Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-09-02
DIsoRGANIzING DOCTRINES.


DIsoRGANIzING DOCTRINES.
One Of the most salutary sentiments which the
American people inherited from their British an
cestors was reverence for the Judiciary the great
safeguard Of public liberty This sentiment has
been ever cherished By the wise and inculcated on
the young. No principle is more deeply engrafted
on the enlightened sense of the country than that
liberty regulated by law 1" is the only liberty
worth having, and no conviction has been more
general or more strong than that the Supreme Court
of the United States has been in general constituted
of the wisest and pures. men Of the nation
The first instance of absolute disregard and van
dial invasion Of the judicial altar was that in Rhode
Island, in which mere partisan Legislature direct
ed the records Of the highest court Of the State to
be mutilated and its decision in particular case
abrogated. Not far short Of this, however, in the
year 1887 might be cited the resistance Of the Post
master General to the mandate Of the Circuit Court
of the District Of Columbia resistance which, to
the honor Of the nation, was universally condemned.
But recent decision Of Judge Of the highest
Court OF Georgia takes ground still more danger
GUS to the stability not merely Of law, but Of all
the institutions connected with good government
It strikes at once at the foundation Of our judicial
system and destroys the last bulWarks Of civil iber-
ty But we have no idea that this "madness which
rules the hour" in Georgia will find either sym
patty or support amongst law-abiding people.
The subjoned article portrays the results forcibly
and shows that if the Courts of Georgia and Iowa
are to be sustained the most absurd yet mischevous
consequences must follow:
FROM THE MONTGOMERY (ALA.) JOURNAL.
INITIATING BAD ExAMpLR.-The editor of the Column
bus Times initiates the example Of Senator SUMNER in
quoting the opinions Of Gen. JACKSON to prove that the
Supreme Court Of the United States is supreme We
do know what particular object our friend Of the
Times has in attempting to weaken the authority of this
important Of the Government, upon which the people
of the South confidently rely for the protection Of their
rights and their institutions. 1t is true that Judge
Bennng Of the Supreme Court Of Georgia. has issued
dctum that the decisions of the Supreme Court Of the
United States upon constitutional questions, not
binding upon the Supreme Courts Of the States but yet
cannot that that fact necessarily imposes upon
the editor Of the Times the duty to decry the authority
Of the Supreme Court Of the United States and lessen it
in the confidence Of the people
The editor Of the Times too should be of the last
men Of our acquaintance to quote the opinions of Gen.
Jackson upon this subject know that he does not
hold the opinions Of the old hero upon the subject Of State
rights in very high esteem. If we remember rightly
Gen. Jackson denounced the doctrine Of secession
reasonable yet the editor Of the Times holds it to be
highly proper constitutional, and patriotic And We be-
eve too that Gen. Jackson advanced the idea that the
General Government has the right coerce sovereign
State into obedience to the will Of the National Govern
ment and for that purpose did actually send armed
force on certain memorable occasion to whip the native
State Of the editor Of the Times into submisson yet this
editor denies that the General Government has
such right How absurd then, is it in him to quote the
authority Of Gen. Jackson to sustain the position Of
Georgia lawyer who happens to occupy seat upon the
Supreme bench in the State Of Georgia
We referred to this decision Of Judge Bennngs few
days since, and asked if it correct one We doubt
ed then, and still doubt its correctness have
any thing since calculated to remove the impress
sion which made upon minds that, If It s proper
it is very unfortunate state Of things for the South
The Supreme Court Of Iowa, it will be remembered has
decided that the fugitive slave law unconstitutional
while the Supreme Court Of the United States have de-
cided that it is constitutional Now which Of these de-
Cisons shall stand in the State Of Iowa If the position
Of Judge Bennng is proper why Of course the decision
Of the Supreme Court must be set aside in the State Of
Iowa. and thus law made in exact accordance with the
provisions Of the Constitution is made null and void and
then what will be the position Of the editor OF the Times
and those who sustain Judge Bennings views Why, to
be consistent they must uphold and sustain the autho
rty Of the Iowa Court and they will be involved in the
predcament Of taking sides with the enemies Of the South
in controversy in which her most important rights
involved esay the editor Of the Times that it would
be well for him to consider whittier he is tending in his
desire to uphold views and opinions Of doubtful propey
Of least, through mistaken idea that he is making war
upon Federalism bugaboo that has frightened great
many other grown-up children besides himself
DEATH OF EX-SENATOR DowNs.-On the au-
thority Of a Geographic despatch from Kentucky,
the death Of Mr.. Downs, Collector of New Orleans
was announced in all the sea-board papers, and, on