New-York tribune., 1868-10-23
FRAUD UPON THE BENCH

George G.. Barnard is Judge of the Su-
preme Court He is a young man of more
than average ability, and has held high dignties.
Some of his acts have commended him to the
confidence of good men; and there WAS time
when we hoped he might have earned pre-
cious fame by leading the war upon corruption
and municipal crime. He has certainly recov-
cred from these tendencies, and Is now one
of the most willing and reckless tools OF
Peter B. Sweeney and the Tammany Ring.
We are perfectly aware that he has been work
ing for n denomination, and that the men who
hold the power of Tammany are hard and
glasping, and capable of putting cruel stress
upon any expectant candidate.
Judge Barnard, we have said, is yonng
man. He has friends aud others dear TO him.
He has never impressed us as man OF sensl-
blty, Men of sensibility are never the dar-
lngs of Tammany Hall, but no man can be
dead TO the opinion Of the world in which he
lives. nor deliberately seek to leave name
that will cause every one that bears 1t TO
| blush. The most Infamous characters IN
history have worn the ermine. Their evil
deeds were, perhaps. not greater tlan
| those Of men in other professions, but the
universal Judgment of mankind condemns an
uniust nudge to the lowest depths of infamy
| The Bench is Freedoms last asylum. Public
order. deceney, personal rights, property, so
ciety life itself depend upon the just adminlstra
ton of the Law. It's ministers have vast, arbl-
tmry sacred power, and their responsibility
is proportionate. An unjust judge is not
merely a citizen breaking the law, or
an officer violating public trusts The
ordinary crimes of men in Office only affect
a small class. But an unjust judge ia the
common enemy of mankind. He strikes at the
| very foundations of society, and makes the
law % tyranny and q shame.
Judge Barnard is on the high road to defeat
at the polls-or impeachment before the LegIs-
lature. We can stand good deal from New
York Judges, but we do not choose to submit
TO the stupend0us frauds upon the franchise
which are taking place daily in the Supreme
Court. Read the shameful narratiyo which we
print to-day, and which is only continuation
of narratives heretofore printed. Can any
man see what is doing in the Supreme Court
and feel that Judge Barnard is just
Judgef 1t is impossible for him to
give any excuse, or to make believe that he IL
ignorant of the multitude OF crimes daily
committed in his presence. No man knows
better the irfamy of this proceeding No man
knows more thoroughly the nature, the extent,
the motive Of these frauds the exact means of
carrying them out, the men who are engaged
in the business, the results to be gained, the
| periuries and forgeries and bribing constantly
practiced. The common sentiment Of the people
is fhat for erery one of these crimes Judge
Barnard is responsible.
We'll. Tammany Hall has paid him his
price, and he is again its candidate. ls there
not enough of public honor left in New-fork
10 secure his defeat7 Surely IL there was ever
"A time when men of all parties should unite in
an earnest effort to save the Bench from the In
fanny that surrounds it, it is now. Judge
Barnard must reform these practices, or con-
tent himself with Infamous notoriety. Our
duty is lplain. We must beat him before the
people. Failing there, he must be impeaohed be-
Goro the Legislature.