Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-09-06
Corrupt Judges Coming to Grief

Perhaps nothing offnrds greater satisfaction
to the itellgent and moral classes of mankind
everywhere, than the GactiOr crime and corruption
having met its just reward. Aud especially is
lis tie case when vice is of au oftcid ehagAc-
ter. The greater the rascal. the greater the need
Of punishment and example.
Those who sympathize in these views will be
interested in the following which We clip from
the New York Mercantile JorHd, which has
dnle EIpch TO arouse public sentiment GonseTn-
ing official corruption in that city;
mot this city and State alone have been
watching with iutaa5e interest the impeachment
trial of the New orkjudges, but the whole coun-
try as weH for Americans everywhere felt ;ha.
to some extent they rested under stigma ac-
count of this corruption. The reputation Of these
men had becnine more than national. 1t extend
ed far and wid0 in Ott er countries, and was re-
proach which enemies urged, and oGr fEiends
could nowhere deny. 1t was no exaEgeratinn,
When some of our foremost men testified that they
had found the greatest reluctance in Europe to
eEtrust capital in this country, because no reli-
ance could be placed on our courts. And the
same feeling existed here; and was becoming
common, not to say universal. Many pan
could testify that his rights were cruelty sge-i-
feed. Many man was ruined, or nearly so, ~
the most manifest perversion Uf justicc-mOr
men, far, than ever allowed their names to be GiY-
en- to the public. We speak what we kHng on
this point. and testify to what we have seen.
Everybody was beginning tn speak the names
of the judges chiefly responsible as the very syn
onyms of corruption; especially the name of
Barnard.
"But 1t was one thing for the community to
know this state of things, and deplore it, aud
quite another 10 successfully apply the remedy.
Fearly everybody rejoiced, last winter, when
measures were instituted legally to fix this guilt;
few believed thstdhsy would result in mpeach-
nent. II is the greater satisfaction, therefore,
now, to seo.4hat end fully attained. Cardozo,
foreseslGg the result, barely escaped a furma
removal from office by resigning. MCunu stood
his trial, and was moved by the unanimous
votes Of the Court If Impea chment. And now
Barnard, after trial protraeted through five
Reeks, in which he has had every opportunity to
,controvert the evidence brought against him, has
been found guilty upon twenty six Of the thirty
eight charges; while on eighteen and nan5 Of
these the worst-the verdict was unanimous f.
Surely, it must be a clear case which earries the
judgement of ihrty-six such men, as sat in this
court Of impeachment, without one dissenting
voice. The adjudged was the double one of re-
moval from the bench and disqualification for
holding hereafter any office in the State Of Dew
York; which is tie highest nnnishmept provided
by the constitution in case like this. She vote
for reno val was unanimous; that for disquai fca'
ton thirty three to two cne Rembcr, Chief Jus
tire Church, being detained ey sckn,ss the day
his decision was reached.
4" And thus ends ttIe most remarkable trial Of
this kind which was every held ir this cNuutry'
whether we cnusiderits length, tie nupber and
enormty Of the charges brought, or the severity
al tn, punishment so upaniWousy meted out.
Its influence must be great. Hereafter decis-
inus will not be sn oftep for sale IN our courts,
will continue 10 favor the sy stem Of popular elec
tion to the Office OF judge, the office to be held
for fourteen years, except the Incumbent Is re-
moved by this tiEouit, eJPsnSiee. and uacsrt'In
process OF impeachment. II has given MS at
least three not opV corrupt hut impeaehable
judges at one time IN this city Barnard By a
Aajority of sIyty eight Thousand. We believe
this will be evidence enough against the systems
and, next year, when the people will be called TO
vote whether they will continue II, they will re-
povs entirely tree which has borne such evh
lfpit."