The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-02-12
The Cave OF Judge Harrison.

elsewhere undertakes to reflect on the
press Of the city as having made "extra'
ordinary efforts" to prejudice the minds Of
the Legislature against ,JUDoE HARRISON,
80 that he cannot have a fair trial. Our
correspondent Is altogether too sweeping
in his statement, for as he Is o reader o.
our columns he knows this Is not true d
tho ISTELLroENcER. Until the Legisla'
turc had formally determined TO try HAIR
RIsoS, VIC reftained carefully from saying
worl about him, lest It might operate
to his disadvantage. When he ran away
to escape notice, only two or three hours
before the concurrence Of the Senate in
the resolution preferring the charges, our
comment was as moderate and guarded
as It was possible to make IT. and the
same was true yesterday when II was the
common talk Of the town that he had
been found and served with notice ir
Pittsburgh, under circumstances not cred-
liable to the judicial ermine, 4
We have been persistently urged by
Republicans for weeks to expose OF assail
Judge HARRISON, on the ground that Il
Republicans attempted to screen him, oul
party would be held responsible iOr him
We have as pcrsistently refused, because
he was to be arraigned before the Legis'
laturc, because the Legislature and moi
We were his Judges, and because it seem
ed therefore improper for us to anticipate
either the evidence or tho judgment We
should have preferred to extend to this
man the charity Of total silence while his
case was pending before the Legislature
and IL we have not been able to do this
entirely, IT las been no fault Of ours
What We have felt compelled to say oI
Judge HARRISON has been,wc submit, very
mild, considering the circumstances that
provoked it. II extraordinary efforts :
have been made by others, 1t is not fair to
include lis In the censlre Tor them; but
We do not believe that all tho rest have
done half so much TO prejudice Judge
HARRISON in the minds Of the Legislature,
since his case has been pending, rs he him
self has done in his own proper person.
Our correspondent does what we have
not felt at liberty to do. He undertakes
to discuss the charges against Judge HAR'
REsoX. Writing, as lie does, us the Judges
next Friend, wc might, If We were III
cIincd 10 go into the matter, take this as a
justification Of a further discussion Of
them; but although he invites this discus
sion, il does not seem that il would be
proper or respectful to the Legislature.
Concerning one Of the charges noticed by
our correspondent, that the Judge deHig'
mated tho Monroe Republican for the pub
lication Of judicial notices, ho takes care
not 10 say that that paper was in part
owned by Judge HARRISON, and that there
were other papers printed in the district
not owned By him. But IL "Nll the
other charges" arc "frivOlOus or false III
fact" why this fear Of a trial wherein that
ought certainly be made to appear?
The proposition Of Judge HANRlsoS''
TINT ir the Legislature will repeal tho
law requiring the Governor TO hll 70
cant Judgeships, he will resign, the rcsig'
nation h take eject january 1st, 1871 Is Q
characteristic suggestion, and comports
well with his advice TO the Legislature
touching their powers as his judges. II
Judge HARRISON is an innocent and pro
per man, there can he no need Of his re-
signing; he ought to be anxious instead to
have a vindication at tho hands ofthe
Legislature. If he Is not, It would be bet
ter to save exposure by reagning at once
The i(lea that in either case he could make
bargain with the Legislature, whose
duty it is to try him on charges already
preferred, to allow him not only to escape
trial but to hold his Office nearly o year
longer, and then make law for his special
accommodation so that he could be can
tlidate for reelection next fall, isaltOgctler
the coolest thing Of the season.
We believe Judge HARRISON and his
friends may rely on it that a majority in
each House will hear his case most impair
TALLY, and render him strict justice. They
would be glad to sec him vindicated, as
we would, iif' tho truth viii vindicate him.
Believing this, we think flour correspond:
cnt Is q friend of tho Judges, he should
advise him either to stand Ills trial like a
man or resign Of once, and unconditional
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