Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1840-05-26
two rival candidates presents. Free.
men, choose ye between them.

tanning his course during last winter, he
made use ofthe following strong language:
There never has any jurist of distinction
asserted the authority of Legislature 10
repeal bank charier." We do not know
whether to attribute this error to ignor-
ance, or determination TO frown down
all truth. The right of repeal we have
and shall continue to do so
until we get better authority than chief
justice Story or our worthy Senator. We
long since consulted such authority as
came to our hand-among which we find
the names of such men as Burk, Lord
Coke, Mansfield, Holt, and host of other
distinguished men whose fingers can be
traced upon almost every law book within
the Libraries of our lawyers.
The above paragraph is from the oracle
and JariSt of that rabid locofoco print,
yciept the columbus Demo- rat, a paper
that doubtless exercises no inconsiderable
influence over the benIghted minds of
large portion of the self.styled democracy
IN the northern part of this State.
If zoe, during moment of insanity,
could have written and published to the
world such a paragraph, we should, during
the first lucid interval, upon recurring to
it, have considered ourselves entitled to the
charge of the grossest ignorance and AFRO
gance, if not of something worse. Were
it not that the veriest dolt, occupying an
editorial chair may exert an evil influence,
and Is therefore entitled to some serious
consideration, we should regard the para.
gsaph in question so far beneath contempt,
as 70 excite no other feelings than such as
we experience in witnessing the drolleries
of some laughter loving clown.
The writer states, that ''The right of
repeal zoe have maintained, and shall con-
tinue to do SO until we get better authority
than chief justice Story or our worthy
Senator We long since consulted such
authority as came to our handS-among
which we find the names of such men as,
Burke, Lord Coke, Mansfield, Holt, and a
host of other distinguished men whose fin
gers" &c.
Who ever heard before of English wri-
tiers, who assert the supremacy and ON
nIpoteuce Of the British Parliament, unre-
stra ned Us it is by written constitution,
being quoted as authority to prove the
power of the American legislature, check
ed as they are, both By a state and federal
constitution? The great end of what it was
the. aim of our fathers during the revou-
tionary struggle 10 achieve, was the es-
adjustment of written consti: utions con-
trolling the legislative power, that should
render the opinions of Burke, and Coke,
and Mansfield and Holt, &c, totally in.
applicable to this country. 1t is, no doubt
most unfortunately true, that, contrary to
the design of our patriotic ancestors, it is
the purpose Of the heads of the dominant
PaIty in This country, 10 render our ordin-
airy legislatures as omnipotent as the Eng
lish Parliament and therefore, in this,
they are quite consistent in quoting such
authorities as Mansfield, &c. La charity,
however, to the oracle OF the Democrat,
We do not believe that he knows any more
about the authorities he cites, than porter
of druggists shop, from quoting few
technical terms, without knowing their
meaning, may be supposed to know about
the pharmacoPoeia. Wal hath Pope said,
that
a little learning is dangerous thing
We very much question if our jurisi
could tell US which of the authors he has
named, wrote the celebrated commentary
on Littleton, or at what period of English
history Holt and Mansfield flourished.-
Who is chief Justice Story? What lawyer
is 1t, whose every law book" has the fin
gers of Burke, &C. traced upon il? The
writer has missed the mark SO widely in
regard to his authorities, we should not be
surprised to learn that in speaking Of Holt,
he had in his eye Joseph Holt, ESQ, Of this
city, the gentleman VINO walked so large
~ into the affections of the locofocos, when
member of certain Baltimore conven-
ton. And this reminds US of the anec-
dote of a quack schoolmaster, whilom OF
Tennessee. Being animated by a thirst
FOR travel and knowledge, he went down,
as hand, on board of fiat boat as far as
Natchez. By some lucky trade, in a small
way, he obtained an odd volume, call tat.
tered and torn,'' of Blackstone's commen
taries, having the latter part ofthe authors
name on the back of the book completely
erased, and also bereft of the title page
Having heard of Judge Black about
Natchez, he at once concluded that, as he
had got the book at Natchez, Judge Black
was the author. During the time the flat
boat remained at the landing, he studied
this volume with great ardor, notwithstan-
ding, at least one half of the English, and
all the Latin, were continual stumbling
books. Returning up the river on a
steamboat, among the passengers he was
constantly engaged in discussing questions
law with his fellow travellers, very much
to the amusement of good many of the
cabin passengers. We are not sure that
he did not maintain the right of our legis.
latures, being omnipotent according to
Judge Blacks commentaries, to violate
their contracts. To one OF the cabin
passengers, who was real wag, he &C,
knowIedged, in an under tone Of voice
that he sometimes felt difficulty about
the law latin. The wag took great deal
Of pains, among other instructions equally
valuable, ITO impress upon his mind the
precious beauties of the following transla.
ton of the following law maxim: "Vigi
ldntibuS, non do naientibus, leges subserUi,
unt." A man to hare the benefit Of Tie
lao extended to him, must be acidc aacake
duly sober, and alaoays hare a red eye out. :
The school master declared that he fell