Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-05-04

aHra1I
rhe soutbern Democracy on the supreme
Court--yVhatcensao 81 Gcring the other o.
Ever since llie decision Of Che Supreme Court
in the Dred Scott cnse, forcibly remarka tbe
Washington Republic, if there has been any one
,ilt upon which Democratic politicians have
agreed with perfect unanimity, It has been IN
procaiming that the extrajudoial opinions an
nouncod hy the majority Of The judges in that
case, that Slavery exists in the Territories by
virtue Of the Constitution, 50 authOritativey
settles that QUO. sion, that Il is absolutely reDo
h,iiondry and reasonable to iuterpose any obsla-
Gle to the practical enforcement OF that doctrine
The dictators of the party, at the South have
demanded Of their Northern allies, that the nero
obiter dcia of the Court, on this question, should
be invested with degree of sanctity never be-
fore accorded to its most solemn decisions on
any other question; aud their demands, in this
respect, have been acceded to with astonishing
alacrity, from the President down to the most
humble oracles of the town. meeting and the pot
house Even Douglas, and those who went of
with him on tie Lecomptou question, have uni
formly admitted the binding force Of those opin-
ions TO establish the constitutional right to hold
slaves in the Territories, although they deny
that there is any obligation upon Congress TO
pass laws specially TO protect and enforce that
right
The President has time aud again proclaim
ed and all the lesser lights of the party have
echoed and re echoed the sentiment, that the
opinion of the Supreme Court, on any constitu-
tional question of this kind, is necessarily the
end OF controversy, and that It is alike the duty
of all good citizens, and oil National and State
authorities, to bow in humble submission there
to, however repuenant the doctrines announced
by that august tribunal may be, 10 all their pre-
conceived opinions on the subject.
After requiring, as the Southern Democracy
has done, this ject and unqualified submission
on the part of their Northern allies, to the ex-
ira judicial decision of the Supreme Court, in
favor of the extension of Slavery, it would be
but natural tosuppose that if any other ques-
tion of constitutional right should hereafter
arise, touching the same subject, these same
Southern politicians would at least be willing
to submit the question to the same tribunal and
abide its decision in the premises.
1t appears, however, from the speech of John
Letcher, Democratic candidate for Governor of
Virginia, recently delivered at Petersburg, in
that State, that the Southern Democracy enter
of the Supreme Court are in faBOr of thelpre-
tensions OF the Slavery propagandists, that hey
are 10 be treated with any respect whatever. IL
a decision Of that tribunal should happen TO be
adDerse to any claim set up by Slave State, on
the subject of Slavery, Tor the Slave trade, we
presume then the State troops are to be called
out to resist its enforcement
Mr.. Leteher, it will be seen, tauntingly in
quires whether his opponent, IN case contro-
versy should arise between Virginia and the
Federal Government, on any question OF vital
Importance, would be willing TO "refer the diff
fcnlty to the Supreme Court one of the organic
branches of the Government, and force Virginia
| into submission ?"
! The following extract from Mr.. Letcher's
speech above referred to, we copy from the
Washington States, a Jealous advocate OF his
election
"My competitor has asked if am fit guar
dian of the institutions and the interests of Nr-
ginial Now, have this to say; should it be
be the pleasure of the people Of this State to
elevate me to the office of GOvernOr--of which
there is not the slightest doubt-if at any time
collision should arise between the Federal
and State authorities, growing out OF any ques-
ton of vital importance to US, or any disposition
on the part of the Government to interfere with
the institution of Slavery, or 70 trample upon
the rights and honor of the State of Virginia,
and the Federal authorities should resort to
force, should be prepared, with the aid of the
people, to resist to the very last any attempt OF
Federal troops to cross the borders of our State.
l ask if my competitor would do that, or loOuld he
refer the difficulty to The Supreme Court, one Of
the organic branches Of the Government, to de-
eide IL, and force Virginia into submission!
IL will say, furthermore, my friends, If a
difficulty of similar nature should arise be-
tweed the Federal Government and other States
south of us--if they should attempt to pass
over tue soil of the Old Dominion, the flag
of the oppressor should never be borne across
the State"