Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-04-04
BLACK REPUBLICAN KNOW NOTHNGIsM IN
MASKED AND ILLUSTRATED.

The Republican Know Nothing Governor Of Mas
saohusetts has just committed one Of the most afro
oOus acts Of political intolerance that ever dsgraoed
an Executive Of one Of these sovereign and indie
pendent States. He has ruthlessly removed from
the bench Of Massachusetts, that upright and inde.
pendent magistrate, JUDGE LoRIEe, because he fair
" and iaithfully performed his duty as United
States Commissioner, in the restoration Of Burns,
the fugitive slave, some years sgO at Boston, case
which caused intense excitement at the time, both
North and South In the Southern States, there is
but one opinion with reference to this high handed
act Of political prescription; and We are gratifed
to discern that it is very generally condemned by
all parties except the desperate Know NOthings and
their abolition allies even st the North The Bos-
ton TGUsler says that the act was suggested By Pc
titiOns the Massachusetts Legislature signed by
3 lew misguided fanatics, and great number Of
women and boys-that it was not called for By pub
lie sentiment, and will recOn on its perpetratOrs-
The Providence Journal refers to it as very serious
matter, stating that no corruption was alleged, no
incOmpetency charged against the Judge, and adds
belief, in which We heartily participate that the
independence Of the Judiciary is absolutely essen
tisl to the liberties of republic If the decision Of
the courts are to be overhauled by the Legislature
if the Judges to be removed on PreteKts that
would not subject them to impeachment, this indie
pendence is lost" Even the New York Courier and
Engurer is compelled to admit that the Know Moth
ing Governor has been animated by 81 Vindictive,
Yenomous spirit" at the instance Of the leaders Of
the e1treme.and fanatical faction who were offend
ed by the enforcement of the laws ia the case of
Burns, and adds that the vengeful character Of
the proceeding might be unmistakable it was pushed
on to the extreme issue after it had become entirely
unnecessary as q means of relieving Judge LORIEG
Of his probate duties"
The Philadelphia Ledger pronOunces it some Of
the groset attacks on the independence Of the Ju-
dietary that has ever occurred in the United States
made for the purpose Of intimidatng Judges in the
honest performance Of their duty" "It is shame
full and alarming deed, (ssys the Eastern August
sfter this Gov. BANKS may cease to aspire-be pso-
pie viii be very likely to let him slide" The old
National IHtsgsResr express astOnIshment that this
blow should have been struck at the Independence
Of the Judiciary, in quarter where it was not look
ed for, inficting deep reprOach on that ancient
Commonwealth. The Baltimore Patriot szclsims,
''every true man throughout our country must in
dignsntly condemn this act" The Albany Argus
says, one is struck with wonderment at the per-
versity Of public sentiment, which justihes such
wrong in the name Of liberty and freedom" The
Nashua Gazette treats it as case Of high treason
BY which the citizens of Massachusetts, are officially
branded traitors. The National Union of Chicago
cries: Shame, old Massachusetts, shame! You have
disgraced YOURSELF"
We have no language in which to express our
horror Of this high handed act of the Know Nothing
Governor of Massachusetts. 1t shows US, however,
to what a deplOrable pass that most dsmnable pO-
litical heresy would have brOugh country, if we
had not in the South taken the monster by its throat
at early day, and fairly strangled it in its in
fancy.