Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-06-11
A RELIC OF DESPOTIsN.
Trying to Shield Congress from Ridi.
cule.

GALVESTON, TEX, June Tn the United
States District Court to-day the trial of Henry
Greenwall, manager of fremont Opera House.
for refusing two colored women seats in the
parquet of the theatre, was concluded and re-
suited in his being fined $500.
In the Galveston Ne,cs of Saturday morning
last appeared an editorial criticism on the con-
structions and rulings Of Judge Morrill, in the
above csse. The article was modest in its ex-
preSsions, being entirely shorn of personalities,
and was simply reflex of the extent the editor
deemed to which the Civil Rights bill was in
tended to apply, together with review of de-
cisions of Justice Bradley, in the Grant-parish
case and the Slaughterhouse case before the
Supreme Court of the United States. This
morning in the United States Court Judge Nor
rill took up the article which appeared in the
Neus and commented upon it in severe terms,
rs an attempt to throw the Court into ridicule
and TO inform the Judge of the Court that his
decisions were to be disregarded. Having
analysed the article Judge Morrill, remarked
that he could not suffer Congress and the United
States Court to 60 into contempt by remaining
silent, and thereupen instructed the Clerk TO
issue an order for the United States Marshal to
summon the proprietors and publishers of the
GalUeston Ners TO appear tomorrow morning
and show cause why such an article should APP
pear. There is the greatest excitement prevail
ing here regarding this action Of Judge Morrill,.
and the result tomorrow morning is anxiously
looked for.
The above illustrates very forcibly the
evils we spoke of the other day in an
editorial on the power of courts in rela-
ton to contempts. We are glad to see
the subject has attracted the attention OF
some of our contemporaries who thought
our article worthy of reproduction. The
Westminster Aduocate, in commencing the
subject to public attention, says:
This is, emphaticaly an age of great mental
activity. Inquiry is abroad upon all subjects
Nothing escapes examination and criticism.
Precedent and usage have little weight or au-
thority If they will not bear the tnucistone oi
reason. Hoar practices, and systems. and ideas
are overturned with ruthless hand if they do NOT
agree with the spirit of the age. The ancient
prestige, powers and privileges, 10 long unques-
toned and conceded to the Judiciary, no longer
form any exception. They are the theme OF an
able article in the Port Tobacco Times which We
transfer to our own columns, promising that it
must have emanated from n legal mind and that
1t will be read with much interest
The Anne Arundel Adcertiser, in enforc-
ing the same views, advances additional
arguments and says:
1.-THE Port Tobacco Times has an interesting
editorial on the power ofjudges in the matter of
offenSes for contempt which will be found else
where in this issue and repay peru>al. The
Times writes of it as "A Relic of Barbarism."
We are glad the subject is receiving the cons-
Iteration it deserves from the press We have
always concurred in the reasoning of our con-
temporary, and in a free country and with an
elective judiciary see no pertinence in hedging
about the authority of the bench with greater
pains ahd penalties than are found necessary in
the enforcement ofeXecutive authority. That IL
cannot be necessary the dignity of the judicial
office must appear from the fact that in this
State the right Is so seldom exercised IT IS almost
Nl.afo hl.a fri IN huh
and courteous bearing of members of the learned
profession and to the discretion of the long line
of great and distinguished judges that this State
can be proud Of even down to this day. That
| this right has been so seldom exercised may be
due somewhat to the happy eongruity of our
judicial administration rs always existing among
rs and to which the Times pays fitting COM
phiHnent.
By the way, the advertiser, by slip of
the pen, says we wrote of it as Relic of
Barbarism," though it gives the correct
heading, "a Relic Of Despotism.' This is
matter of no moment, except it has I'M
Willingly led our able contemporary, the
Baltimore Sun, which is not given to max
ing mistakes, into ascribing the use Of the
same term to us. The Sun always alive
to the protection Of the rights of free
government, and to the necessity tor free
press in order to yindicate these rights,
well says, in allusion to this latest assault
made by Judge Morrill, upon that freedom: :
'OBFENsES OF CONTEMPT.--The case given in
our dispatches from Galveston, Texas, concern
ing the action of Judge Morrill,, of the. United
States District Court, in summoning the pro-
prietors of the Galveston Ne,os to appear before
him. foE having published comments on his rul-
ings in n civil rights case, furnishes fresh ex
nnff rTptlff a Nrf
power. Our recently expressed views adverse to
the power ofjudges in the matter of Otfenses for
contempt, as suggested by such eases, we find TO
be generally concuTred IN by the press In Macy
land An interesting editorial on the subject APP
pears il the Port TOBACCO lhd) Ilmsca The