The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-05-25
Our New York Letter.

about q BishOp-Ihe trial OF the corrupt
Judges-Judge BarndrPs Record-A par
ty states his grievance. -'
NEW YORK, May %, 1872.
At last we have rain and the parched earth
is refreshed. We have been suffering from
| protracted drouth threatening destruction to
agriculture and combustion to our forests. In
many parts of the State, the woods have been
the scene of wasting confagration, and the
farmers have been in an agony of apprehen-
sion about their crops. But for the past few
days we have had frequent and abundant
showers, promising renewed life to vegetation
and giving hope to the tillers of the soil.
The Methodist Conference having increas-
ed the number of Bishops of their church
to twelve, have chosen as one of the
number Rev. Gilbert Haven editor
of lions Herald Boston. This is hap
Ply sign of the march of progress, and clear
indication that liberal opinions are gaining
ground even in the conservative domain of
the church. Mr.. Haven has always been an
advanced and outspoken radical in politics.
He took an early and decided stand against
slavery when it was fashionable to temporize
with it. He was an abolitionist at the time
when DIR. Spring declared that he was
AFRAID TO PRAY FOR THE FREEDOM OF
/ .aF THE SLAVE" r.f... .
and DIR. Dewey expressed a willingness to
obey the Fugitive Slave law, even if it re-
manded his own brother to bondage. The
election of such Bishop is as much of step
| fnrWard for tha Mafha1iat ohnr I,
choice of VIM. Lloyd Garrison as Trustee of
the American Tract Society a dozen years
| ago, would have been for that anti-agitation
body. 1t is wise selection and pays just
tribute to an able, eloquent and exemplary
clergyman. =
THE IMPEACHMENT OF JUDGE BARNARD
goes over till the 18th July. The delay is
matter of noconsequence, as the Bench is re-
lieved of his presence meanwhile. The Judge
appears to have determined to take his chances
of trial, instead of initiating the example
OF Cardozo, who took refuge in resignation.
This course is characteristic of the man. He
has superabundance of pluck, or what I'M
charitable critics might call audacity. The
Judges case is apitiable one. Fifteen years ago,
when he could not have been much over 25
years of age, he was elected Recorder, i. e.,
first. Criminal Judge of the city. Of fine
personal appearance, prepossessing face,
agreeable manners and excellent address, he
then gave promise of a brilliant future Two
years later he married the daughter of mil
honaire, and his father-in-law took great
| pride in him, and helped to push his fortunes.
In the fall of 1860 he was elevated to the
Supreme Court Bench, by the usual decisive
majority the Democratic party was able to
give its candidates. Norman ever had stronger
incentives to preserve a good name. He had
moderate fortune of his own, acquired in
his more youthful days in California, an office
OF great responsibility, of eight years. ten
ure, and prescriptive right to the highest
social position. Under what temptations, or
by what degrees he fell, it would be difficult
to explain, but in the course of time he be-
came the facile tool of the Erie Ring, his
manners became coarse, his language disgust
ing, he grew -.--- ~ --es
r TO BE THE TERROR OF THE BAR
and the synonym of injustice and wrong
doing Twice, at least, he seemed to have
paused in his downward career, and to have
made a spasmodic effort to recover his lost
character. The last of these momentary
gllmpses of returning reason occurred at the
time he granted the injunction against Tweed.
Hall and Connolly at the suit of Foley. For
few weeks after that surprise which he gave
to a long suffering community, he was loud in
his professions of virtue, denounced the
King with the utmost vehemence and gave
the strongest assurances to several adv ,cates
OF Reform, that they could rely upon him to
BRING down condign punishment upon the
heads OF the Banditti who had been robbing
our taxpayers. People were puzzled, They
didn't know how to account for it, or how
much faith to put in his professions. Even
now, men look at each other and ask what
motive led Barnard to forsake the Tammany
Ring in the hour of their greatest need.
Some ascribe his conduct to personal dislike of
Connolly-others to indignation at not hay
ing received a share of the plumber. But
Whatever his motive may have been, his
spasm OF virtue didn't last long Little by
little he frittered away the strength of his
injunction and when Tweed was brought be-
fore him to answer, as criminal. for his
gigantic thefts, he made farce of the
whole proceedings by bailing him in $4,000
that was the last of his appearance in the
role of an honest Judge-a character too
new to him to be well acted. iii. = y
The record of his offences is a terrible one.
and affords painful lesson of official depray-
ity. The Indictment of the Bar Association
is only small part of the list of his misdeeds
The very day, when the Legislature decided
upon impeaching him, a highly respectable
gentleman, on reading the telegram announc-
ing the fact, remarked exultantly that he
could =. 'r aFT
NOW STATE HIS GRIEVANCE. a
And it was this: He had sold man $50, 900
worth of real estate, receiving $25OO cash and
eager had never paid one cent of the
principal or interest, and when he in
stituted foreclosure proceedings, the suit
was delayed by Judge Barnard for over two
years. The case was originally sent to ref
cree. The referee was Gratz of Barnards,
but the case was SO clear that he decided fl
nally in favor of the plaintiff. But when
pressed to confirm the report, Judge Bar
nard, all other delays failing, would send the
report back on the ground that there was
fresh testimony. And so the unlucky sutton
was was Kept out Of his money for two years, and
peneves he would have been for an indefinite
anu hIermlnable period, fthe Judge had not
u ,;el disqualified from further interference
", %i u, DIS rlghts And yet he fell so complete
public complaint. '''ii uaie W MAKE
nlentlor inns as specimen of the tbous-
and ways in which justice has been nervertoJ
and wrong abetted by the corrunt I'm iudic;ary,
which has afflicted New York Civ these
many years. YApn,9S un0'o
Western Division Of the Portland G. No.
densburg Railroad Line.
CLARENcEvILLE, Province Quebec,