Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-07-20
SATURDAY MORNING. JULY go, 1861.
Judge CatrOn, a Confederate States CitI.
zen and a United states Judge.

Judge CatrOn, a Confederate States Ciu-
zen and a United states Judge.
A correspondent, in this mornings paper, essays
to defend Judge CATRoN against the animadversiOns
of the UNION AND AMERICAN first by denial of the
statement that Judge C. was in St. Louis, for the
purpose of trying persons charged with treason
against the Government of LINCOLN, and second, by
maintaining that there is no wrong in a citizen of
the Confederate States holding the office of Judge
of the Supreme Court of the United States and try
ing causes while the two Governments are at war.
The statement, that Judge CATRoS is trying cases
of treason is denied on the ground that the tele-
graphic dispatch, which we publish, did not so
sert.
We answer this by asserting that it was stated
repeatedly the streets and never denied by gen.
tlemen of reputation and veracity, that Judge
CATRON received letter from Judge TREAT District
Judge of the United States, in Missouri requesting
him to attend term of his Court in St. Louis for
the purpose of assisting him in trying certain per-
sons, charged with treason.
This statement was generally believed, as coming
from Judge CATRoS himself VIII IT E. c. deny
that this is sos
In addition to this fact we had it stated to US in
a written memorandum, by reliable gentleman in
Kentucky, that GAREETT DAVIS asserted, in speech
at Paris in that State that Judge CATROY the friend
of ANDREW JACKSON, the conqueror of tyrants, had
said to him that the leaders of the secession move
ment were guilty of treason and would ultimately
suffer the penalties of treason.
We allude to these facts to show that we had yea-
son TO believe that Judge CATRON condemns this
great Southern revolution, as reasonable.
But IT. 3. c." says that Judge CATRoN has chang
ed his opinions very much, since he left for St
Louis, if he would entertain charges of treason and
lie is not prepared to credit SO rapid change. The
dispatch, which we published, indicates that Judge
CATRox has taken the Northern view of treason, as
strongly as general Language can do it. 1t was not
autographed exclusively to the Louisville Journal,
but was general newspaper dispatch, and has not
been contradicted. Nevertheless we shall be re-
joiced that IT has done Judge CATRoN injustice. We
shall give him the full benefit of his charge, when
it comes to hand, and if he has taken the ground
that we have heard intimated, that South,
erners engaged in this just and glorious
are revolutonsts, and entitled to all the rights of
belgerents, then we shall be prepared to hail this
opinion with the honor that attaches to upright
and fearless Judge, declaring his judgments in de-
fance Of military power aud dictatorship. We shall
await the reception of this charge with interest.
We desire to do no injustice to Judge CATEoS, and
are prepared to extend to him any honor he de-
serves
We now come to the second branch of IT. 3
C's" argument that because Judge CAMPBELL did
not resign for months after his State seeded, and
Judge WAYNE and Judge TANEY did not resign their
places on the bench it is not inconsistent wrong
for citizen of the Confederate. States to occupy a
seat on the Supreme Bench of the United States.
This parallel is easily disposed of. Judge CAMP
has resigned, land he resigned in Consequence
of The l1ar upon tie South. OF Judge WAYNE
we know little. and our correspondent knows less.
We do not know that he is true Southern man.
We do not know that he continues to reside in
Georgia. We do know, however, that in some of
the States of his circuit law has been enacted,
lnakiDgsit treason for any citizen to hold Office
under the Government of tAe United States. We
conclude, therefore that it would not be safe for
Judge WAYNE to reside in that part of the country
and we are certain. if he intends to remain on the
bench he is better posted than to attempt to reside
among those people.
Judge WAYNE, moreover, may have considered
the secession of his State and the action Of the Fed
eral Government, in bringing on a war against the
South as abrogating his Office and functions, and
that resignation was therefore useless ceremony
This is certainly the true Judicial view to take Of
the case, and we have no evidence whatever that
Judge WAYNE does not occupy that position
As to Judge TASEr, he resides in State that has
not Seeded and there is therefore, no parallel in
the two cases at all.
We assumed in our article, and continue 10 main
tain that the assumption Of authority by Judge,
under commission from the United States, by
citizen of Tennessee resident in its limits is at
with its sovereignty, and especially when Tennessee.
is in a state of war with the United States.
We are however, not prepared to see rule Of
conduct recognized for the government of citizens
Of Tennessee which will fill the Federal Congress
with NE1soyF, MAYNARDs and ANDREW JOHNsoNs,
pretending to represent the people of Tennessee and
which will give US bogus Msrshals, Collectors and
Judges in every part of the State, to defy the au-
thory Of the State, and create disturbances in our
midst.
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