New Orleans Republican., 1873-06-22
JUDGE JACOB HAWKINS.


in public and priv ate life will deeply i'm
press every fair-minded and honorable citi
zen acquainted with him with true sense
of his feeling in consenting to be made the
plaintiff in . suit against the publishers OF
the Now Orleans Picayunc for defamation
Of character. A decent respect tor public
opinion and the nigh Office to which he has
been called has-rather than a desire for
public notoriety him to vindicate
bis good name through judicial investiga-
tion of the infamous charges preferred
against him by his political enemies and
published in the Pcoyune
The position of Judge Hawkins did not
permit him to seek redress in any other
manner, could he have been assured re-
spOnsible party could have been found. He
was charged with being "a compound Of
perfdy and perjury" True. the charge
emanated from an unknown political oppo-
nent but it was indorsed and published in
the Pcayunc by its editor, who received his
authority from board of directors elected
by tbs two hundred and fifty stockholders
OF an incorporated company known as
the New Orleans Printing and Publishing
Company. This company having pur-
chased the New Orleans Pcoyunc started
out with al excellent promise to pub lish
non partisan, independent paper, with pure
and elevated tendencies; paper that
would protect the people against all abuses,
and by aiding in harmOnizing all classes Of
the people, assist them in banishing politi
cal prejudice, ill-will and dishonesty from
the land. How we'll this promise has been
kept, the course of the Picayune under its
present management will show. Cnfor-
tunately its course has been the
reverse of that which it promised to pur-
sue. Its editorials are neither high toned
nor conservative. On the contrary, they
are often marked with q partisan bitter
ness that helps to widen the breach that
has so long and 80 disastrously divided the
people of this State. It has never been
able to recognize any good IN the Repub-
ican party-State or national-and conse
quently has neglected no opportunity to
blacken the characters Of Republican
officials when such , course was
deemed necessary to build up for
tunes Of the opposition. In consistently
pursuing this course the Picay,,ne made its
attack on the gentlem an
whose name heads this article. FOR doing
what he conceived to be his duty, as an in
dividual member of the returning board,
under the circumstances, thatpa charges
him with being compound of perfidy and
perjury" and for the purpose Of testing the
truth or falsity Of what it AYERS in regard
to Judge Hawkins, the suit against the
Picnyune was instituted.
Up to the time Judge Hawkins was hon
ored with the judgeship of the Superior
Court, ISLANDER, the foulest whelp of sin,"
had not marked him with its ma lignant
breath He was known as good and faith
tul lawyer and a true citizen of the great
American republic; and in considera ton of
his ability and standing had been selected
as the reporter Of the decisions of
the Supreme Court Of this State
Judge Hawkins discharged satisfactorily
to all parties the important duties
of this Office for several years. 1t was after
he had been chosen by the Governor of the
State Judge of the Superior Court, as al
ready stated, that his character was as
sailed. The political enemies of the Repub- |
lican party then became the enem les of |
Judge Hawkins. and in their wild dispo-
'ition to disgrace the State government and |
throw disrepu.e upon the judiciary made |
he direct charge Of perfdy and
perjury against him. He very prop.
,rly gave them the opportunity to estab.
ish the truth of their libel; and having
allied to do this it should rot take an intel
igent and unbiased jury long to bring in
yerdict that will not only vindicate the
haracter Of an upright man and the judi
iary Of the State. but will also teach the
Of the press that they are no
more privileged to wantonly assail and
make most hellish meals Of good mems
lames" than other people.
We will venture to assert that Judge
Hawkins has no disposition to shrink from
he responsibility of his acts as . member
f the returning board. but it is notOri-
us fact that there were others who acted
Vith him in determining and ammo uncing
he result OF our last State election. This
he Picayunc lost sight of in attacking
udge Hawkins. and in singling him out
nd making him responsible for the acts of
he board, that paper clearly establishes
hat its libel is a malicious slander.