The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-07-18
A Righteous Decision.

There was q day when the Court OF APP
pcals of Virginia declined even to notice
what purp0rted to be q reversal Of one Of
its decisions by the Supreme Court of the
United States. That was day when the
country had for its public servants nobleI
men and more enlightened statesmen than
will ever again serve her in the Legislative
hall or in the judicial forum. Now, we are
thankful for small favors. Judge BLATCB-
FORD, of New York, refuses to surrender q
citizen of that city to the authorities of the
District of Columbia to be taken to Wash
ington and tried-for libel. And the
crowd in the courtroom applaud, and al!
the editors of the country breathe freer.
We really did hot know but Judge
BLATCuFoRD would surrender the man.
Suppose it had been UNDERWOOD be
would have surrendered Richmond
editor to these vile miScreants from
Washington as soon as he could utter the
necessary words, and would have g!oried In
the opportunity of rendering himself infa-
nous and personal liberty by-word and a
reproach in this boosted land of freedom.
Let us not forget, however, that Judge
BLArcHFoRD's decision might have been the
reverse Of what it was, and that not only
Judge UNDERWOOD, but Judge DELAHAY,
Judge DUREIL, and indeed almost any Fede-
raj district Judge in the southern States,
would have rendereda decision which would
have disgraced the country and put an end
to personal liberty wherever the flag Of
freedom floats" Indeed, the telegraph told
us yesterday that Judge BLATCHFoRD would
not send DANA off to Washington, not be-
cause TO do so would have been violation
OF his constitutional rights, but because he
could not there have "a jury trial. We are
left to infer that ii the Police Court of
Washington had been Jury court, the judge
would have ordered the instantaneous remo-
val Of the prisoner to that city.
Aud now what does the reader suppose
Is the offence for which Federal official in
Washington demands the body of noted
New Yorker, and the Federal judge OF the
District Court Of New York refuses to sur
render the same? The defendant-the pri-
soner that was to be-is CHARLES A. DANA,
the editor Of the New York Sun. In his
paper he libelled, it is ayerred, Messrs. A
r. SHEPHERD and HENRY D. COOKE, OF WASH
ington. They have sued or prosecuted MN
therefor in the Police Court2of washington
and claiming that the offence was committed
in Washington because the Sun tcirculates
there, they demanded that DANA should be
sent to that place for trial. The outrage
implied in this demand, though refused, is
an unspeakab,e one. TO have, contaminated
it would have been to prove that this is in
deed q nation of slaves, fit only to be hshed
by tyrsnts, and made to bear the yoke of OPP
preston: and injustice of every sort.
What a fine time the President of the
United States would have if he could have
such@ state of things brought about. HE
appoints a judge in Washington and a mar
shai; and the city Is made up almost en-
tirely Of those who are dependent upon
him for their daily bresd--th these would be
the jurymen. Then, let an editor any where
! in this broad land - 10 Maine or Texas, In
y California or Virginia, In Florida or Ore
gon--5ay disrespectfhl word of bis
Majesty. straightwny this judge would is
sue his process; and this marsha! would ex-