Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1858-07-22

am driven irresistibly 10 the conclusion that
diversity, dissimllarity, variety in all our
local and domestic institutions, is the great
est safeguard Of our liberties, and that the
trainers of our institutions were wise, sa-
gacious and patriotic, when they made this
| Government a confederation of sovereign
States with a Legislature for each, and
conferred upon each Legislature the power
10 make all local and domestic institutions
TO suit the people it represented, without
interference from any other State, or from
the General Congress Of the Union. Ii we
expect to maintain our liberties we must
preserve the rights and sovereignty Of the
States, we must maintain and carry out the
great principles of self-government incor-
porated in the compromise measures OF
1850; endorsed by the Illinois Legislature
in 1851; emphatically embodied and car
ried out in the Kansas-Nebraska bill, and
viadicated this year by the refusal 10 bring
Kansas into the Union with Constitution
distasteful to her people. (Cheers.)
The other proposition discussed by Mr..
Lincoln in his speech consists in crusade
against the Supreme Court Of the United
States on account of theDred Scott decision.
On this question also, | desire 10 say 10 you
unequivocally, that take direct and dis
tinct issue with him.
have no warfare TO make on the Su-
preme Court of the United States, bravo
either on account of that or any other de-
| cisiun which they have pronounced from
that bench. ("Good, good" and enthusi-
astic applause.) The Constitution Of the
United States has provided that the powers
Of government (and the Constitution of each
State has the same provision) shall be di-
vided into three departments, executive,
legislative, and Judicial. The right and the
province of expounding the Constitution,
and constructing the law, is vested in the
| Judiciary established by the Constitution
As lawyer, feel at liberty 10 appear be-
fore the Court and controvert any principle
of law while the question is pending before
the tribunal; but when the decision is made,
my private option, your opinion, all other
opinions must yield to the majesty of that
authoritative adjudication. (Cries Of cit is
right" "goOd, good" and cheers.) | wish
you TO bear in mind that this involves a
great principle, upon which our rights, and
our liberty, and our property all depend
What security have you for your property,
for yonr reputation, end for your personal
rights, if the courts are not upheld, and
their decisions respected when once fairly
rendered by the highest tribunal known 10
the Constitution? (Cheers.)
l do not choose, therefore. TO 60 into any
argument with Mr.. Lincoln in reviewing
the various decisions which the Supreme
Court has made, either upon the bred
Scott case, or any other have no idea Of
appealing from the decision of the Supreme
Court upon constitutional question to the
decision of tumultuous Town meeting
!, (Cheers.) am aware that once an emf
nent lawyer of this city, now no more, said
that the State of Illinois had the most per-
feet judicial system in the world, subject to
but one exception, which could be cured by
slight amendment, and that amendment was
to so change the law as to allow an appeal
. from the decisions of the Supreme Court Of
Illiaois, on all constitutional questions, 10
two Justices of the Peace. (Great laugh
ter and applause.) My friend, Mr.. Lin
coin, who sits behind me, reminds me that
that proposition was made when was q
Judge of the Supreme Court. Be that as
it may, l do not think that fact adds any
greater weight or authority 10 the sugges-
tion. (Renewed laughter and applause.)
1t matters not with me who was on the
bench, whether Mr. Lincoln or myself
Lockwood or Smith, fancy or Mar
4 NJ. Al - he trsh nj
known TO the Constitution Of the country
must be final until it ha, been reversed by
an equally high authority. (Cries Of
"bravo" and applduse.) Hence am op
posed 10 this doctrine OF Mr.. Lincoln, by
which he proposes 10 take an appeal from
the decision Of the Supreme Court of the
United States upon these high constitutional
question, to Republican caucus sitting in
the country. CA voice-'call it Freesoil,' y
ana checrs.) Yes, or 10 any other caucus
or town meeting, whether it be Republican,
American, or Democratic. Cheers.
respect the decisions Of that august tribu-
nal; | shall always bow in Difference 10
them. / am w-abiding man. ! will
sustain the Constitution Of my country a,
| our ialHGEs nave hdut iLs Will litIa ouc-
dience to the laws, whether like them or
not, as find them on the statute book.
will sustain the Judicial tribunals and con-
stituted authorities in all matters within the
pale Of their jurisdiction, as defined by the
Constitution. Applause.
But am equally free to say that the rea-
son assigned by Mr.. Lincoln for resisting
the decision OF the Supreme Court in the
bred Scott case does not in itself meet my
appreciation. He objects to 1t because that
decision declared that negro descended
from African parents who were brought
here and sold as slaves is not and cannot be
q citizen Of the United States. He says il
is wrong, because 1t deprivss the negro oil
the benefits of that clause of the Constitu.
ton which says that citizens of one State
shall enjoy all the privileges and immuni'
of citizens Of the several States; in Other
words, he thinks il wrong because it de-
.prives the negro Of the privileges. immuni
ties, and rights Of citizenship, which per
tain, according 10 that decision, only to the