The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-04-10

~ Aus A4o'sAaehS Wuisu tue new COu-
struetion put uron the Constitution BY the
Supreme Court were % directly calculated
to excite, do not delay. Tho great State Of
New York has met the declaration Of the
party majority Of that Court that black
man cannot be a citizen, BY the passage Of an
act in its Legislature, with IN overwhelming
majority, designed to remove every rcstric-
ton which had heretofore operated to dis
franchise the great body Of the colored men
Of the State. And now the great State Of
Pennsylvania meets the declaration Of the
party majority Of the Court that Congress
has no power to exclude Slavery from the
Territories, by nominating for its Chief Mag
i,trate the man with whose name, above all
Others, the opposite doctrine is most closely
identified. DAVID WILNor is unhesitstingly
put forward by the conjoint action Of two
great parties in Pennsylvania as the eandi
date for the highest Office in the gift of the
State, through whose election the continued
adherence Of the people to the principles Of
the wilmot Proviso, in spite Of tho political
decisions OF u judicial tribunal, shall be most
clearly and emphatically expressed. Ger
tainly these things are not very cncourag
ing foretaste Of the settlement which it was
the extraordinary action Of the Supreme
Court woull quickly effect. They are IN
unmistakable indication that this judicial
action will serve only to deepen and intensi.
fy the popular feeling against the changes
which il is sought to introduce into the theo-
~ and practical working of our Federal
Government. They show the folly Of at
tempting to settle political principles and
close up political controversies by Court nd.
judication. The decision Of the Court in
such cases never reaches beyond the particu.
lar case in trial. All American history
proves that Judge-made law, in questions oil
u political bearing, never obtains the force
Of settled authority. Ii is the firm convic.
ton Of an immense majority Of the Northern
people that within the last few years most
strenuous effort has been continually made
to give the Federal Constitution an entirely
different operation upon the matter of Slave
~ from that which was intended by its
trainers, and practically secured during the
first half century of its existence. The fact
that u majority Of the Supreme Court has
now come to second that effort, will not
make it's real character any the less obnox-
ious, but rather stimulate to new exertion
to counteract il. The naked authority OF
the Court amounts to nothing apart from
its rendered reasons. If these reasons fail to
satisfy the people that Mr.. CALuouS's new
readings of the Constitution were right, and
Mr.. wEBsrrR's old readings wrong, the
people will certainly adhere to the old read
ings, and vote in accordance Herewith ut
the ballot box. None are more scrupulous
than ourselves in behalf OF the honor and
authority that really belong to judicial tri-
bunals within their proper sphere. Yet we
recognize that the chief strength Of q judi.
eial decision, upon public matter, lies in
its moral effect; and we find it impossible
TO attribute moral effect to such decisions
made by such judges, under such circum.
stances-as have recently been promulgated
by party and sectional majority of the
Supreme Court; and it is our belief that
they will prove to be hindranco rather
than furtbenncc to the restoration Of the
harmony Of the country.-N Y. Courier
and Enquirer.