Litchfield enquirer., 1831-01-27
Extract OF a Letter, dated


The Supreme Court of the United States
commenced its annual session yesterday. All
the judges, with the exception Of Judge John
ston, We're present The Court has assem-
bled under very peculiar and trying circum-
stances. Heretofore, it has met with GER
tainty that its orders. Judgments, and DEGREES
would be carried into effect by the Executive
branch Of the government, however much
they might conflict with the interests, preiu-
dices, or prepOssesslons Of tho parties or the
States. 1t has now met, with the full knOwl-
edge that the Executive will not enforce its
decisions, it they are counter to his views OF
constitutional law, | speak within bounds
when say, there are two Thousand lawyers
in the United States, the opinion of any one
of whom would be sooner consulted on le-
gal or constitutional question. than that of
| the President; and YET he will exercise his
discretion in relation to the first Judicial tri-
bunal known to the constitution. Mr.. Ing
ham is said to be the only member of the cab
met who does not believe in the supremacy oil
the President, and who would not advise him
to set the law at defiance, if it stood in the
way of accomplishing political views. The
court has met with Knowledge that il will
be violently assailed in the House Of Repre-
| sentatives, and that an attempt will he made
! to deprive it Of its constitutional right 20 de-
eide on the cOnstutionality Of State laws
The Speaker appointed, for the first time, this
session, majority on the Judiciary Commit
tee, Of reLefmen and nu,lifers. This may
have happened from a Misrepresentation ofthe
sentiments of the members Of the committee {:
but it is a remarkable coincidence, that at this
important crisis, he should have selected "a
majority of that committee known to be hos
tile to the exercise of power by the Supreme
Court over State laws, and State prptensiops
Mr.. Davis, of South Carolina, introduced n
resolution some days since, empowering the
Committee ofth Judiciary to inquire into the
expediency of repeating that section Of the Ju-
dietary act. which provides for the removal Of
causes from the highest judicial State Courts,
to the Supreme Court ofthe United States.
bill to that effect will be reported in few
days. IL il shall become law, theGuvern-
ment will be- at an end. There is no law of
the United States that may not he rendered
wholly imperative by any one Of the States
The Supreme Court of the United States has
been justly considered as the sheet-anchor Of
the constitution and while every other de-
partment of the Government has been con-
tamnated within less than two years, our
hopes have been placed on this anchor. How
long they may be permitted to rest there, is
only known to Him who has thus far presery-
ed us. The appointment Of Judges Mclean
and Baldwin. by the present administration,
was wholly fortuitous, and produced by a
combination Of political causes beyond the
contrnl Of the President. If their seats were
now vacant. there is no doubt they would be
filled with thorough going nullifers.
Alter few causes were called over. the
Court according 10 custom, waited on the
President. The business of the Court will
be somewhat delayed for few days, in con-
| sequence of Mr.. Websters Getenton as one
OF the lodges Of the Court Of Impeachment,
and of Mr.. Writ, as one of the counsel for the
accused. Mr.. Writ was unable to attend the