The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-09-21


tween the distinctive rights, and to enforce the
bshests and mandates Of either. Were Il other
,y,ss. The judiciary would soon become a9nock-
ery and farce, and b. finally swept rntneiy
axay in the fell spirit oil insubordinatioh and
anarchy. Without fearless and stable Judicl-
ary no government could exist single day
Courts Of equal Jurisdiction cannot possibly IN
tefferp with the proceedingsof OF each other
AS Judge Black remarks, the Federal Tribunals,
though Courts Of limited jurisdiction, are not
inferior Courts, and by consequence, their
judgments, until reversed By the proper appel
late Court, are valid and conclusive upon the
parties, though the jurisdiction be not ailsdged
IN the proceedings, nor IN any part OF The re-
cord. The State Courts cannot 20 one step be-
hind the proceedings, OF the Federal tribunals
They have no more authority in law tb come
between a prisoner and the United States Courts,
to iberate hIm from custody, in case like that
Of PassInoote WilIlamson's than they would
have 10 countermand an order issued ,by the
COMMANDMENTS Chief OF the United States-
These views are palpable enough to the sfinplrst
understanding once based IN common
ethics, and founded in common Sense. The
Supreme Court OF Pennsylvania, undoubtedly,
as contemporary cogently remarks, held in It's
hand the Judgment which it gave on Saturday
last, and the alternative OF civil war. Had the
Court listened TO the senseeSs clamors oil the
| AbolllIonlsts, it would have not only broken
down its own power and influence, 6ut would
instantly have let slip the hounds OF havoc. A
terrible and bloody collision between the State
Federal forces must have been the necessary
consequence. The duty OF the United States
| Marshall would have compelled him TO refuse
| the liberation OF PaSSnore w llliamSon-~thIs re-
| luSa Would have resulted IN his arrest, " bile
| the Sheriff having the Marshal in custody would
1 also have declined liberation oi his gFisOuer
on habeas corpus issued by the United States
| Court, and Tor such contempt would hayr been
| seized by the troops ot the United States and
| placed IN durance vile, at the command OF the
1 Federal prerogatve. Thus the State and Fed
| eral Courts would have come IN direct conflict,
aud each attempting to assert lis power, would
/ have led to state OF general excitement among
! the people that nothing bot the engInery ol
war and the superior right and pfowess OF State
or National soidiery would have finally settled
/ Happily, from such civil war--from such ter
rlble strife and shedding OF fraternal blood-we
have been saved by the " sdom aud patriotism
OF the presiding officers OF the Supreme Court
OF Pennsylvania
The punishment imposed by Judge Kane up
on PaSsmore Williamson for contempt Of his
court, is now fully sustained by the Supreme
Court of this State. The Abolitionsts have
either now to compel their tool to make due
concession to the court that punishes him, OF
else gather together their fanatical cohorts, The
crazy bIoody-thrsty Red Republicans included
and attempt his Liberation by stormlng and lev
elling to the ground the Bastile in which he is
confined As The Supreme Court says, Pass
more Williamson holds the key OF bis prison in
his own pocket. He can come out when be
will, by making terms with the Court that sent
him there. But if he chooses TO struggle for a
tFiamph--if nothing will content bin bat a
clean victory or a clean deleat-he cannot ex-
pect the court to aid him.