New-York daily tribune., 1859-01-22

Instinct is great matter. So is courage. Fal-
staff knew the former. The gallant aud sagacious
Brigsdier- Attorney -Gerersl Gushing knows the
latter. IDds ed, he must know bOtb for no lesser
knowledge could have nersed him TO encounter
whole army of aliens, the host of the Black RePub-
licaDs Of the Bay State, so cbivalrous an en-
prise ss Re undertook last week. The gallant
General, we think. had no chance of crossing
sword, with the Mexcans when be " drew the
voluntary blade" in the cause of bis country ten
years ago. The only opportunity he had Of dis
playing his galInn,ry, that we remember, was his
memorable encounter with the " SesnOreeta which
left him lying di,abled at the bottom Of ditch,
like vulgar food for powder, near Matamoras, II
must be n great consolation to his heroic spirit
that bis psr,ly tic and decrepit old mother New
buryport has chosen him above all her sons TO go
forth in her behalf 10 fight the domestic foes to the
peace of the lard aud TO the rghtul supremacy OF its
natural suzerain. Last year, our readers may re-
member, lie did good service on the same quarrel
against the same enemies, and on the sa ne battle
grourd And, now, he has the good fight to fight
over seain, but against much greater odds than
theD. But his stomach for it seems as sharp as
ever
The salutary principle which ou' intrepid states
man wished ~ introduce into tie olt-fashlOnsd and
diispdated code of Massachusetts, Legislative Gus
toms, was not indeed original with him. But be
bad seen IFS wholesome workings 10 the logocracy
at Washington, and like faithful son, he sighed to
give his native State the benefit of i's virtues Il
was nothing LEES than tbst Golden Rule which tie
wisdom of tbe Shareholders, cO0psratiog with the
patriotism of the Democratic had devised for giving
the Right Of Petition a name TO I've, while they
smOte il uuder the fifth rib which skill may be re.
gsrded as The grand areaapm Of National states
maoship. A quantity of those nondescrip. in-
babitsLts of The land, who have no rights
that white men are bouod II respect, in
contempt of the Supreme Court of the
United Safes and in violation of the peace aud
dignity of the same, sent in petition to the Gen.
erul Court Of Massachusetts,, asking il to do wha.
it could 10 free them from the effects Of the Dfed
Scott decisiop whateyer they may be. Gen. Cash.
iug net these mtcreauts at the very threshold
aid raised the question of the reception Of the pc
ttion. Toe Speaker Informed him that it WAS q.
ceyed by the act Of presentation, and that the only
question was as TO which committee il was TO be
referred 10. Agar rst this extraordinary ruling cur
hero appealed to the House, and th4. body, with
hearts black the faces of their petitioners az
fimed the decision of the Chair by frishtful ma
jorlty So the benighted State Of Massachusetts,
Will have TO remain while longer deprived Of the
sente reitraint Of the gsg.
Our readers must not for moment suppose that
the late legal adviser to the nation denies the
Right of Petition Far from it, He respects that
right ss devoutly as Gag Atterton or Bully Brooks
He only yindicstes the right Of Legislative Body
t. refuse to receive whatever it doesn't wish
to receive. 1t is not to be supposed
that the Right Of Petition involves any reciprocal
right Of consideration of the thing petitioned
fora right plainly subversive Of all legislative
Anybody msy ask Congress or q
State Legislature TO do something he wants, but
the pefitoases may riehtfuy refuse to look At his
request, or to give 1t moments notice or consd
erstigp. This i. ihe true doctrine of the Right of
Petition which il admitted on all sides to be one of
the biebest and most sacred natare; and IT is
highly honorable to Gen. Gushing 10 volunteer TO
attempt TO bestow its inestimsbe benefits on his
native State, after it has work ID admirably for
these many years in Congress assembled. The
simplicity and beauty Of this view Of this
doctrine capnot be too much admired.
1t pay be briefly illustrated thus:
Suppose q man has put certain servants, carefully
selected by hinse f. into house belonging to him