Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-06-18


Newer before have we seen the Judges
Of the Supreme Court, singly or en- nadsse,
moved from that becoming propriety SC
: indispensable TO secure the respect OF the
people, and throwing aside the ermine,
rush into the mad contest OF politics under
the excitement of drums and flags. From
the nnerring lessons of the past we are
assured, that Judge who openly and pub-
licly displays his political party zeal, rem
ders himself unfit to hold the balance OF
justice, and that whenever an occasion
may offer to serve his fellow partisan, he
} will yield to the temptation and the 'waver-
ing balance will shake
Unwilling that our silence should be
construed into an Indifference to the hui
} initiating spectacle now passing around
us, influenced solely by spirit of love and
veneration for the past purity which has
distinguished the administration OF the
law in our State, and animated by the
hope that the voice of the bar of North
Carolina will not be powerless to avert the
pernicious example which we have de-
nounced, and to repress its contagious in
fuence, we have, under a sense OF solemn
duty, subscribed and published this paper"
Indignant at this bold and manly re-
buke, the Judges in question, through
Chief Justice Pearson, ordered, on Tues
day last, that all the attorneys practicing
in the Supreme Court whose names are
appended to the protest, "be disabled
from hereafter appearing as attorneys or
counsellors in the Court, unless they shall
severally appear on the 10Th of June,
1869 TO day" and show cause to the
contrary"
! It has come then to this pass-either the
protesting members of the bar must purge
themselves of an act which the incrimina-
! ted Judges assume to be contempt of
! Court" or they must submit to be disbar-
red"
For the whole of the past week the
/ twenty-five gentlemen affected by the
order of the Court have not been allowed
to appear in the cases in which they are
engaged. BY this outrageous proceeding
: tho Court first undertakes to punish them,
and then fixes day to hear their defence.
But the in jury done to these attorneys and
their clients is but trivial matter COM
pared with the indecent and high-handed
/ course which this Court has dared to pur-
sue. As citizens of North Carolina, the
gentlemen in question had right to pro-
! test against the degradation into which
! the Courts of the State had fallen. AS
officers of these Courts they had the right
to denounce openly the disreputable con-
duct of any Judge. Never until these de-
generate days has any man IL this country
been arbitrarily punished for commenting
publicly upon the shortcomings of public
men. There has been too long aud too
| general an acqulescence in the miserable
insults and expressions which the emlssa-
ries of the Radical party are heaping upon
! the South, and we hope the people of
North Carolina will oppose this last
! outrage by such active or passive resistance
as it may be in their power to offer, be the
consequences what they may.
AN IMPORTANT ENrERPR1sE-A STEAM
BOAT LINE BETWEEN WILMINGToN AND
JAcKsoNvILLE.- is contemplated by
parties in this city and Onslow county es-
tablishing communication by steam with
this city and Jacksonville and intermediate
landings along the coast, and even as high
up as Tar Landing, the head of navigation
on New River.
1t is proposed in the first place to es-
tablish a stock company with capital of
800, 900, shares to be taken at 800 each-
1t is then contemplated purchasing a
steamer drawing about three feet water
when loaded, of a capacity OF about 700
barrels, and one which will make good
sea boat. Already has drawing of such
a steamer been obtained from Messrs.
Pussey, Jones Il Co., the noted steamboat
builders Of Wilmington, Del, with pro-
posal to furnish such craft at cost of
$4,000.
The people of Onslow county, who are
deeply interested in this matter, have only
to exert themselves to insure the success of
the enterprise. Fully half of the stock
will be subscribed in this city, and our
Onslow friends have only to raise the bal
ance. The enterprise is in good hands
and will undoubtedly succeed. In this
city the plan is being worked by Mr.. AL
fred Martin, whose name aud responsibility
alone is sufficient guarantee.
The steamer when purchased will be
commanded by Capt. John N. Matfitt, the
intrepid commander of the Confederate
States stes msbip Florida during the recent
war, who will himself take stock in the
company. Ii is calculated that semi week
ly trips will be made by the steamer,
which, owing to its light draft,
will be enabled to run into the in
lets of our Sounds, and even touch at the
landings on the shore. In doing this
large business awaits it simply in the trans
portation of peanuts to market. The line
will also tend greatly toward the develop
ment OF the oyster business and the cult
walton of these bivalges. Thus placed in
direct communication with an excellent
market, and with every natural advantage,
we will soon see the oyster gardens of New
River rival those of the continent Guilt
tivation and transportation facilities have
been the greatest drawbacks to their uni
versal popularity.
The First Step.