The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-02-11
THE SUPREME JUDGES AND THEIR
SALARY. Ell

| the subject, entertains any doubt OF the
unconstitutionality Of that measure ;
and consequently It's repeal Is wholly
illogical. Being plainly demonstrations
al, it Is absolutely null and void, and
can no moro excuse any action under II
than II Il had never existed. Its repeal,
| then, will have no other effect than to
express tho adherence entertained by
| all good men Of this most shameful and
revolving deed In tho history Of our mis-
government. Of corrupting the faith md
prostituting tho honor OF tho highest
branch Of the Judiciary. IL would be
mere folly To expect that IL will change
the conduct Of those INSCRIPTIONS men
who now rulc Louisiana, ana hold In
contempt any constitution or laws
which stand In tho way OF their raids
upon the treasury. Deserters from
principle. they have enlisted In the army
Of plumber, and, having cast aside oil
regard for character, arc not to be re-
strained by the cobwebs OF an impotent
legislation. No law, the violation OF
which Is not certain to be attended by
punishment, has any terrors for them ;
and terror Is tho only restraint which
they arc capable OF appreciating.
BY what solemn Incarnation can the
Legislature impose obedience to Its will
upon the conscience OF the Chief JUS
tice, who. fully cognizant Of tho tincon-
stitutionality Of that act, has neverthe-
less for five years drawn the Increased
salary. In violation Of that sacred oath
which Christians revere. and even
hoathens and inildels respect. Will he,
who, being tho highest minister and
conservator OF the law, invoked the au
thority of that miserable creature,
Jacob Hawkins, to cover up, by a fraud
ulent collision, the commission Of q
crime by the Treasurer, give heed TO an
enactment in no respect more, in fact
less, obligatory than those which he has
80 shamelessly outraged? To suppose
SO IL to ignore the law Of human action,
as certain In It's operation az that Of
gravity itself. that conscience once thor
oughly shaken from its poise never re-
covers It, but drops with accclcrating
velocity to endless perdition. II then the
hands of these men are to be kept out Of
tho Treasury, It must be through fear.
The failure to appropriate money to pay
this extra salary was as strong an ex-
preston OF the Legislative opinion and
will upon the subject rs could be given !;
but the record in the case Of John L.
Ludeling vs.. A. Dubuclet, No. 25.953 Of
the docket OF the Superior District
Court, shows that It only led to q cumu-
lation Of crime. It is not then by the
multiplication Of impotent legislation
that these men can be. checked, but by
the stern enforcement Of that which
already exists. Let the Grand Jury see
to IL that the penalty Of section 1888 Of
the Revised Statutes Is enforced against
the crime OF the Treasurer. Let the
Legislature inquire into the alleged
collision between the Attorney General
and the Chief Justice, by which fimsy
veil Of spurious legality was attempted
to be thrown over this shameful iniquity.
Nothing less than tho punishment of
the crimes already committed, and the
compelling these judges to disgorgo
their Illegal gains, can furnish any salts
faction for the past or any security for
the future.
The American is proverbially boast
full man. and doubtless this centennial
year will be distinguished by an in
creased mass Of bosh and spread eaglc-
ism. The "effete monarchies OF the
Old World will be compared, infinitely
to their disadvantage, with this land of
liberty In which call men are born free
and equal yet quickly pass to an
inequality which certainly would not
DO tolerated for moment in Great
Britain, and shocks beyond measure the
moral sense Of every just and honest
man. We refer to that inequality In the
Of the law which pre-
sents the revolving spectacle Of u judge, |
soiled with the deep infamy Of bribery
or perjury, passing sentence upon some
wretch, whom perhaps dire
want has driven to steal loaf Of bread |
This is condition of affairs which must |
necessarily demoralize society and sap
Its very foundation; for men lose that
confidence which Is its cement, when |
the very conservators OF the law are con-
spicuous as its violators. It is not many |
years since an English chancellorone
Of the brightest in point of intellect
which that country, SO rich In illustrious |
names, ever possessed-was compelled |
TO step down and out" on tho imputa- |
ton that he had converted the patron |
nge Of his Office into a means Of emolu- |
ment to member OF his family. Here |
In Louisiana, to-day, judges, whom lie |
gislative and judicial records prove to
have outraged every duty, continue in
tho prostitution OF their functions and,
secured by the protection of a military |
defy public sentiment. The
contrast is suggestive and no amount Of
patriotic fervor can prevent
the wise and just man from regarding
that governmental organization which |
induces, or even tolerates, the latter as
q complete and miserable failure.
Mr.. Evarts has been selected to deIiv-
Or the commemorative Grafton at Phila-
delphia on the 4th Of July, 1876. We
trust he will use that occasion as one Of |
instead OF our accustomed
self -ClOrificatiOn Let him sketch the