Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1857-05-15

or The ahnihilation of constitutional State
rights, und the removal Of every check, es-
cry couutsrpoiss to the engulphing power
Of which themselves are to make sove-
reign part.p
In another lettor addressed to Thomas
Rircbie, and dated in 1920, Mr.; Jefferson
says:
s.The judiciary of the United States is
the subtle corps Of sappers and miners con-
stantly working ander ground 10 UNDER
mine the foundations of our confederate fa-
brio. They are constituting from co ordi-
nation Of general and special government
TO general and supreme ore alone This
will lay all things at their feet We shall
see if they are bold enough to take the dar-
Ing stride their FIVE lawyers have lately ta-
ken. If they do, then, with the editor Of
our book, in his address to the public. |
will say, that against this every man Should
raise his voice. and more, should uPf'ff ms
arm
All these fears and patriotic forebodings
have been more tllnp realized in the case
now under consideration. There is now no
,onqcr = raining Of ga little to-day and a
lit.le to-morrow,'' and no ''noiscless step
ike thief stealing over the field of uni-
versal jurisdiction; but past immunity and
indulgence have made these same judges
5pen, bold, dictatorial and tyrannical. In
their rarid march to absorb and consolidate
all the powers of government, they, under
claim Of right, and as if By divine authors
ty, tralnpie down all constitutions, repeal
the most solemn acts of Congress, and re,
pudiate all Judicial decisions, which are
supposed to stand ia the pathway to unlim-
tied power. Let US be wise in tine, and
ever bear il mind that "oternal vigilance
is the price Of liberty
The wisdom Of our ancestors long since
abolished slavery in the State Of Pennsyl-
yania; and by the laws now on her statute
books, ii cannot exist within her borders
even single day, save only in the case of
fugitive slaves, under the before cited pro-
visions of the Constitution of the United
States. No effort has yet been made By
the national government to violate the soVe-
reignty of the State, BY an enforcement of
The extra judicial DEGREES Of the Judges in
the Dred Sc9tt case; and should any such
attempt ever be made it will then be time
enough to meet it, and We doubt uot the old
keystone will be found, as in the history of
all her past legislation she ever has been,
on the side of freedom and the right. Your
com,nlttee therefore, do not believe any fur
legislation necessary; but submit. and re-
commend the adoption, of the following
resolutions:
ReSolued. That the opinion of the Supreme
Court, in the case of Dred Scott Us. John
F. A. Sanford announces principles in pal
pable opposition to the judicial and legisla-
sivo history of the Union, and in violation
IF the plain provisions of the Constitution oi
the United States.
Resolced. That said opinion, except on The
question of jurisdiction, being delivered in a
ease over which the Court admitted it had
10 jurisdiction, may be justly regarded as
ob7er dicta, coram non jadice, and inopera-
tive rs law
Rescued, That tho FIVE Judges who con-
Cured in said opinion, made a wanton at
tack on the sovereignty of the free States
an imPotent attempt TO nullify the establish
ed laws of the country, and by extra iudiciai
action caused an unnecessary excitement il
she public mind on the subject of slavery
and thereby forfeited that confidence ant
respect due to their exalted station.
FRANCIS JORDAN,
j n HARRIS.
i. ID. GAZZAM
May 1, 1857.