The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-08-25

Louisiana, although all parties in the country
at the time agreed that there was no authority
in the Constitution for the act. Even Mr.. JEFF
ferson himself, who as President authorized
and gave his official assent to the purchase, as
a political necessity, admitted the act to be un-
constitutional The Court has never ventured
to non-suit Louisiana plaintiff on the plea
that the Territory or State was no part of the
Union, although perhaps three-fourths of the
Judges, forty or fifty years ago, entertained the
prevalent belief that the Constitution was VIC
lated in the act of purchase.
The conservative instincts Of the Court tt-
teen years ago would have led it to decide
against the admission of the foreign State Of
Texas into the Union by joint resolution of the
two Houses of Congress, instead of by treaty ;
but no such decision has been made. 1t has
never been decided that q Texan cannot have
redress against a citizen Of New York, on
the plea of non-citizenship. But suppose the
Court were to make such a decision, would
Texas and louisiana in the cases supposed be
ruled out of the Union Would the President
forthwith recommend and Congress enact law
annulling the unconstitutional proceedings Dy
which those States were brought into the UmonT
If they did not, then the decisions OF the court,
as political authorities, would fall to the ground,
and, upon the Federal theory Of Interpretation,
the President and Congress would be guilty OF
high misdemeanor
We have said that the Supreme Court has
ALWAYS CONFIRMED to the established policy Of
the country. When q United States Bank ex-
listed. the Court pronounced it constitutional;
and if case involving the question could now
be brought before that body, there can be no
doubt that it would decide just the reverse.
The Sham Democracy still adhere to one JEFF
fersonian principle, viz his hostility to United
States Bank, and the Court would readily con-
form its decisions to the dominant idea, if called
upon, Just as it has done in regard to Slavery.
Until within few years, the Court has, from
the foundation of the Government, heaped de-
cisiOn upon decision, going to establish the
doctrine that Slavery is a local institution, en-
tirey dependent for its existence upon positive
law; and, hence, that it did not exist as
matter Of right in the Territories. But when
Slavery got complete control of the Federal
Govrnment, and seemed destined to rule every
thing for an indefinite period, the facile judges
had no difficulty in coming up to the mark by
making a decision in conformity with the Gin
. cinnati platform.
So it will ever be. The Court is not indie
pendent of public opinion, and its political de-
cisions have no more influence upon the minds
Of the Opposition, than those Of any other dozen
lawyers in the country. When the decisions
of the Court were against Slavery, the slave in
terest was unanimous in repudiating it as
political authority. Now that its decisions are
thoroughly Pro-Slavery, the Oligarchy, like
Shylock, cry +" A Daniel a second Daniel "
The South and the Sham Democracy no longer
hold the Jefersonian theory of States Rights.
They are thoroughly Federalized, and even
Ioryized. For to the Federal idea of Su-
preme National Central Government, the Black
Democracy have added the maxims of Tory
ISM and Absolutsm-th maxims Of passive
obedience and submission to whatever wrong
and outrage a corrupt Government may i'm
pose.
HON. JOHN NJ. Bolts FOR THE PRESI-
DENCY.
Mr.. Bolts may we'll exclaim, "Save me from
any friendsl" His bold and manly opposition
- the Black Democracy, to their perfdious re-
seal of the Missouri ComPromise, to their nue.
+nerous schemes of Slavery prOpagandisrn and
D their system of peculaton and plumber, have
gained for him the respect and admiration of
Z Al. r L
81 power. But in an evil hour his Southern
friends have put him in nomination for the
Presidency, and Immediately they begin to
qualify or explain away all the manlier traits
ia his public life, and to manufacture for him
;.sound Southern platform to stand upon. In
spite of disclaimers, the newspapers which
Eoist the name of Mr.. Bolts will be regarded
IS his organs; and this is particularly true of
tsose in his immediate vicinity. The Rich
lload Morning Ne,cs is one of this class. 1t is
anew enterprise, and in many respects liberal
AID enlightened but there seems to be a fatal
IL scessity resting upon the organs of public
O4iniOn in the South, which constrains them,
like the needle to the pole, to bow before the
Slave Power. They may set out with the best
insentions in the world but no sooner do they
yenture into the sea of politics, than the
magnetism of Slavery compels them to sail
S,uthwardy. AS a case in point, we quote
tta following passage from an editorial in the
R.,rning Nelcs of the 18th instant. The object
OF. the editor is to show the impracticability of
governor Wise's theory Of Congressional pro-
tertion TO Slavery in the Territories. But
n srk how his little bark, with the manly Bolts
o board, is warped from its intended course,
az compelled to pay homage, with flag at half
nisst 10 the Black Power. The Nelcs says:
Now. we are not about to dispute the doc
trile of Intervention. 1t may or may not be
tn true doctrine. Every word that Mr.. Wise
has said may be true. The Supreme Court
he, certainly decided the main proposition,
IN Slavery has "A constitutional foothold I'm
ths Territories. 1t may follow as a corollary
TIA Congress is bound, by the clause of the
CaSsttution quoted yesterday, to protect all
property of citizens of the United States wher-
ever from and OF whatever kind But it does
nos follow that it would be safe, expedient, or
useful, for the South to ask Congress to legis.
| lat: specially upon the subject of .SlaUe,y.
| w saw We do not dispute the doctrine We
do rot mean to he understood as either APPROX
| ing or denying it. Other weighty cOnsidera-
| TOYS, a long way this side Of the question of
mse abstract doctrine, press on our attention.
| There are many abstract doctrines it is useless
to ,.iscuss, and many rights it is inexpedient,
nag, positively harmful, to exercise"
| [hus it is that Mr.. Bolts is Immediately
dragged down from his liberal and respectable
position, to one much below that of Mr. Doug
| lass.and but little. IL any. better than That Of