Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-05-02

tHat IL Is tile Only prlnc1ple worthy OF
being one of the tenets of the Demo-
cratic Party.
INDsCTNENTS FOR LIBEL AND
THEIR EFFECT.
We presume there is scarcelya paper
in the State or out of it, that at one
time or another has not formally pro-
no,1nced the Press to be the ''bulwark
of freedom" We all say it and know it
to be a true saying too; but it may be
doubted whether or not we appreciate
the Importance of securely guarding
the ''bulwark' from attack. Nor do we
sufficiently appreciate how easily it's
strength and efficiency may be impaired.
1t is much to be feared that the Press,
"bulwark" though it be, is more often
and more easily intimidated than it's
conductors generally admit.
We intend no reflection, whatever, up
on our brethren, and make these remarks
simply as prelude to confession of
weakness on our own part. We con-
fess that we are afraid that Mr.. Solicitor
Cantwell has intimidated US. He has
charged us in legal language with hav-
ing called His Honor, Hugh L. Bond,
United States Judge, scoundrel, and
proposes with the consent of jury of
the good people of Bladen to subject us
to fine and imprisonment therefor.
Now, fine and Imprisonment andC Cant
class joke, whether ''well shaken be-
fore taken,'' or taken "single shot"
But this is not exactly the point of
trouble. Mr.. Cantwell, we learn, says
that Judge Bond is Enlightened gen
tleman." We do not propose to raise
an issue OF veracity just now upon
that point. We only propose to say
that if Judge Bond is a high toned
gentleman, we do not see how
any other gentleman upon the Federal
Bench can be denied the same honor
able appellation. For instance, there
is His Honor, Judge Underwood, the
United States District Judge of Eir-
ginia If Bond be Il high-toned gem
tIeman, lie would be rash man who
would assert that Underwood is a
scoundrcl There Is, however, an old
saying to this effect, that "pretty IS
that pretty does" Now just here we
feel iltilnidated. Mr.. Cantwell has
frightened rs. If it be libelous to call
Bond srouudrel, it must surely be
libelous to c.;il Underwood scoulldrel; ;
the following facts? During the latter
part OF the war, proceedings were in
stituted in Judge Underwood's Court
to contiscate the property of one Nc
Weigh, citizen of Alexandria. The
property was sold by order of the
Court, and Judge Underwood's wife
became the purchaser at a merely
nominal price. Mr.. McNeigh, not be-
ing satisfied to lose his property in
this manner, institute dproceedings in
the State Courts, and on Wednesday
last, the Supreme Court of Appeals, OF
Virginia, delivered an opinion, concur
red in by all the Judges, in which it is
said, the purchase by Judge Under
wood of McVeigh's property at an
enormous sacrifice, under a fraudu-
| lently procured and issued decree Of
| his own Court, was Il transaction 1rhicH
must shocI: tie n1o,ol sense of cre,y
| honest man.
But His Honor, the Federal Judge
Underwood, was not the only party
engaged in the transaction. Other
gentlemen, whether high-toned OF
not, we cannot presume to say, as they
are not on the Federal Bench, we'll
known to fame, were concerned in 1t.
From the report of the proceedings IL
the Richmond Dispatch we learn that
"NIr. McVeigh introduced the depo
sitions of Mr.. J. G.. Balderson, of the
firm of Balderson, Ward & Co., Of
Baltimore; Mr.. Francis Dane, of the
firm of Francis Dane & Co., of Boston
and Mr.. Robinson, of the firm of Kim
ball, Robinson & Co., of Boston, hi:
creditors and plaintiffs in said attach
ment suits, and gentlemen of the
highest standing who were conversan
with all the facts as they occurred, and
were present at the confscation sale
and attachment sale, to show actua
fraud. in fact, on the part of Judge
Underwood, and OF Oakes Ames, JohI
B. Alley, and Samuel Hooper, mem
bers of Congress from Massachusetts,
and, more recently, of Credit-Mobilie1
notoriety."
If Judge Underwood did not wea,
the Federal ermine we should feel yer.
much inclined to quote the old adag'
that "birds of feather will hocl
together" tits pretty generally agreed
we believe, that Ames, Alley & Co
are scoundrels. But Judge Under
wood, like Judge Bond, is Fedora
Judge, and we dare not say that he il
scoundrel for fear MIR. Solicito
Cantwell may indict us. Here is
clear case of intimidation of th
bulwark of freedom" We propose t.
take legal advice upon the question o
, our right to indict Mr.. Cantweu fo
intimidation and conspiracy, unde
the Ku-Klux Act of Congress
Seriously, we think it quite unkind i
Mr.. Solicitor Cantwel to deprive Il
of the luxury of calling man, VIII
does things that Underwood has done
q scoundrel