The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1857-05-29
PlTrsECRG, 4 pril 2Ith, 1881

nv lolio"'no leueF written by nm:
PlrrsnCRG, April 9th, 1857.
Il. b. Cody, Esq Dear Yir-I am gratitiee
that we, who are Americans indeed, are to hav
separate nominations of candidates for the di:
trrent State officers who are to BE-. elected IN Oc.
tober next. This is right-we shall thus b.
enabled to cast our votes in accordance will
our principles, and ue shall not be- placed ir
the unpleasant position Of either choosing be-
tween the candidates Of the other parties, Or not
voting at all.
ne great effort, of course, will BE- on the
part o! the Republicans to induce honest A mer-
acans to vote their ticket, for thr purpose oI
bealing the Democrats; and those Who were
formerly Of the American party, but y 10 are
essentially Republican, Will be lhr most active
10 seeking to accomplish this object.
In former letter, endeavored to show that
The American party bad nothing to expect from
union with The Republicans | now propose
10 show that no practical good can possibly result
to the country from the success of that party.
1t Is the practice Of political parties, in pre-
sentlnz candidates to the people for their sup
port, to set forth their principles and the meas
nres they will adopt in the event oftheir power.
iftheSe principles are such as cannot be carried
INTO practical operation, then il would BE- clear
~ useless to sustain the party that proclaims
them. Now let us try RcpublicauiSm by this
test.
II we examine the resolutions Of the late Har-
rlsbnrg Republican Convention, We will aiscoy-
rr that It's leading principles are opposition to
The tXieniIon Of slavery into territory now free:
and opposition to the Supreme Court in the Drsd
Scott case In carrying out their FIRST great
prIncIplr, II was absolutely essential that the
Convention should condemn that decision; and
also end-avor 10 bring tbr Court into contempt,
with the people, because it utterly aunihilatts
their platform. If | understand the decision. il
3rnles to Congress, or any body delegated by
idru, to ie@islate upon the suajrct Of Slavery IN
the Territories. 1t, indeed, 50 laf a. the Terri
tories are concerned, rfrctually divorces the
General Government from Slavery. Now. lrt
Us suppose that in 1850 the Republicans shall
Succ"rdIn eIrcting President. and In obtaining
majority Of both branches Of the legislature.
could they carry into rf~cttthcir principles -
Mang!rSIy they couI not. Ii is true they
could pass bills prohibiting the existence Of sla-
very 10 the Territories, but would they b. ob-
gatorv No, they would be- dsrrgard-d. aud
the Courts would b. compelled 10 adudgr them
nall and void. What then, ask any reasona-
bic nan, should induce hm to support such a
party But | am answered: We wiIi elect such
Presidents as will appoint to the Supreme Bench
Snch Judges as viii reverse tins decision
Without saying anything about the length Of
time It viii take TO accomplish this object, re-
mark, tha! 1t is new method Of changing the
constitution itself, and never thought Of by The
statesmen aud patriots who formed that great
instrument. II is an invention Of modern Re-
pu5IicanlSm, and It is the means hy Which they
are to accomplish their ofigct, in appealing
from the Court to tie people.
4 more alarming and startling doctrine. and
one lranght wllh such fearful evils to the ro-
pie Of this Republic, never was promulgated bv
any party. Let us look at il, lis inevitable
tendency must be 10 degrade the Judiciary in
the minds OF the people, and 10 lessen their re-
sprCt, not only for the Supreme Court of The. L.
nl'rd States, bot for aIlthe Courts How easy
wlil II be for GriragogueS, il oar supreme Court
should, on some great constitutional question
which may agiat- the public mind, decid~ ad-
verse 10 the views Of the majority, 10 raise
clamor of corruption and fraud agalnst to- judo
ss, and especially if a minority OF the Count
should differ lroor the majority But this is Dot
'IL Candidates for the Presidency are heTeal-
er 10 be- selected with a special view to this
ulJect, and they are to be pledged to appoint,
n case OF vacancy on the Supreme Bench, no
ne who will not also pledge himself. at the
proper time, TO reverse the Judgment in the
bred Scott case Under such a system. what
iind ofCourt think YOU we shall have? Would
my high-undrd, honorable lawyer, who apprr-
'iatrd the high position OF judge Of snch
5ourt, and who WAS qualified for the position
ccePt Of an appointment on such conditions
Rely upon II, he would not and The necessary
consequence would b. the elevation of unlearn-
ID demagogueS, and in fact and in truth. the
degradation Of the Court w should, too. ev
'rywhere throughout the Country, have stump
'rators discussing great constitutional questions.
nd county conventions and township and ward
meetings gravely giving their opinions up
N them. Is such state of things desirable -
1T those who think it is not, escbew modern
Black RePubIicanism aud It's startling doc
rnes.
No~@4 am free TO confess, that the decision
n the Dred Scott case, so far as ii regards the
'owfr OF Congress to egislar upon the subject
i slavery IN the Territories, is at variance with
II my preconceived opinions upon the subject. +
}ut before / pronounce that decision erroneous
desire 10 have the same learning and expert
nee as Jnrist as the able Judges who made
t; the same opportunities of investigating the +
uesion; and TO hear the arguments which were y
vice addressed 10 them by the able aud learn