New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-05-13
IMPFACHMFNT.

IMrEACHAENT.
AS general rule, an impeachment that de-
ponds for success on the character Of the
Managers who are to conduct it rather than
on the evidence to be submitted in its sup
port is one which does not deserve to sue
cccd. But in the cases now pending at
Albany such a rule is wholly inapplicable.
That of Judge Barnard is one to which four
ffths of the members of the Legislature are
Indifferent, for his acquittal or conviction
affects but small district of tie State,
though-let not this be forgotten-it concerns
the honor of the whole Commonwealth, and
particularly that of each and every one of its
present representatives. As consequence of
this sectional interest, the greater. part of
the Legislature has had to be urged from
time to time to do its duty in the matter; and
it must now be yet again entreated to
remedy the error of Friday last and conlide
the prosecution of Barnard to men from the
Judicial district involved in his retention or
dismissal from the bench. The case is still
further complicated by the fact that the ac-
cused, and his friends Of the Tammany Ring,
whose safety from prosecution largely depends
on his remaining in Office, are said to be spend
ing large sums of money and employing strong
influences to save him from punishment. The
indifference of men from distant parts of the
State, however true to principles OF reform
they may be- is so much capital for Barnard
and when his prosecution is intrIsted to the
very class of legislators who have least at
stake the danger to reform becomes alarming
indeed
The Assembly permitted itself to be mise
on Friday into putting forward men not inter
ested in the success of impeachment, and
emitting from the Managers the very men
most earnest in securing this great reform OF
the most important branch of the public
servce-most capable, by reason of tamil
iarity with the evidence, of prosecuting
the impeachment with vigor. This was an
error which if not remedied practically
kills impeachment, and leaves this indignant
community without relief The Assembly has
committed itself to the charges against Bar
nard; il stands in the position of accuser and
prosecutor, and it is not only right, but it is
incumbent upon it that it should put forward
the men most eager for conviction and most
capable Of securing it. The indifferent men,
bers of the Assembly must not stand IN the
way when it is proposed to remedy tins,
rs we hope some earnest man from
this district will to-day propose. There are
unpleasant rumOrs abroad of improper intiu-
ences at work to secure the appointment
of the Managers chosen on Friday. Some
of these imply the use of money; others
assert positively that the Chairman was Sc
duced in the interest OF Barnard by promises,
from some person unknown, of the Governor
ship, which nobody is just now empowered to
give away. This rumor is, of course absurd.
We should have been glad to see Mr.. Alvord
retire from case with whichghe Is not ia
miiar, and in which he is not primarily in
terested; but it should not DO forgotten
that he began the work of Impeachment
in the Legislature, and is as fully
committed to its success as any man in the
Assembly. We incline, without proof or bet
ter reasons than we have heard, to disbelieve
most of the like insnuatiOns as to others, and
to attribute the apparent success of Barnard
to the skill and knavery Of Mr.. Fields on the
one hand, and, on the other, to the lack of
diligence on the part of the advocates of i'm
peachment in not having their ticket ready.
The great majority of the Assembly, indiffer-
ent. as we have shown, to the main issue, were
what leadership presented itself. The conse-
auence was that, if they did not elect the
wrong men, they certainly failed to nominate
those who should have been selected for the
difficult labor ahead.
This may be remedied still, and it ought to
be done at once. Let some member offer
resolution adding to the Managers those
most familiar with the impeachment about to
be tried. Mr.. Tilden, Mr.. Strahan, and Mr..
Tobey have been suggested as persons who
ought so to be added. Certainly Mr.. Tilden
should take leading part in the work with
which he is so familiar, and with which he has
been identified from the first. We should be
glad to see no delay or hesitation about offer
ing and adopting such resolution. And to
that end we urge on all members of the AS
sembly who favor true and thorough reform of
our dshOnOred Courts to vote for it whenever
offered.
The malarious fever, always terror. and with