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Editorial
December 12, 1838
Morning Star
Limerick, York County, Maine
What is this article about?
Editorial ridicules the unnecessary armed attendance of the Sheriff on judges of the Court of Common Pleas, contrasting it with unguarded Governor and President, deeming it pompous show unfit for enlightened New England.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
There is one practice connected with our Court of Common Pleas, which, while it is totally unnecessary, appears perfectly ridiculous. We allude to that of the Hon. Judge being attended in going in and going out of the Court House, by the Sheriff armed with a sword!
The Governor of the State without an attendant can pursue his routine of duties during the session of the Legislature--the President of the United States, without a guard to protect him or guide to direct his "foot-steps," plods along unharmed and unmolested. But the Judges of our Court of Common Pleas cannot travel from the Court House to their place of lodging without an armed attendant. Oh, faugh! Do these men fear aught at the hands of the people--have they any reason to distrust them--not in the least, they do not pretend even that they have ever dreamed of danger. Then why is it that they make this pompous show? In our opinion it is a mere attempt "ad captandum vulgus," which would better grace the land of the Hottentots, or the frightful abodes of the criminals at Botany Bay, than the free, enlightened and peaceful villages of our own happy New England.
-White Mountain Egis.
The Governor of the State without an attendant can pursue his routine of duties during the session of the Legislature--the President of the United States, without a guard to protect him or guide to direct his "foot-steps," plods along unharmed and unmolested. But the Judges of our Court of Common Pleas cannot travel from the Court House to their place of lodging without an armed attendant. Oh, faugh! Do these men fear aught at the hands of the people--have they any reason to distrust them--not in the least, they do not pretend even that they have ever dreamed of danger. Then why is it that they make this pompous show? In our opinion it is a mere attempt "ad captandum vulgus," which would better grace the land of the Hottentots, or the frightful abodes of the criminals at Botany Bay, than the free, enlightened and peaceful villages of our own happy New England.
-White Mountain Egis.
What sub-type of article is it?
Legal Reform
Satire
What keywords are associated?
Court Of Common Pleas
Sheriff Armed
Judicial Pomp
New England
Ad Captandum Vulgus
What entities or persons were involved?
Hon. Judge
Sheriff
Governor Of The State
President Of The United States
People Of New England
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Criticism Of Judicial Pomp In Court Of Common Pleas
Stance / Tone
Strongly Critical And Ridiculing
Key Figures
Hon. Judge
Sheriff
Governor Of The State
President Of The United States
People Of New England
Key Arguments
Practice Of Sheriff Attending Judge With Sword Is Unnecessary And Ridiculous
Governor And President Perform Duties Without Guards
Judges Have No Reason To Fear The People
Pompous Show Is Mere Attempt To Impress The Common People
Better Suited To Uncivilized Places Like Land Of Hottentots Or Botany Bay Than New England Villages