The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-01-11
TIL CHIEF

So neither did the Wilmington, Ra-
leigh, Winston, nor the Henderson
bars endorse Russell for Supreme Court
Judge. 1t is most remarkable and
wonderful that any lawyers calling
themselves democrats. and having
knowledge of Russell's capers when on
the bench or Of his partisan, reckless
course as governor, SHOULD endorse him
for the most responsible place din the
| judiciary of The state. We have heard
an old saw that chickens come home
to roost."
Russell was afraid to bargain with
| Lieutenant Reynolds, it appears. as to
| resigning and then being appointed
| Chief Justice by his successor. The
bargain was highly disreputable, and
the proposed successor was lot to be
trusted. Who will Russell appoint on
the bench in place of Judge Furchess
| who succeeds Chief Justice Faircloth.
We know but little of him, but we be-
| lieve he is suspected of two things, of
| knowing some Jaw. and disregarding'
law. He was of the three members OF
the court about whom there has been
| talk of legislative Impeachment. We
| hope Furchess will not disgrace the
| place. Mayhap he is a safer appoint
ment thai either Russell. Or Coo would
| have proved. The state, the people.
| the bar are all to be congratulated up
on the escape they have made. 1t is a
warning.
1t has been a long time ago, and our
memory is 4 little clouded perhaps,
but we have some recollection of crit
icisms upon Russell when in his "cal-
Iow-youth,' and very ignorant of law.
getting much that he "toted around"
we have understood, from the late Mr..
London, a prominent lawyer at this
bar, he rode a circuit showing himself
a partisan of the narrowest and blind
est light. We have some recollection
that he published a very scurrilous at
tack upon the able, eloquent, vener-
able Judge John Kerr, but We do not
recall dts precise nature inc what
called it forth. Of his record as a
judge, the lawyers who survive and
before whom he presided in the courts.
Could perhaps "a tale unfold" The
Raleigh News and Observer, of Sat
urday last, gave one fine incident in
and characteristic. especially when it
is recalled that he has called the ne
groes "savages." The Raleigh paper
says:
Their are those who doubt Cover
nor RusseI's fitness to be a judge. He
was on the bench in 1868 and his re-
cord shows judicial qualities which
would be esteemed lin some sections of
the country as of the very highest
order. While, superior our judge. in
1859, a case was brought before him
involving the rights of negroes to sit
with white folks in the theatres in ad-
joining seats.
"a negro buck in Wilmington want
ed to take his sweetheart to the thea
tire and demanded a seat among the
white gentlemen and ladies. They OBJ
jected. Sambo carried the case be-
fore judge Russell, who turned upon it
the Hight of his "pre-eminent ability
and decided that white folks have no
right to exclude negroes from sitting
among them in theatres and like places
1t vas left for the supreme court of the
United States, without a southern man
among them to overthrow this outra-
geous and Illuminating doctrin. This
decision was a great feather in Rus
sells a. at the time"
If he could find himself on the SUI
preme court bench as chief official, he
would perhaps rub his corporosity
as he meditated upon his elevation,
and as he "chewed the u Of bitter
fancy" he might be heard exclaiming
who is the biggest jurist ever in
North Carolina, Is it Thomas Ruffin,
or is it I? Alas! Alas! How vain is
man and empty and fallible? How
prone to evil las the sparks so fly up
ward"
But man, proud man!
Doest in a little brief authority;
Most ignorant of what he's most as
surd
His CLASSY essence-like an angry ape,
Plays such fantastic tricks before
before high heaven.
AS makes the angels weep"
1t is evident the good, sound jurist
timber is now very scarce in the radi-
cal party. Since writing the above we
have received Raleigh News and OBJ
server for Sunday. 1t contains many
dispatches from lawyers denouncine
the appointment OF Russell. Some
favor him and they should eve again
utter a word in complaint or disparaR-
ment OF Russell.
Since preparing this editorial news
has been received that Mr.. Charles
Austin Cook has been appointed and
sworn in as associate justice.
His Life Was saved.