The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1872-03-23
Our judiciary md the Charleston
News.

1t there is amy branch Of the govern
ment, or any Dody of men, which should
be sacred from the inconsiderate slande,
of partisan press, it is, beyond any
shadow Of dou.t, the Judiciary. Sc
thoroughly is this principle recognized,
that to publish any disrespectful or sean.
dalous matter of Judge in his
capacity as such, is punishable by
him summarily and severely without
the Intervention of either grand or
petit jury. So closely and SO jealous
ly are the regulations aud Office of the
judges watched over and cared for by
tho fundamental law, that for any Off
cial misconduct or unworthiness these
high magistrates are amenable to no
other and to no less tribunal than the
Senate, sitting us Court of Impeach-
ment, to try the truth of articles of i'm
parchment duly and solemnly preferred
by the House of Representatives.
And as in this forum only can Judi.
cial conduct be legally assailcd, SO there
only can it with becoming dignity be de-
tended as there only can it with pro-
priety be defended, SO there only can it
with propriety or dcccn oy &c assailel.
1t may, or it mny not be, assuming
too much to say that the Charleston
Nens must have been aware IF these
facts and of this condition of tho law in
regard to the judicial Office when it pub.
lishcd the article headed eco to the
Courts" in its issue of the 10th instant
It's ignorance in the former case-its
use of the following language (Which
we extract and itulicize from that arti
cle) in either case-are equally a re-
proach to journalism
1t is patent to all thoughtful mon
that the courts of the State do not offer
to the humble citizen the certainty of
redress which they gave ten years ago.
For the most part ju6ges haze been
chosen ~ho ,conid consent to regard tie
fa'o through tie colorcd glasses which
fheT political orerSeCrs gare them. Juries
have been so empanelled as to throw al
most insuperable difficulties in the way
OF any suitOr who dared 10 Interfere, in
any manner, with the measures Of the
ruling party. These facts We do not
pretend to ignore. But we arc not
willing to admit that every judge upon
the South Carolina Bench is ignorant or
corrupt; and this is the conclusiom to
rI''eh wc are forced j, without making
an earnest endcavor TO obtain correct.
tion OF Legislative and executive wrong
dong, wc decline to plead before judges
whom Radical nnliiirians have nlne.e>,l
and before iuries which Radical commits,
sioners have drawn. 1t is due to the
courts that they be given an opportun,
ity OF asserting their impartiality and
their Independence.
Now, whether true or not, the n cns
bad no right to publish such language in
regard to the judiciary of this State
Tho truth nf Tho o,eo,t; 49,. ,>:.,l,I a.. r..
palliatc the conduct Of that paper as to
subject it to no grarer charge than a
want of Judgment in pursuing an illegal
course, though with good iuteution
The untruth of the assertions leaves the
Neps in pitiable plight indeed.
In order, therefore, to prove that lbs
charges arc true that, as matter Of fact
'for the most part judges have boen
chosen who would consent to regard the
law through tho colorcd glasses which
their political ovcrsccrs gavo thcm," til,
Neus must show that of tho eish,
judges having original jurisdiction, viz
Judges Graham, Farmer, Green, Rut
land, Melton, Thomas, Moses and Orr
FIVE, at the least, are Of the characte,
mentioned In Its editorial
! Now will tho Ncws undertake tbi.