Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1860-03-30
oLARKSVILlE, TENN. FRIDAY. MARCH 80 1860


Court had Of the cause was for the purpose Of cor
recting the ervsr Of the circuit court in assuming
the power to decide upon the merits of the case.-
This power the Supreme Court did exercise by set
ting aside the judgment of the circuit court upor
the merits and by dsmissing the suit without any
Judgment for or against either party. This is al
that the Supreme Court did, nd all that IL has the
lawful power to do. | consider IL great public
misfortune that several of the learned Judges should
have thought that their duty required them to dis
css and give opinions upon various questions out
side of the ease, the case was actually disposed
Of by the court. All such opinions are extra-iudi.
cial and of no authority. But besides this, ii ap-
pears to me that several of the questions so discus
sed by the judges are political questions and there
fore beyond the cognizance Of the Judiciary and
proper only to be considered and disposed of by the
political departments If am right in this, and il
seems to me plain the precedent is mos unfortunate
because it may lead to dangerous conflict of
authority among the coordinate branches of the
Government.
3d-As TO THE COLONIZATION OF THE FREE BLACKS.
For many years | have been connected with the
American Colonization Society, of which the rising
young State of Liberia is the first fruit consider
the object both humane and wise, benefcent alike
to the free blacks who emigrate and 10 the whites
whom they leave behind. But Africa is distant
and presents so many obstacles to rapid settlement
that we cannot indulge the hope Of drawing off in
that direction the growing numbers OF our free
black population The tropical regions of America
think, offer a far better prospect both for us and
for them. t-
4th--As TO AsY INEQUALITY OF RIGHTS AMONG AMERI-
CAN CITIZENS
! recognize no distinction among American cit-
zens but such as expressly laid down in the Con-
stitution. And hold that our Government is bound
to protect all the citizens in the enjoyment of all
their rights everywhere, and against all assaiants ;
and as to all these rights there is no difference be-
tween citizens born and citizens made such by law.
5th-AM IN FAVOR OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF A RAIL
ROAD FROM THE VALLEY OF THE MISSISSIPPI TO THE
Pacific OCEAN, UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE GEN.
RRAL GovERSMEST.
Yes, strongly. do not only believe such road
to be of vast importance rs the means of increasing
the. population wealth. and power of this great
valley, but necessary as the means of national de-
fence and OF preserving the integrity of the Union
6th-AM IN FAvOR OF THE MEisURE CALLED THE
HOMESTEAD BILL.
Yes, am for guarding the public lands as well
possible from the danger of becoming the subject
of common trade and speculation; for keeping them
for the actual use of the people, and for granting
tracts of suitable size to those who will actually in
habit and improve them.
1th-AM IN FAVOR OF THE IMMEDIATE ADMISSION OF
KANSAS UNDER THE wyANDoTTE CONSTITUTION
think that Kansas ought to be admitted with
out delay, leaving her like all the other States the
sole judge Of her own Constitution
Thus, gentlemen, believe | have answered all
your inquiries in plain, intelligble manner, and
hope to yohr satisfaction. I have not attempted to
support my answers by argument for that could
not be done in short letter; and restraining my
self from going into general politics, have con-
lined my remarks TO the particular subjects upon
which you requested me to write
Your Obliged. fellow citizen,
EDWARD BATES