Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-04-07
Dur JudicIary-SOuthe D1sof""S-

,,,,, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Disorders
The trial Of Judge Jones, upon Tue Hr.'
eIes of impeachmeut, which we puoli0n ~
fuII elsewhere, is not only proper pu' Lnoe'
reasonable. If he is really guilty, OF WHICH
thare seemg to be little doubt, his conV1c-
tion will rid the judiciary OF the State OF
most unworthy and r' hIgate otholai' Du''
fnrtber. the evidence which VIII De az
d,cad npon the trial will show the cond1-
tjon In which our judiciary has Eeen re-
duced under the workings OF reconStr"o-
ton that must appal every rehectlng "an
in the country.
We have always believed, and have SO
urged through our columns, that inc COZ
ruptions, partisanship and incapaclty OF
our Judges had more to do with Une oisoi-
ders in North Carolina, than any other
cause. Supposed and real immunity from
punishment upon the one side, anu want
of confidence in judicial integrity upon the
other, caused infringments OF the laws
which too frequently ended IN violence ana
bloodshed. Secret political societies, or1g1-
izations, were led, On the one hand' anu
forced upon the other, into the comm1s
sion of heinous crimes, through the very
contempt into which the laws and all civil
government fell, on account OF the oe-
bauchery, corruption aud ignorance OF
those into whose hands their enforcement
and control were confded.
The carpet bag Seratt + from South Car
DINA, was correct, far a. he went, IN
saving that the disorders In the South
were chargeable to- an opposition to IN" 10
cal Qoveruments and from I'D dlss atls1ac
zion with the General Gov, run mt. De did
not add, as he onght 20, that this OPPOSE
ton did not arise from political pre]ud1ces'
Or from any slntagonism between the races,
but that it sprung from the criminal ex-
travagance Of our Executives, by which the
means of the States were squandered and
stolen, and the people oppressed with ruin
GUS taxation, and from well-grornded want
of confidence in our judges, by which re-
gard for the laws WAS lost.
If the President and Congress were wise
enough to comprehend our real troubles,
and honest enough to acknowledge them,
we might hope for an Improvement in our
condition. But interested in Southern dis
orders, our just grievances will not only
not be respected, but lawlessness will be
promoted and exaggerated. As one by one
the tales of horror are exploded, and the
authors exposed, a fresh batch is concoct-
ed, and new victims brought to light.
Mayor Stureis, of Meridian, Mississippi, the
latest martyr, is exposed even while his
statements are being coined into denuncla-
tions against our people by Radical Sena-
tors and congressman. Nothing daunted,
the next sooundrel who presents himself
for remunerated martyrdom will be quoted
with equal confidence, and will impose as
successfully upon the credulity of an
already prejudiced people.
The time will come when the South vii
get her full measure of honor for her for
bearance and long suffering. Tardy justice
will be rendered, and the whole civilized
world will behold with establishment the
causes of Southern disorders, and the ex
traordinary forbearance of the people
When the grievances which they have
borne, and the humiliations to which they
have been subjected, aud the outrage
which they have patiently endured out
RACES to their moral, social and politica
relationships fully understood, the South
ern people will become paragons of good
and peaceful citizens, even if they fail Il
fill the full measure of the modern re
quirements of loyalty"
AS step towards this contamination, 81
devoutly to be wished, we hail the i'm
pending trial of Judge Jones. It differ
from the trial of Governor Holden, no
only in the different nature of the otlice
which they respectively held, but thi
latter is relieved altogether from any pre-
tence of political persecution. howeve!
little grounds there were for such charge
in regard to the former, in its inception
progress or result. We believe that regard
for the law and the judiciary are marked
characteristics of the American people, and
prodigate, corrupt and incompetent
Judge inspires more disgust in theil
breasts than any other defect in their gov
eminent and it's administration. And il
is proper that it should be so, for ouI
courts are the final resort of good citizens
for Justice and their rights, and if these be
denied them, or confidence is lost in the
ability or disposition of the judges tc
grant them, society is disorganized al
once. and self-proteotion, more powerful
than all laws and governments, induces
the people to combine to seek the right.
and safety denied them in the courts
We trust that the impending trial o
Judge Jones may claim the attention O
AH>..Ai.1..z. .annsala ena..ann1lr,