Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-03-24
SATURDAY, MARCH "a. 1889.


THURSDAY;
We have heard IN silence the various express
sious Of opinion on the probable consequences OF
the recent decision of the Supreme Court OF the
United States in the case Of the Missionaries who
have been imprisoned, under the laws OF Geor-
gia. in the penitentlary of that State. At length
We have received the opinions Of several journals
in the State Of Georgia, and no doubt remains on
ou mind, from their tone, that the mandate Of
the Supreme Court in that ca,e will be disregard
ed, however it might have been hoped otherwise.
We shall rot stop here to deplore the infatua'ion
under the influence of which this course will be
pursued, but proceed to execute the purpose for
which we took up the pen.
The verv respectable Editor of the Political
Arena lat Fredericksburg. Virginia. specializing
on this subject IN his last number, says &" We
" have arrived at a CRIsIs-an undoUbted and
mcmentous crisis. A few DAYS will decide
the question OF the further duration OF this
Union!"
We fully c0acur in the opinion expressed in
the first of the atnve sentences, while We dissent
IN Iart from that conveyed in the second. We
trust that tie Union will enif,xre TO MANY centu
rirs though more than Safe shall rise against
1t. Al any rate. So far as it may I've directly at
feC ed by the action of Georgia in the case before
US. We are under the Impression that it will be
more than "a few days. before the question
will be decided.
The course which presume this business
will take We will state for the satisac ton Of those
whu place any value on our opinion upon such
matters.
The mandate of the Supreme Court is directed
10 the Superior Court for the county # G"innet.
in the State If Georga; and it requires of tina,
a.. - Il, hn
are confined a, lard labor in the Penitentary.
under an act of the State of Georgia which Is
drcreed TO te repugnant to the Constitution.
Treaties, anu Laws Of the United states.
Ii the Court obey the mandate, it is vel, and
nb ipoIe is to be saul or dnnp.
II the Court does not obey the mandate, appli-
cation "Ill. we suppose, be made to the Supreme
Court, at its next term this city that is, in
January neN',) 10 execute It's ON n Judgment, I'M
der the laws Of ,he Cui'ed States, which provide
that in cases where the : ate Courts do not exc
cute the judgments of the Supreme Court, that
Court may issue It's own process TO carry into et.
feet is wn jrdmen's.
IL is possible. indeed, that application might
be- maiy one at iRe judges OF the Dited States,
out If Court. for habsas corpus, TO buog the
case immediately o, for" him. BIZ the general
idea seem, 10 he, that nothing will be done to-
wards rnfor cling tine Judgment until the next meet
ing Of tne Court in this city.
u. iinallI. process issuing from the Supreme
Court. and which must be granted as a matter Ut
COZ Sc shall be resisted. it will be the duty Of
the MARSHA ~ the Uulted states for that Di.tric,
10 summon a nose cOmi'0'us. and OF the Presi-
dent OF ne United States. If necessary. tn place
the Army and Militia of the United States at the
service of the civil authority.
lN,, shnt
from thie source IS not so immediate as supposed
BY our friend at Fredericksburg.
The Millrdgevlle Georgia. Recorder of the
18th inst. closes an article on this subject with
the following observations:
Bet 10 return to the decision-What will Geor-
ga do under the circumstances? is question. we
are informed by our Washington correspondents,
now i'm every Dodv's mouth A question we think
very easily answered. She will do Just as she
has done before Having taken her position, based
upon her sovereign rights,she will calmlyand tran
ouilIyawait the further action Of eFcderaC Court,
implicitly relying upon these officers upon whom
that az ton must be first exercised. to perform their
duty a. become those to whom she has entrusted
herinterssts 4 her honor. lntemperate exhibitions
Of passion. upon matter so grave, is as little to
be feared in Georgia. is in our opinion the eff
feet of the decision itself. The course of the
SuDIc,ue Court is to send its Judgment To the SUI
peror Court Of Gwinnett. ordering a reversal of
the Judgment by ~hich the Missionaries were SEN
fenced 10 the Prni'sntiary. Here things wall
rest, until nfnrma ion is given that there has been
refusal to obey tins order. We know the gen.
tleman. now presiding in tire Western Circuit,
and to those of our CITIZENS unaclualnied with
him. We would ,ay that in his hands the honor of
the State is safe. Whether the Supreme Court
will carry the matter farther, is to be seen. We
trust il will not. This is not the first time that
Court has attempted to reverse the laws OF State;
and found its authority de, hned. its mandate dis
regarded. and its judgment by ITS own suHerance
become nu!iity. Should an attempt however
be made to carry this matter farther. we feel no
hesitancy in declaring our belief that the means
will not b. afforded them to do So This is a
constitutional matter, upon which every man. par
ticularly every branch of the Government, ,rnst
exercise their own best judgment, and be govern
ed ty its decision. We do not then consider