Wilmington journal., 1874-07-31

These expressions Woro accompanied
by motions that created the impression
upon gentlemen not engaged in the
afrray and not likely to be fright
ened from their self-possessiop,t that The
Judge was about to draw a pistol.
Now, be it remembered, that Mr..
Russell is Judge of the Superior
Court in the State of North Carolina,
and asks the people of this district to
give him new lease on his seat on the
bench for eight years. We beg every
voter in the district to ask himself
whether person who thus openly detics
the laws of God and man is fit to go
upon the bench to administer those
laws!
After some little time, however,
Judge Russell, aware of the unseem-
illness Of lis conduct, made an apol-
ogy to the people there present, eX-
pressing his regret for what had oc-
Cured. His apology was substai tial-
ly, that he possessed an ''iniirrity--that
of temper. That it would overcome
him. but that he regretted his weak
ness whenever thus overcome"
Now it was very proper thing for
Judge Russell to apologize to the peo-
pie at Town Greek for Eis outrageous
conduct and the pity is, that he had
not begun this matter of apoloGiGing II
little sooner. Did Judge Russell apollo
gize to old Colonel Baldwin of Colum-
bus, after giving way to his unfortu-
nate infirmity SO far AS to insult from
the bench an old man whose age,
whose virtues ard whose long public
service deserved the highest respect
Did Judge Russell ever apologize to
Sheriff. Murlill, of Onslow, after Civ
ing way to his unfortunate infirnity
so far as to cause him to be arrested
and carried to Raleigh before the
Federal authorities for no other reason
than that the Sheriff had compelled the
Judge to pay taxes then long due
Did Judge Russell ever apologize to
any one, to whom he had been rude OIL
Overbearing or insulting from the
bench? If so we have never heard oi
it. And men may well be pardoned
while admitting it's sincerity, for rdoubt-
ing the efficacy of repentance that
produces neither reparati"n nor re
form.
And yet without reform or the prom
ise of reform, without reparation OF
the promise Of rcparation for his con
duct on the bench, Judge Russell asks
us to fasten him there for eight years
more ! Fellow citizens We appeal tC
you earl. silly i'll this matter we beg
YOU to consider who and what this
man is that asks you to make hin
your Judge. Remember that he claims
that not even the Legislature can de
privc him of the power to punish mcr
for what he calls contempt of court
Think of the consequences if you pm
on the bench q man with such an I'm
controllablc jnfirmity of temper as Mr.
Russell has. Suppose Colonel Bald
win had called him TO account for in
shifting him what would have prevent
ed Judge Russell from Furnishing hin
for contempt just as he said he woul(
do in the case of the man who attacked
the lawyer for words spoken in court
Every man is absolutely at the mere,
Of Judge with such terrible in
trinity as that which Mr.. Russell de
clares possesses him and who hold
his views about his power to pun:sl
for contempt of court. If Judg,
cannot control his temper and the
Legislature cannot control his powe
to punish people according TO tha
temper, the people must suffer. Judg
Russell tells you plainly, poople OF th'
Fourth Judicial District, that th
Legislature cannot control him III tE
matter of contempt md that he canno
control himself in the matter of ten
per.
VIII you pnt him back OH the bench
We rather think rot