Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-03
A Political Judge.


1t is conceded throughout the world
that when the judiciary OF a State OF
country becomes partisan and political,
the rights and Liberties of such State or
country are seriously endangered. Jus
tice is no longer blind and Impair
tial. but sees with jaundiced eyes,
and becomes biased, whimsical and
capricious. Hence it is believed by
all wise men that judicial officers should
keep themselves wholly aloof from parti-
san Vaccinations, and that the bench
should never be permitted to be lowered
into the arena of politics.
If this be true-and no sane man can
doubt it-then the United States is truly
in a distressing plight The Federal
Judiciary especially is VIGOROUSLY parti-
san, and is constantly, both in solemn
decisions from the bench, as well as
through personal acts, giving evidence
that in this country justice is regarded
as secondary to political success.
A striking evidence of this has but re-
Gently been presented. Every one re-
members the high-handed position taken
by the Federal Judge Rives, of Virginia,
some months since, when he ordered the
arrest and trial of certain State Judges
in that commonwealth, because they did
not violate their consciences by placing
negroes-whom they considered unfit
to understand and intelligibly perform
the duties which would be required of
them-on their juries. Now this same
Judge figures again as political agent,
and, if possible, in more obnoxious light
than formerly. 1t seems that during the
debate in the United States Senate on
Thursday on the question of confirming
Clifford Statham, the Resdjuster ap-
pointee, as Postmaster at Lynchburg,
Va, the following letter, addressed to
President Arthur 10y Judge Rives, who
is United States District Judge for the
Western District of Virginia, was read:
any DEAR SRI am confident you
are properly informed of the exigencies
of our canvass in the State, to which you
and other Republicans look with much
confidence for the overthrow of Bour-
bonism and the gain of Republican in
/ the United States Senate. This result
will be insured if the movement shall
receive the countenance and aid of your
administration. The session of my court
at this place acquaints me with the pO-
| litical situation here and leads me to
indorse and urge the application of Mr..
| Clifford Statham for the post office in
| this city. He is a resident of this city,
the son of a wealthy and influential gen.
tleman, and young gentleman of edu-
cation and business capacity. Both
father and son are actively and zealously
| engaged in the canvass, and his appoint
ment could not fail to cement our cOali-
ton and advance the prospects of our
tickets, State and county. Commenting
his application to your favorable consid-
Grafton, have the honor to be your ODE
dent servant, ALEX. RIvEs.
Comment on such conduct on the part
Of Judge on the bench is unnecessary.
1t is simply disgraceful. Such man is
unfit to sit in judgment between man
and man, for in a great many cases
which must necessarily come before him
his reason would he clouded by political
prejudice and passion. That letter
alone, aside from the fact that it COM
mits a member of the Federal Judiciary
outright to the doctrines of reputation,
and therefore renders him incapable of
fairly deciding on issues between debtors
and creditors upon which he might be
called upon to pass, shows him up as a
political wirepuller rather than a
just Judge. He should be i'm. cached
and stripped of the ermine he has ever
shown himself so ready to soil in the
miry slough of politics.