The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-04-30


nal law. md word IL God that tells you
nc does not belong 70 tho family Ct man a
Salon, Va
The Case Of Judge Campbell.
Editor Of rho Times-D
Air. --"rho fudge against whom the
Genera, Assembly may be about to pro-
coed shall have notice thereof, accom-.
nm ,lod nv 4 COPY Of the causes alleged
for hia removal, at least twenty days
before tie day Oh which either house
q tho General Assembly shall act there
ot,.',.--section 1oi Constitution OF VII 'lr
.ginia,
Now. taking this as the chart for the
Legislature In the Campbell case, let
lis see what has been tho course ana
conduct or the case from Its very pc
ginning DIP to the present time
Tho first thing that was done was tho
filing OF the petitions to the General as as
sembly. asking, for reasons therein and
thereby briefly set forth. that the nc zen
eral Assembly should Investigate the
condu ct OF Judge g. j. Campbell as judge
OF tho County Court OF Amherst, and
take such action us It, the General As A4s
scmbly, might think proper. These PEE
titions orr memorials were presented to
each house OF the General Assembly.San
were promptly referred to tho proper
committee In each OF said houses.
Note particularly here, that these petit
tons simply prayed for nm Investigation
without asking or indicating what action,
should be taken. leaving that where It
belonged. to the wisdom and discretion
OF the General Assent bly,. II n IN
S8 The second step was a resolution re-
ported by the comm lttee Of the House
OF Delegates fnvoring an investigation.
as PRAYED iur which resolution was
adopted BY the House OF Delegates. and
Its Committee for Courts OF Justice y was IS
directed to proceed to make that investi-i
cation and report the result of that in-f
vestigation. @ l.s ss
SThereupon the aforesaid committee on the
nth day OF December. 1902 mott ticd Judge
Campbell that on the 14th day OF Janu-s
e ry 1903, It would begin the investigation
as directed. and invited him to come for
ward with the assurance that he should
be heard. 5
This notice was most cheerfully ac-5
duiesced In. and the invitation to bring
4 forward his witnesses most graclously
accepted by Judge Campbell. and It will
not be questioned that he was most kind
3ly and generously .ndulged by the COM
II1llLcc q AOI IouI upOU3
this. and upon the fact that much more
than twenty days notice OF the purpose
OF the committee to begin the investiga =
ton was given Judge Campbell. no stress
is meant to be laid except in so far rs
these circumstances may affect the morals
OF the technical positions now sought to
be assumed Nothing could be more east
~ certain than that there is no require
ment anywhere to be found tina the should
have twenty days notice before an in-s
vestigation by one house OF the General
Assembly be begun, But even j It were
so required he had such notice. and. as be-
fore stated he not only made no objec-5
tion to the investigation In any manner
or at any time, but he indicated his ems
tire approval OF the plan. and never.
made, nor had cause to make. any com y
plant whatever OF the manner in which
1T was conducted By the aforesaid COM
mittee, composed as 1t was undoubtedly.
OF fair-minded. impartial and able law
yers. 5s K Il
Attention is called again to the status
Of the case at this stage Of the proceed
Ing: viz: ali that the General Assembly
had been rnemorlallzed to do was to make
investigation OF the official conduct Of
Judge Campbell with q view to taking
such action upon the result OF TINT inves-t
tigation as tho General Assembly might
seem proper. Then the actionsof one house
OF the General Assembly In undertaking
to make an investigation of his official
conduct can't In no sense be said to be the
action of the General Assembly; for. plain
sly the matter Is not yet up TO the General
Asscmbly-itis simply the proper proceed
Ing by one house to make Inquiry as to
whether 1t be n case to invoke the atten-3
ton OF the General Assembly and to gre-
auire 1t (the General Assembly, to take
action. That Is NIL; and until such in-
5vestgation shall be made and 1t be de-
cided and recommended that the General
Assembly take action and such action as
1T may be authorized to take within the
.purvlew Of the Constitution, there is no.
case to which the provisions OF section
1Oi of the Constitution can DO applied. ~ III
X Then what have we up to this point?
In epltome, this: Petitions arc presented
to each house OF the General Assembly,
In which It is alleged by4pettioners that
Judge Campbels official conduct needs
TT beinvestigated, and praying that such
investigation be made. and that tho Gem
eral Assembly do what to 1t may seems
meet In the premises. S8A
The Investigating committee met. nc
.cordlng to tho notice, on the 14th of JAM
nary, Judge Campbell appearing With
counsel, and the petitioners also&appear-I
Ing by counsel. and, ms was proper to be
done, in order to avoid pell-mell. the petit
TONERS, with the consent of the commit
tee, presented to the committee the spec
.lfications OF Judge Campbell's alleged Inn
proper conduct. which petitioners sought
to have the committee Investigate, or
these several specifications some were not
approved OF by the committee as matters
properly to be Inquired into, and so those
were dlsallowed, and tho scope OF the
Investigation was thereby limited.
After the fullest and fnlrest investign-i
ton the committee reported to the House
Of Delegates nil OF the evidence adduced
a.