that creates court martals
should be compelled to take the oath
! Mi Gen. Hunter-Mr. Johnson has mad,
limitations as holding The members OF this cour
personally responsible.
MrJohnson.--I made no such intimation, MOI
did intend It
Maj Gen Hunter Il shall saw no more thar
| was going say / hoped the day had passed
when freemen OF the north were no longer TO bs
abused and bulied by the humbug chivalry Of
the south
The court here took recess for half al
hour. and when it returned went into secret ses
sion IN order 10 deliberate the subjects Sc
lengthily discussed The court bling reopened
Gen. Harris stated he desired to withdraw his ob
ject on as he cons dered Mr.. johnson . explana
ton satisfactory Mr.. Johnson expressed HI,
willingness and desired to take the oath but tn,
court deemed il unnecessary and the oath wa,
not taken.