Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-03-18


studies and habits, give ibeuas penetration
and skill an eyiscerahng zhe meaning aud
true intention Of wFitten intentioa OF q writ
ten instrument Thepesitios Of the Judiciary
ds as deiicxte as it1s dgni6ed strequires fer
It's support, a general confidence and respect,
which can be obtained only by great ability,
vnouestionahse fitness, andeietigsble diligence,
and above all pure and unsupported. integri-
~. The Courts are sometimes Appealed 80,
to decide momehteHs questions, by which fhe
whole community n agitated; but they must
be caife, Sometimes to oppose the popular
wish and GeeliEg, and sometimes with boider
and frner hand, to resist and drive back the
encroachmsnts of coordinate branch of the
gayeEnment Every part of our complicated
system, composed efEarious governments and
ambitious serereignhes, is kept in its place by
The vigilance aud integrity of the Judiciary.
aud without it, a general confusion, distrac
ton, and conflict. would speedily break up the
social, as well as political order Of things
When we contemplate the Supreme Court
OF the United States, fran its FIRST organiza-
ton TO this menent, we can hardly aysid con-
Tossing that we seein at the sanae Providence
which has attended the interests of our coun-
try in all difficult and critical emergencies;
raising up agents fitted for the work that was
to be done. This 10 particslarly observed in
the long axd useful VIC may say, indispensa-
ble--iabors OF the present Chief Justice;
whose personal character has been, on some
occasions, as necessary to sustain the jsdg-
ments of the Court, as his learning and abil
~. He is one Of these extraordinary men, TO
whom ii is impossible to derry your confidence.
However his opinions may clash with your
own; may overthrow your theofiee NAV ira
tate your passions, may thwart your wishes
and injure your interests; you cannot with
hold the tribute which is due to his wonder
full capacity and pure integrity. The inaa-
ence OF such a man, and such a reputation,
in supporting judgments, by which the pride
Of powerful states, and the ambition of pow
erfI individuals, have been controlled and
mortified, may be easily conceived; and siso
the necessity Of having such man and such
reputation to control them successfully
The very locality Of the birth, education and
residence Of the Chief Justice, has had its
Importance in giving influence TO his opinions
Virginia, of all the states of tie Union, has
been the most offended by some of the DEGREES
Of the Court, believing that they encroached
upon her rights as a sovereign state; but Vir
GINA had long known and honored the talents
and virtue Of JoAu, Marshall; and was too just
and generous to abandon him, because, in the
independent and upright exercise of his off,
ciai authority and duty, he was compelled to
disappoInt her wishes, and repudiate some of
her favorfe doctrines. She could not doubt
his Integrity nor his attachment to his native
land. to which he would yield any service but
the disregard Of his solemn obligation to high
er duties. We may safely assume, that the
personal weight of the Chief Justice has had
a most beneficial effect In sllaving the irrita-
tons produced by SEINE Of the most important
decisions of the Court. as0nable men,
really devoted to the Constitution of their
country, and willing fo sustain all the leeiti-
mate powers OF the federal government, were
led to question and examine the correctness
OF their own opinions, when they were SOL
EMMY opposed by one, who, they were obi
ged to admit, was, at least, equal to the best
OF those that differed from him, in every quail
ification which should entitle their Judgment
to confidence and respect; and who had no
motive or interest, or feeling Of any description,
to betray him into violation of his high
trust, or to deiude and mislead his faculties
The man, whoever he may be, houndertakes
to revise and reverse a Judgment of th.
Court. most especially upon constitutional
question, should come very cody and honest
y to the task. and look warily how he per
forms 1T; for he enters the field against fearful
odds, and may find himself. at the end of his
experiment, more distinguished for presump-
ton than sagacity If be should fail to nut
the Court in the wrong, by the force of his
learning and logic, he can hardly hope to
pre- vail against them by any superior claims
to the confidence of the country, in his pri-
vate or public character; bis talents, integrity,
or patriotism"
The above extract presents plausible view
Of the necessity lodging in the Supreme
Court, power to interpret the meaning of
the constitution whenever its letter or spirit
may be subjects of litigation. The power
which has been exercised to this day by the |
Supreme Court. is regarded by the Reviewer, !
as essential to the existence of our federal
government"
From the Memphis .4dpoeas, Of Feb. as.
Horrible Disaste---It has never before fall |
len to our lot to witness an event of such a
heart rendlng nature as that which occurred |
at our landing on Wednesday morning. Tho
steamboat Helen McGregor, with about 40
passengers on board, having stopped at this
place for short time, was in the act of push |
ing otf, when one Of her boilers having burst |
with a tremendous explosion, was thrown |
from ITS bed over the forecastle into the river.
the shlmneys thrown down; every boiler dis |
lodged. and the boiler deck, engineers room. |
and adjacent offices made cenaJlete wreck |
IN an instant To give an accurate descrip- |
hon OF the scene which followed, would ex-
coed the powers of those far more gifted than
H.