Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-03-25

are admitted By Stevens himself. Aud though
a mock heroic display of generosity is affected
in the boosted return of one half OF bis wIn-
Mugs, yet he other half is snusly slowed away
| in the pockets of Judge Stevens to this day
| for aught we know to the contrary, notWith-
standing the testimony of Senator Z. I. Smith
that the bonds won we're not the property OF
MIR. Fowle, ADD were the property OF the
| MONTPELIER Female Humane Association. And
vet Judge Stevens has the hardihood to come
before this House and through his frleods
| upon this floor demand an acqultta upon two
grounds: First, that he ought not to be called
| upon 10 this form, to aoswer the ACCUSATIONS
or charges brought against him; and, second,
that such gambling is genteel amusement,
"a, Gifted by the traditional habits of Virginia
gentlemen from time imm' m rial, aud in no
wise derogatory to his Judicial position The
sneaker utterly repudiated aud spurned the
pernicious impu'ation upon the habits and
character of Virginia gentlemen and Virginia
Judges.
Virginia has ever been pre-emncntly distin
guished for the spoicss purity, the iucorruptl-
BILE integrity, and the consummate ability OF
he: judiciary; and Vrginians have always
looked up with reverence to her JUICES as men
beyond suspicion and above reproaoh, both GU
the bench and off of it. And so intent were
the trainers of our Constitution upon securing
and preserving pure judiciary and avoiding
that greatest of all curses. debased and cor
rupt judiciary, that they cherished the dignity
of the one, and douby denounced the lntamy
of the other
i Sectioo Is of article of the Constitution,
under the head of "Legslative Department,
provides that 1.-THE Governor, Lieutenant Gov
ernor, Judges, aud all others offending against
the State, by INSTRUMENTATION, corruption
neglect of duty, or other high crime or miSde
meanor shall be Improbable by the House OF
Delegates and be prosecuted before the Sen
ate, which shall have the sole power to try iu-
peaehmunt." That is broad language and Is
almost comprehensive enough to cover any
case of official abuse but it did not satisfy the
trainers of the Constitution as to judges. This
: provision might be well enough as to all other
officers, but Judges must occupy hlghe
pIaue of conduct, aud hence an add tionll safe.
guard is thrown around that exalted position
by the insertion of another clause devoted es
pecially TO them, and to no other officer OF the
law. Accordingly section % Of article 6 Of the
Constitution, under the appropriate bead of
the judiciary Department. provides that
Judges may be removed from Office by con-
current vote OF both Houses of the General
Assembly, but majority of all the members
elected to each House must concur III such
vote, and the cause of removal shall be entered
% the jnuroaI of each House. 1t is under
this sectiun that the House have determl Dei
10 proceed against Judge Stevens; and uDder
it he ID NV upoo trial. 1t is matter for just
pride and profound coograulation that in
the entire past history OF her judiciary
no Virginia Judge has ever so lar degraded
| :..b
able TO the penalty of renewal dcnouDc.
cd by this section, or to be put upon trial
uuder It; and it has been reserved for George
s. Stevens, the degenerate jud ge fthe County
Court of N lson county, to take this new de-
parture. and seek 10 sanctiiy gambling upon
the theory that it is harmless social habit,
and to drag down the judicial ermlne 10 the
level Of his conception OF what ID right and pro-
per in this regard 10 complete his dcteuce,
he introduces several witnesses to prove his
good character Heavens what spectacle !!
A Virginia judge exhibiting certificates of char
acter, as a patent medicine veuder does his
GIuacks and nostrums Character. indeed !!
Why, Professor Webster was hanged upon u
better antecedent character than Judge Stevens
bears. Aud, to come down to more modern
times, We have but to look at Beknap Bah
cock, Scheuck, and whole host Of high Off .isl
digoitares, who, like Stevens, were never
uDtiI now suspected Of offence, and who, like
him, furnish conspicuous examples of the trail-
ty of some meu in high places and the actual
guilt of men hitherto supposed to be lnnOcen'.
The Speakers hammer fell before Mr.. Starke
had finished.
Mr.. Bohannoo, who was the next speaker,
said he was one of the three who voted against
the resolution of inquiry IN this case, and be
would vote against the report OF the committee,
because he believed the House had no jursdlc
ton, but that Judge Stevens ought TO be tried
by the Senate under the Impeachment clause
Of the Constitution. He believed, however,
that George S. Stevens was not fit to sit as L
Judge Mr.. B1hapnon said he deprecated
gambling, and sympathized with those addicted
to the vice. IF he had SOD he would wish him
saved from this above all other vices.
10 the course Of his remarks be said he did
not believe any man who played cards for noney
was tit to sit upon the bench as judge. lu
conclusion, be declared that if legislators adop-
ted The resolution of the committee they would
be guilty of more fragrant violation Of their
oaths than was charged agains! Judge Stevens.
We have forms of law, Mr.. Bohannou contend
ed, and The safety of our liberty consists IN fol-
lowing them.
Mr.. CoghilI said be had not intended to par
ticpate 10 this discussion, and but for the re-
marks of the gentleman from Norfolk (Mr.
Starke) be would not now do 80. That gentle
man had gooe outside Of the charges preferred
against Judge Stevens and made a new charge
not made by the committee nor endorsed by
the House. That gentleman charged that
Stevens, Worsham. and Hill had coDsplred TO
defraud and swindle, and had by combination
defraudcd and swinded Fowle Of the money
won by Stevens If this were true the com
mittee should have reported it to the House,
aud the House ought to have adopted II and
made it specification az cause for removal.
This had not been done. and of course such
abatement could not be considered by the House.
And he undertook to assert that there is 10
evidence to establish the charge had it been
made. And if there is one thing which the
evidence does show beyond the possibility of q
doubt, it is this, that Stevens fairly played with
Fowle and fairly won bis money, aud that no
improper meaDs or appliances were used by
him alone, or in combination with others 10
| 4 g o,-I, ,>lo