Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-01-25
TIC ASSAULT UPON TIE COURT.

The San Francisco Cal excerpts to our
the United States District Court, saying
that Senators Edmunds and Sherman, who
thoroughly understand the Restriction Act,
oppose the views of the Court and declare
Shat i has been making holes in the
law. We do not believe that either OF
those gentlemen, whose ability and states
manship are unquestioned and for whose
opinions on statecrsft we entertain a high
regard, have made any declaration
of that character. They esteem their ex.
Pressions too highly to pass upon matter
being determined by judicial tribunal,
without full knowledge of the proofs before
the Court. They are too well versed in
the law to form and express opinions relative
to the rulings on points of law by Court
concerning which they have only news
paper reports, especially when those re.
ports are made in journals holding adverse
views to those of the Court They are
very we'll aware that no lawyer who re-
spects his opinions will pass upon case
until he has knowledge OF both sides.
Again, they must know that in hearing
before Court, the judgment of which is
TO either hear or read all the testimony in
order TO fairly criticise the Court. Let
US be clearly understood-we have not ex.
cepted to free criticisms Of tbs rulings of
the Court, nor to the expressions of views
.-sntagonistic to its Judgment but we have
protested against assaults made upon the
Judge of the Court simply because his
Judgment is opposed to the views Of others.
San Francisco authorities passed resolu-
tion demanding the impeachment of Judge
Hoffman without an iota of fact to justify
the action. It was a bit of shameful
demsgogy an assault of which self-re-
specting men in San Francisco are ashamed
Judges are TO be impeached for violation of
their ostss Of Office, for corrupt and venal
practices, for bribery and vicious Judicial
willful disregard of duty, not because in
hotly contested cases. involving the sitting
OF the truth from a mass OF perjury they
make rulings that DO not meet the popular
view. In the article protesting against the
assault upon the Court, the RECORD. UNION
itself expressed the belief that as to the
question OF bail granted Chinese claimants
TO entry at the port OF san Francisco, the
Cour. erred in judgment. But shall
Judges be assaulted and their integrity i'm.
peached because their Interpretation OF the
law does not accord with the ideas of
editors snd Supervisors g.? What kind Of a
Judiciary shall we have If Judges are to
be scsuated by any ether than their
own convictions What will be the
state Of society when subaervient men
sit upon the bench and consult
the press and the mob IS 70 the character
Of their decisions. We are more than sur.
prised at the position Of the San Francisco
press-we are Inundated, and cannot but
view with alarm and indignation the ia
grant attempts made in the metropolis to
break down Court for no venal act, no
corrupt practice, no vicious habit, but sim.
ply because it does not rule in all respects
as the press and half dozen Supervisors
demand. No one can question our posi-.
ton as to the Restriction Act; as 10 the
necessity, advisability and wisdom of
steming the tide OF Monaghan invasion, we
have spoken in no uncertain tone. But
because the Court hearing the testimony,
applying the rules OF Interpretation and
ruling as it deems it its sworn duty to do,
does not construe the Law regarding exam
ination of the invaders as We could wish, we
do not feel justified in assailing the personal
character OF the Judge. Thirty consecu-
tive years Of service upon the bench with
honor, dignity and the respect Of the PEG.
pie, should count for something Il not,
there is small encouragement to men to SO
act as to deserve and command the esteem
of their fellows. The Call has pronounced
Judge Sawyer an "errsic or "eccen-
tric" Judge. II is somewhat remarkable
that it has taken it more than quarter of
4 century to discover it Contemporaneous
with him all these years, it should lorg
since have pointed it out il ne is Judge