The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-03-20
What do you Propose to do 7

Thomas Jefferson has no such blind rever
cnce for the Judiciary as to lead him to SIT
down quietly, and accept as everlasting
truth the exposition Of Judges, and be con
cluded forever thereafter, in political action
by their decisions. lie neither looked for
nor expected infallibility in human tribunals
Judges, no believed were but men, and al.
though he was ready to conform, 80 far n
the law obliged him to conform to legcl de-
cisions. no never thought it either his duty
to the Constitution, or to Society, to refrain
from constitutional political action to re
verso such decisions, rs were inconsistent
with his views, Of constitutional require.
ment, or which initiated against human
rights
In letter to Mr.. Jarvis, dated Mont.
cello, Sept. 18th, 1890, he said -
"You seem to consider THE JUDGES ~
the ultimate arbiters of all constitutional
questions; 81 A VERY DANGEROUS
DOCTRINE INDEED. and one rhieh ,couid
place us under tho DESPOTISM OF AN
OLlGARCHY. Our Judges are as honest
rs other men, and no more 30. They have,
with Others, The same passions for party, for
po,cer, and the privilege Of their CORPS
Their maxim is, Bonn judia, est ampiars
jurisdietione,n,' ut is the part of good
Judge to enlarge the judicial power) and
their power is the more dangerous as they
are in Office for life, and not responsible as
other functionaries are, to tho elective con-
troll"
"The Constitution has created no such
single tribunal, knowing that to whatever
hands coniided, with the corruption Of time
AND PARTY, its members = WOULD
BECOME DESPOTS. 1t has, moro wisely,
made all the departments co.equal and co
sovereign within themselves "
The decision Of the United States Court
in the bred Scott case, overturns and
overrides all tho principles upon which Re.
publican liberty is upheld, and sustained.
It Is in the teeth Of oil expeditions Of law,
both common and Statute, for two centu-
ries. So far as il relates to the political &c
ton OF the people hereafter, It has no
binding force whatever. Within the limits
assigned by the fundamental law, they will
agitate for its reversal. and he who talks of
submission in any other sense, but In the
sensc that 1t is u legal opinion only to BE-
submitted until its reversal can DO obtained.
and only binding upon the parties before
tho Court, Is either foe to liberty or
timid. facilitating or corrupt politician who
would cell his country's birthright for q
mess Of pottage.
The question Of what do you propose to
do about It, 10 we'll answered in the follow.
ing from the n Y. Tribune, Of March l6.
Well, what do you propose to do about
III" Is tauntingly asked by our Northern
chucklep over the late most unjust and de-
piorabls decision In the bred Scott case =
''Suppoee nis all wrong, in violation oflaw
and Of precedent, how do you expect to help
yourselves? What will all your protests
and agitation amount to 2" Let u answer
those gsutlsmen briefly, but clearly.
I. We do not purpose 70 resist the FEEDER.
q authorities nor to break up the Union.
We do not esteem either rebellion or dis.
union the proper remedy for political or ju-
dicial wrongs while the Freedom OF the