The Washington union., 1858-03-18

the ocunisy interested I'm ssss sA.s -As volunteered
10 ssrs tbe csss DOR ha defendant and nsFes rcori
would have received ssse ordinary Compensation Ay
cceagw we, oert@in. actussed bg the same rrs-
tycs, and was rewarded only by Sense OF eass fr+
formed The charge that the majority of the judges in
rafns thc Missouri restriction Unconstitutional Sfied
extra isdkialis, eaTe every lawyer - decide after
he shaf have read tsc OPINION Of the venerable
Chief Justice II that does not convince him OF the u
ter groandieesDors of tho complaint all reason or sa
thorifT ~oaid be lost upon h'n ln this respect how
ever there n yie~ which tnt pu4tc generally can
net fail, I think. readily TO comprtfoud What maT
have passed Al the ooIsultaos OF the court no oie pct
hap- but The Judges win know. But tins world
10 be obvious. that II il was the duty OF
the dissenting Judges, MaE-5s Mclean and cuiiss,
20 pass upon a question Of such Importance, and
10 argue IL with un~onted real and rare abiiifT
and With practical appeal TO northern prepos.son and
sympathy calculated 10 impress upon the public mind OF
that section conviction OF the right of Congress 20 pro-
ht slave labor ia ali Territories then thereafter TO
belong 70 the mon power pregnant with danger TO
eur continuance enc people-it equally proper
thai the Judges who entertained dierent oplnion should
have expressed it, and maintained il with al The abthtT
and research within their power.
Ma Justice Mclean opinion occupies thirty tve pages
Of the Wpet in 18th Howard aud Mr. Justice Curtlss
hundred and three The greater part OF each rs de-
voted 90 this very question: af 10 the night TO con
ider and decide IT, The hast named dge concludes his
with apology for It's length by saying the quesors
numerous and the grave Importance Of some Of them
required 10 exhibit the grounds OF my opinion.
A
taken, il not absolutely necessary for INC to pass
upon TO ascertain whether the Judgment OF the circuit
court sl&ouid stand be reversed bare svosted no
question which the validity OF that Judgment deferis
To have done either more ess would have been moon
sistent with my sense of dutF
Were these opinions 10 be spread ss tiey sere,
with une1amrled haste broadcast the land and The
rest Of the court who differed widely and decidedly
remain silent We're they ly that very silence 10
leave the public infer they might then have fairly
done that they did not unable 10 maintain diff
lerent doct4lnes SssuIln~ fherefore what is think
palpahy unsoundthat the decision OF TIC ourt this
question in any extra Judicial hold to be
perfectly clear that the adopted by the dissenting
Judges rendered the duty OF the court to correct TO the
whole extent Of their power whnt they believed 10 be the
serious constitutional which that course If left I'M
obstrucied Hselv asten upon the public Jndg-
ent BAIT content with assaii the motives Of the
South by totally misrepresentng them, and the alleged
Judicial character m the court decision the inde-
pendence and integrity Of the Judges shamsiessy i'm
peachei No gentleman be guilty OF the injustice
Of supoang hat ii e necessary vindicate them
against such charge, coming from such quarter and
dictated by unhaowed party motives, olvfrrsis ap-
parent II lives honestly spent in the service OF their
country ia almost every department. ia which she could
be served without stain bIernsh and with constantly
increasing honor if judicial by its admitted
ability learning, and Independence challenging the re-
spect and admiration Of the good and the wise
incentive TO continue 10 the last the pure adins
traitors Of the jurisdiction with which the constitution
clothes them and especially tie watchful Guardians Of all
the rights personal and political secured by that sacred
instruments which nsy, by proper Judicial proceeding,
be submitted 10 themwth all these persua-ions TO
duty the charge that they have been last false to it,
and iorefu honest iarpe have pandered to party
executive influence s slander gross and revolving,
thsf instead OF finding odgent f il cannot but ulti-
natsly, If not at once disgust the public mind.
The feeling however which ia any could prompt
such suggestion bud shows the dangerous character Of
the pending agitation and calls upon all true TO do
what they NAV Inc able 10 put II down, and 10 restore
pesoe aud quiet TO the nation and 10 it councils the love
Of Justice truth and patriotism which gloriousy lns
tratcd iis earlier HISTORY.
With high regard, your obedent servant
REyERDY JOHNSON.
Mcssrs r. II EnHARp~os. h. q. PrEssTnss, and j.. j.
GRsvE~, Committee Of Invitation.