The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-11-06
REPORT AND RESOLUTIONS.

Aon' L. MGLlIlGN. secretary.
REPORT AND RESOLUTIONS,
As members Of the Matches Bar we have read
win profound regret the article published h
she Vickshurg Herald of September 30. under the
caption Two Thousand Dollars for "a Human
Iite:" and also an article published in the New
Orleans, La. Times, of October 8, commenting
en- and indorsing the position OF the Vicksburg
Herald in the mater. The first reiterates a
the lawlessness in the counties of Amite and
Pike, and the surrounding counties OF Missis-
sippi, III due to the drunkenness and inefflcency
qf the presiding Judge, taIluding to Judge
Smiley and cites the habeas corpus case of
Bethea, to sustain the averment anu then pro-
comments gu the article in the Herald, and. as
saminE its statements to be correct sustains
Its legal posi- ions.
ofJudge Smiley's decisions in the Bethea case.
but the first goes much farther and charges him
with drunkenness anu inefliciency, and consa
Guent thereon, with the lawlesSness existing in
the counties named and as the caption of the
Herald seems to imply, that he would barter a
human life for $4,000.
1t is not our province to discuss the decision
OF Judge Smiley. rendered in the Bethea case.
because, first. we have not the facts before us
secondly, ours Is not the tribunal: thirdly. we
are perfectly willing to put the opinion of Judge
Smiley, upon grave legal question submitted
20 him with all the facts of the case before him.
against the tpse dIrit of members of another
profession, who base their opinions atpon hear
say testimony alone Our object Is to meet and
repel the as. tensions that have ben cast upon
his integrity and upon mis- character, originating
In the Vicksburg Herald and reiterated in the
New Orleans Times.
Judge Smiley has long occupied judicial posi-
lions In our State, first as Vice chancellor in
The better days of the Republic, and since then
Ms Circuit Judge. In these he has been distin-
guisLed not only for his legal ability. but ais o
Tor his strict impartiality and firmness, tenn
pered with gentle department Never before
this libel have we heard his capacity or integ-
rity Questioned Never before has the breath of
scandal blurred the purity of the ermine that
he has worn so long Assuming the judgeshlp
of this district since the war. he has been en-
yironed with difficulties consequent upon the
new order of things, but he b S projected with
impartiaiity and firmness to discharge his
nigh aud responsible duties. So far from his
ssnnniying at crime, and being the father of
lsyylessness. he has steadily made all due et
forts Il, administer justice. and we can safely
affirm that he has never prostituted his office,
either through inei1iciency or contempt of the
decisions of the Supreme Court, to screen the
guilty from trial or punishment
III vas a thing to be expe tel, tnat one, VINO
had 40 long barn in public life, ana who mas, by
she steady but quiet force OF the judiciary
ssnyvar welded sucn an immense influence over
the lives and property OF our cltIzens' sAouio
at some time or other Dc censureu,
ssFor hard il his fate on whom the public gaze
= II fixed forever to detract or praise;
RenoSe denies her raauiem to his name,
And Follg loves the martyrdOm OF fame.
The wonder is that he has ESCAPED SO long;
WA who haze known j Judge Smiley iongeSl ana
ave associated with him and prasticou uHu l
17m EN- affirm our conviction that tne late