Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1860-03-17
The Arguments Of the Wautonla Ar
gus.

3 I'D.
The lengthy reply Of the Waushara
Argus deserves but passing notice to
convince mon who seek right and JUS
tice, and who care little for precedent,
(Which by the way, has ever been the
banc Of all countries), that its editor is
70 old fo2y and fit man to lead the
Democratic hosts in the coming contest.
The points made by the Pjncry are a.
so covered in the same article, and this
may serve as wholesome dish for that
editor also.
GLr. Webb, the editor of the Argus.
very solmenly takes issue;with Judge A.
D. Smith i'll his opinion which we pub
lishcd q few weeks since, and with owl.
ish wisdom declares that at so hap
pcned that even Judge Smith is not
wise above what is written" We
would remind this leader of the Democ-
racy Of Waushara, that q similar charge
was made by the prosecutors Of Christ:
"N have Moses and the laW-AWay
with him" When GalliIeo announced
the fact that the world was round and
reVolyed, the wise men and ignorant
officials combined to imprison him for
ondeaNoring to overthrow the 2coU es-
tabAShed FACT that this planet was fat
and stationary; yet the world had been
movable for thousands Of years prior to
the advent of GaIilco. When Harry
published his discovery Of the circuIa-
ton OF the blood, he was styled ''vag-
abond Or quacl," and prosecuted thro'
life yet the blood flowed in veins from
the first formation Of man. Thus it
WAS with Ambrose Pare, in the days Of
Francis [, with ParaceIsus, with La
dy Montague, and in short with all
great relormers and discoveries. And
thus 1t IS with Judge Smith Of today.
lie has innoyated upon what was
thought, by those who merely look SUI
perticiaily at matters, TO be constitu-
tional law. lie had the sagacity to see
that if national legislature should pass
n law that was IN contraycnlion to the
Constitution Of the United States, it
became a nulIity--a mere enactment
with no binding force, and not entitled
to consideration and he possessed the
fearless honesty to SO decide ii his Off
cial capacity, notwithstanding no one
else lad for seventy years established
q precedent fer The commission Of such
= heresy. Seventy years was not suhi-
Gent to sanctJy the infringement upon
the rights Of the several States. lie
had taken solemn oath to support the
Constitution Of the United States and
of the State Of i5consin-as some
body else should conStrue it? No! as
Judge \. d. Smith himself should con-
strue It's meaning. He was not sworn
to ask Judge fancy or other corrupt
Judges, what such sentence. para
graph, section or chapter meant. He
was to leave his God given understand
ing and incorruptible conscience to de-
eide all questions Of Constitutional
nature. And yet VIM. c. Webb, the
astute editor Of the Waushara Coun-
ty 11yts insists that Judge, after ta-
king such an oath, must consult precc-
dents and render his opinions in conso-
nance with them! What fallacv )
This course Of reasoning has ALWAYS
led to incalculable mischief It cruel
fed q Christ; it stoned q Stephen: it
imprisoned a Socrates; it tarred and
teathered a Garrison; it Frustrated a
Sumner; it incarcerates a free citi-
zens Of Wisconsin to-day!
The man is thought knave or fool,
Or bigot plotting crime,
VINO, for the advancement Of his kind.
Is wiser than his time.
For him the he!nlock shall dis.i1.