The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-05-20

well, I've been 50 mad for two days
that 1 couldn't find my way to town
been wandering around in the brush in
a starving condition-got anything here
to drink, General? But pm here no,c,
and Pm a-going to law. You hear m,e!''
Never in all the world, perhaps, were
a mans feelings SO outraged as were the
Generals. He said he had never heard
of such high-handed conduct in all his
life as this Morgan's. and he said
there was no use in going to law-Mor.
gan had no shadow of right to remain
where he was-nobody in the wide
world would uphold him in it, and no
lawyers would take his case and no
judge listen to it.-Sides said that right
there was where he was mistaken
erybody in the town sustained Morgan;
Hal Brayton, a very smart lawyer, had
taken his case; the courts being in va.
scation, it was to be tried before a referee,
and Ex-Governor Roop had already
been appointed to that flee, and would
open his court in the largest parlor ol
the Ormsby House at two that after
noon.
The innocent General was amazed
lie said he had suspected before, that
the people of that Territory were fools
and now he knew it. But he said rest
easy, rest easy and collect the witnes.
ses, for the victory was just as certain
as if the conflict were already over
Sides wiped away his tears and left.
AT two in the afternoon Referee
Roop's Court opened ,and that remorse
less old joker appeared throned among
his sheritfs, his witnesses and "pack
ed" jury, and wearing upon his face 6
fraudulent solemnity so awe-inspiring
that some of his fellow conspirators had
misgivings that may be he had not com
pretended, after all, that it was merely
ajoke. An unearthly stiffness prevail.
ed, for at the slightest noise the Judge
uttered sternly the commands:
"Order in the COURT"
And the Sheritis promptly echoed it
Presently the General elbowed his way
Though the crowd of spectators, with
his arms full of law. books, and on hi.
cars fell an order from the judge which
was the first respectful recognition o
his high official dignity that had ever
saluted them, and it saturated his whole
system with pleasure.
''Way for the United States Attorn.
eye"
The witnesses were ecalled-legislator
high Government officers, ranch men
minors, Indians, Cinnamon, negroes
Three fourths Of them were called by
the defendant Morgan, but no matter
their testimony invariably went il
favor Of the plaintifSides. Each new
witness only added new testimony tc
the absurdity Of a mans claiming tc
own another mans property because
his farm had slid down on top of it
Then the Morgan lawyers made theil
speeches, and seemed TO make singular.
ly weak ones-they did really nothing
to help the Morgan cause. And now
the General, with great glow of tri,
umph on his face, got up and made q
mighty effort; he pounded the table
he banged the law-books, he shouted
and roared and howled; he quoted
from everything and everybody, poetry,
sarcasm, statistics, history, pathos, and
blasphemy, and wound up with grand
war-whoop for free speech, freedom OF
the press, free schools, the Glorious
Bird of America and the principles Of
eternal Justice! Applause.
When the Gen. sat down, he did it
with the comfortable conviction that il
there were anything in good strong
testimony, big speech, and believing
and admiring countenances all around,
Mr.. Morgan's cakewas dough. Ex.Gov.
Roop leant his head upon his hand for
some minutes, thinking profoundly,
and the still audience waited breathless-
ly for decision. Then he got up and
stood erect, with bended head, and
thought again. Then he walked the
floor with long, deliberate strides, and
his chin in his hand, and still the audi
ence waited. At last he returned to his
throne and seated himself. The Sheriffs
commanded the attention of the Court.
| Judge ROop cleared his throat and
said:
Gentlemen, feel the great respon-
sibility that rests upon me this day.
This is no ordinary case. On the con-
trary it is plain that it is the most sol
emn and awful that eyer man was call
ed upon to decide. Gentlemen, / have
listened attentively to the evidence and
the weight of it, the overwhelming
weight Of it, is in favor of the plaintiff
Sides. | have also listened to the re-
marks Of counsel, with high interest
and especially will l commend the
masterly and irrefutable logic of the
distinguished gentleman whorepresents
The plaintiff. But, gentlemen, let us
beware how we allow human testi-
mony, human ingenuity in argument
and human ideas of equity to influence
US to our undoing at moment so sol
omn as this? Gentlemen, it i'll becomes
us, worms as we are, to meddle with
the decrecs of Heaven. 1t is plain to
me that Heaven, in its inscrutab!o Wis
dom, has seen fit TO move this defend
ants ranch for a purpose. We are but
creatures, and we must submit.
''If Heaven has chosen to favor the
defendant Morgan in this marked and
wonderful manner; and if Heaven, un-
satisfied with the position Of the Nor
gan ranch upon the mountain side, has
hosen to remove it TO a position more
eligible and more advantageous for its
owner, it i'll becomes us, insects as we
are, to question the legality of the act.
No-Heaven created the ranches aud it
is Heavens prerogative to rearrauge
them to experiment with them, TO shift
them, around at its pleasure. 1t is for
us to submit, without repining. warn