The weekly North-Carolina standard., 1869-04-28
Messrs. Moore, Vance. Bragg, Biggs ana
the Supreme Court.

stand enough law to say WncA JuuSe eS
meddling in politics. They signed because
the reputed Solons and Demosthenese OF the
bar signed, and we doubt whether many of
them read the protest, at all. Mr.. Moore's
name, or Mr.. Biggs' name, was sufficient
voucher to them. Indeed the protest would
have veappearcd more seemly had it originated
with the Dogs and not with the Nestors OF the
bar a
If Messrs. Moore, Bragg and others, will
refer to the archives of the revolution, they
will see that such men as Iredell and Mar
shall, and all the American Judges 'med-
died in politics." and stimulated the people
to resist British tyranny. Were they con-
demned in their day for doing this patriotic
service2 Was Mr.. Biggs condemned by
any portion of the bar for meddling in poll
tics during the war? It was said Of him
"that he slipped out OF a Federal Judseship
into Confederate Judgeship with such ia
cility that you could hear the national gold
jingle in one pocket and Confederate
notes rustic in the othern He was member
of the Convention of 1861 and Judge at
the same time. Did anybody protest against
it then9 Were other Judges, who have been
members of Conventions since 1865, con-
t'emned by any portion of the bar for par
ticipating in the formation of Constitutions
and advocating their adoption? We re-
member that some Judges published letters
and made political speeches, both before,
during and since the war.--did any part OF
the bar protest against their action? Indeed,
when the Constitution of 1868 was being
framed, the lawyers sneered because the
Judges and members of their fraternity
were excluded by the 14th amendment.
Vance called the delegates field hands" and
the signers of the present protest re-echoed
the sentiment And during the late Consti-
tutional canvass, We believe, Hon. viii. Fl.
Battle made several speeches in and around
Chapel Hill Besides these instances, nearly
all the rebel candidates for Judgeships can,
vassed either privately or publicly, and no
one protested against such action on their
part, but the rebels rather applauded it and
upheld them in their course.
Then how ridiculous and absurd does this
paper appear. Itpretends TO protest against
the Judges interfering IN politics, yet
makes no specific charges, nor calls any
names. When did the present Judges inter-
ferein politics? Bring the proofs, and we will
show you for one interference on their part
scores of instances where rebel Judges have
interfered without word of protest from
Messrs Moore, Bragg and company. In
deed we believe Mr.. Bragg was once kind
of Confederate detective star chamber Judge
under jeff Davis, after he had been politely
requested to leave the Cabinet of that gentle
man. He was one of the property holders"
who owned the Confederate newspaper here
at the same time, andsat upon cases involv-
inc i, is,ep pretty ttH nlffGiB SnlfGiBffp 81 of
the purity of the present bench.
Do these protestators in their bull
against the Supreme Court refer to
the campaign for the adoption of
the new Constitution The present men,
bers of our high court were not then
Judges, but merely candidates. Until the
Constitution was adopted they had an indis-
putable right to oppose treason, and they
followed in the footsteps of IreClell, Marshall
and our patriotic forefathers. And not on
ly were they sustained by the example of
these illustrious men, but even CASTOR him.
self was member of the convention which
framed the Constitution of 1885, and aided
to lay the broad foundations of that instru-
ment and advocated its adoption. In the
presence of these examples, and their
own folly, Messrs. Moore, Bragg, Vance and
Biggs may well bow their insignificant
heads.
AS to Vance, we believe that he extorted
letters from Judges, in the contest for
Governor in 1864. to aid his own election.
To see his name signed to this paper along
side those of Bragg and Biggs is natural
enough, but to see it near that of Mr.. Moore
must recall memories of the past which are
unpleasant to both, and to Mr.. Moore espe-
cially detestable.
In the presidential contest the issue made
sbr the rebels was this: all the reconstruc-
tion measures being unconstitutional must
be undore; and, if necessary, by the bayonet.
Judge Pearson denounced this platform of
the traitors, and other Judges of the State,
seeing the peril of their country, solemnly
warned the people against the dangers of
the future, The protest of Pearson was elo-
quent with wisdom and terrible with truth.
In this position we upheld them and we do
so still. 1t was patriotic movement, and
an overwhelming majority of the people
sustained him. But now we say that this
secondary protest of the bar is ridiculous
and contemptible It is filled with ill-con-
cealed partizansiiip, and is in itself an insid-
lous attack on that ptTity of the bench
which it pretendsto inculeafe. Corruptio n
IN the bar has always been sc.orefoid more
prevalent in the United States than corrup-
ton on the bench. PettifegEring lawyers
who take small fees amt plead in petty cases
Tor bare living-wbo lel aroUnd groceries
during vacation and talk politics for
lack of something else to do are
bad judges of the dignity or propriety
OF the Supreme Court bench of North Caro-