The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1856-03-27

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the citadel of slavery. He did not know
when he made that remark hos far it ex
tended and what it might not e,nbr2ce Ii
he not associated with class of poiiticiaH'
in this country who have said that the
| Constitution Of the United Sta,es-the fun.
damental law Of their country-was the
citadel Of slavery? Yes, sir. | have had
pamphlets within the las, week laid or nv
desk, maintaining that the Constitution of
the United States itself is the citadel OF
slavery; and that, unless il is broken down,
and the institution of slavery thereby reach
cd IN al! the States, it is Constitution
which ought to have no validity and obi.
CATION. l think / have seeh the same
statements in paper called the Radical
Abolltionist. When the Senator speaks of
the Supreme Court us the citadel of the in.
stituton of slavery, he might better have
designated item as opposed to those who
have called the Constitution of their coun-
ty the citadel of slavery. Sir, would
prefer regarding the Judges of the Supreme
Court, as far as know anything of their
decisions, as the sentincls and defenders Of
the Constitution Constitution recounis-
ing the equality OF the States, and at least
imposing on them such Obligations as that
they are not permitted TO transfer their
Judgments into another jurisdiction, pre-
scribed, suppose, by what is technically
called the higher lava jurisdiction of
discretion and prGud;ce.
They have not gone down or up-as
gentlemen may choose TO consider ito
the higher law. AS far as | know the
court-aud l have had intercourse with lis
venera;el and venerable chief justice, from
my official position rs chairman Of the
Committee OH the Judiciary-i do not be-
lieve Ihave ever known n body of men
more honestly disposed to do their duty
under the obligations Of the power which
gave them the right to discharge judicial
functions. l. believe, when our first par
ents were driven out of Paradise, it was
under the suggestions of The higher law.
The Devil went in and suggested to Eve
that there was higher law; and, disregard.
ing the law under which she was placed
in Paradise, she and her posterity have
suffered the penalties of disobedience: trans
grcssion Is sin. wish to recognise no tri
bunal and no set of opinions which will at
tempt 10 rule the country except by some
prescribed law and 4 constitution laid down
for them by those who give them their
official existence. | believe that the Su
plcme Couit has committed errors, though
not Intentionally. | believe their decision
IN the case of Prigg and Pennsylvania has
ied TO mlschicvous Consequences not in
tended by the court. When the court un
dertook TO say tlIat the States themselves
mlght he absolved from the duty imposed
OF item by the Federal compact Of return
ing iugitives from labor, ;hink they made
decision tending 10 absolve the States
from the homo: of compacts. They did not
say II IN SO many words, nor do lhinli
their decision Is uf that import, bat the
non siarcholdimg States have so construed
It, Instead Of that decision being a iudr.
ment from the citadel of slavery, it has re.
bounded entirely in lis consequences TO the
non slaveholding States of this Union; or
rather 10 let their accommodating morality
take refuge in ito excuse them for disre.
garding the obligations imposed upon them
rs co operative agencies, dc.
would rather regard that high tribunal
rs one which could look abroad upon the
vast and beautiful horizon oftruth and ius
tIce. should not wish to see them govern.
ell by that popular agitation which is
threatening 10 undermine the institutions
OF the country, and to destroy, not only the
! present form of our Union, but TO wash away
the very landmarks of our foref,thers. I'm
such a case | would be glad to see the Su.
preme Court, like the proud promontory
in the deep,
Let the fearful ocean surge upon its base,
Let storms assal IFS summit"
wish it TO stand firm at least as the tyne
Of the duration of the institutions of hi.
country, and rs IN emblem OF eternal Jus
1 tlce. ut least wish that, amidst the agi
iauon OF the time, ii shall maintain its iden
tty. Let not the Senator from New
I hampshire suppose that he can assail oil
:ouch that promoutory by any shaft that
| he may aim at il. The hand that shoots
the arrow may belong TO one more willing
to wound than. il can be able to hurt. Ii
has certainly been discharged 10y AN archer
occupying too great distance from his OBJ
Ject to do harm. Let me hope that there
is more Of the hand than the heart that
has been exhibited in the shot. The weap
Oh has fallen harmless.
After the Senator from New IIampshire
had disposed of the Supreme Court under
tn """""ciatory epithct, he approached
the President. am not one Of those who
undertake to defend the President on all
occasions; but, sir, he is the Chief Magis.
tratc OF this Coniederaey, and whilst | am
in the Confederacy, will see at least that
neighbor's hand moved, perhaps, by a
resentfuI rivalry, shall not wound the Chiei
Magistracy OF the whole country. The
Senator from New Hampshire took excep.
tion TO the course which the President has
taken, by saying that lie had committed
himself TO different judgment and differ
ent course of conduct by receiving Dorr
when he was refugee from justice from
Rhode Island, and then sustained him bv
resolutions which were passed whiIo lie
was chairman, / think, of some Democratic