Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1859-04-14
Result of the Election for Supreme
Court Judge.

PIE, IMAM IilC CICCllOu winch q AL pa W
last week, for the office Of Associate
Justice ofthe Supreme Court. Although
the contest has been decided, and the
people have given an unmistakable YER
dict through the ballot box, in favor of
right and self government, neverth eless
it is proper republicans should fully I'M
derstand the position they have so no.
blv indicated. The issue was clearly
presented in the canvass. On the one
side, humiliation of our State sovereign
ty-the surrendery Of our State rights,
and the submission Of the State to despo-
tic rule, were virtually impressed on the
voters Of the State as political duty.
The doctrine that the king can do no
wrong, has its counterpart in uncondi-
sional acquicsccncc in the edicts Of the
Supreme Court. The first Of these doe
trines, is just as CONSTANT as the latter.
The idea that a great central power in
this government, mustbe allowed to rise
above State constitutions and State laws;
to exercise jurisdiction where it has
none; to determine whether citizens of
the free States, are entitled to the God
given right Of liberty-to do all this,
and demand the people to keep silence,
is simply the worst form of despotism.
The liberty of the press and the freedom
Of speech, are endangered in any State
where such doctrines are allowed to
prevail.
To these usurping claims Of the mod
ern democracy, the republican party of
Wisconsin stood opposed in the late
judicial election. The maintenance of
state sovereignty according to the princi-
pleslaiddoGninth the original compact, land
as understood by Jefferson and Madi-
ison, were the principles for which they
commended. 1t has been over and over
again charged that republicans are gull
ty OF Of disloyalty to the government,
because they do not recognize the val,
idity Of certain laws of the United
States 1t must be remembered that
disloyalty to rulers is not always oppo,
sition to law when our rulers transcend
the authority Of law, they cease to be
entitled to the respect Of the people. It
is not true that Republicans oppose 2aac
or counsel disobedience to law; but they
do oppose etsurpatioa. Much Of the
wrong and the injustice in governments
has been done in the name ofIaw; usur-
pers in all ages have trampled on the
Liberties of the people, claiming lawful
right SO to do. Republicans will stand
by the constitution, bnt against the
abuses of the constitution they will pro-
test.
1t is a significant fact, to which we
have before called attention, that all
through the late contest for Supreme
Count Judge in this State, no democratic
paper has ventured a defence Of the most
odious provisions Of the Fugitive Slave
oc1 , -'.h""oh they are held to be con.
stitutional by the u. $. Supreme Court
Nor has any valid reason been assigned
by what authority the Supreme Court
at Washington, exercise jurisdiction
over the acts of our State Courts. ThC
constitution no where grants the use O
such power, and unless it can be shown
to be expressed in the instrument itself
then clearly its exercise is usurpatiol
The simple announcement that the y
S. Supreme Court assumes such right tC
be constitutional, is unsatisfactory; those
who are so ready to take that to be law
which the Court sees fit to declare law
would submit to any injustice, however
contrary to natural right. What are
constitutions worth; what safeguard dc
they furnish the people, if the highes
judiciary power,in the country,may exer
else powers not found in them? The
Constitution is the charter of every cit
liens rights, and if his rights are inva
ded, where shah he look for redress, i
not to the conrts Of the State ? If the
State has no power to protect him, be
cause its sovereignty has been taken a
way from it by the central power a
Washington, then is the Unionl Of bu
little worth. The slave power, SECONDED
in its efforts by the pro-slayery democ
cracy of the north, is intent on overrid
ing the sovereignty Of the States-o
nullifying what in aforetime has beer
held to be State rights and of enforcing
the behests of slavery through the u
S. Supreme Court in every free State
irrespective ofthe laws thereof. Thes,
usurpation tendencies of the genera
government must be met--must be ar
rested; and it is truly matter Of con
graduation, that the people of this State
so mantully indicated their rights il
thelate election. Letno one howeverhop
that the pro-slayery assumption c
power of the general government owe
the rights of the States, will not
pressed again in this State; the slay
power is not so easily baffied. This i,
sue will be prominent in the Presider
tial election of 1860, and will have to b
met in every free State Of the Union.
I'VE trust republicans will stand firm
~ on the doctrine of State Rights ;.bea
ing IN mind that thesenseless cry raise
by the modern democracy about resis
ing law, has no pertinency to the issu