Wilmington daily gazette., 1872-07-08

An FLEcT1vr JUD1cIAeT-JcpeE NC
| GUMS CAsE--1he Senate's verdict in the case
/ oi Judge McCunn will be received with the
highest satisfaction by honest men OF all par
lies The proofs against him were too strongto
permit doubt in the minds Of any persons " no
nave watched The course OF the trlai, thar ne
richly deserved..ex pusion from his Office. Ga sx
specific charevs ont OF seven the Senate unani
| mousiv, With the exception OF Mr. Lord, who mad
not been present the trial nor read The printed
testimony voted that they were sustained, and
ON the final question OF removal MIR. Lord went
with his brother Senators. 1t is 20 cheering to
see Democrats and Republicans alike resolved
upon purifying the Bench, which 50 sadly needs
, it. Their action in this instance goes a short
way to atone fol the contemptuo's treatment OF
many salu,ary reforms by the last Legislature.
Whatever the S. nate may lack in sensitiveness
On the subject OF other aud almost equally no.
,orious abuses, they will no,-as this example
shows-conssnt 70 whitewash corrupt judges.
. We trust that all other men who havedisgraced
:, the Bench and may be subjected to discipline BY
= the Senate will have Justice meted out to them
!. in the same uns,inted measure. The misdoings
of Judge McCunn were mostly those OF ofappoint
ing receivers in cases before the court, under
circumstances which pointed unerringly TO In
N proper motives Il is a melancholy evidence
,r OF the degenerate condition into which the pub
4 lie mind had fallen that the bad system oil CIV
n ing recevershliS 10 persons OF eSh !etu's ""
were relatives or intimate friends OF judges iiad
caue to be regarded as q necessary evil. Week
{, ", and even daily such suspicious transactions
~ ~ took place, and the people looked on in klnf
N of stupor The apathy of the public was nn
uI fortunately deepened BY the neglect CT the ba
IN for long time TO denounce those who wer
,r- thus poisoning justice at the fountain. At las
~ the Bar Association arose, to vindicate the mono
or Of the legal profession; and it is to their boil
Dr. and uutripx efforts for months past that We ow
the overthrow Of Judge McCunn, and the move
TX meu,s begun to oust other judges who hav
~ abused their high positions. There is goo
,nt prospect now that the Bench will he purge"
,n some of its most objectionable incnmh nt' o'
,ch We should mislead our readers if we .eIpre1se
raj the belief that the reform begun Will be las'
nd ing. The trouble lie. ton deep 10 be cut ava
at with the knife of impeachment So long as y
by have an elective judiciary, 80 long will there
Ha INSTANCES of unlearned and morally dehce'
~, men chosen to fill Offices which should he occ
lev. pied oply by men eminent in the law ana OF II
strictest integrity This rule is true oil near
as all elective Offices, and constitutes one OF u
md yravest dangers in republican form oigoS.r
top nent Bat it is especially true in respect
Tor Judges. We expect and can put up with sor
.n .a degree Of political favortisn ~ the ordsha
ID administration OF government, but when IN
'e' prevalent faut makes its way into the iemE
land nf lus,ice our last means Of safety and reor
sup- is taken away from Us.