Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-07-21
SUNDAY MORNING, JULY 21, 1861.
Judge CatrOn.

We lay before cur readers this morning
that portion of the charge of Judge CATRON
to the Grand Jury at st. Louis on the 10th
inst, which relates to the crime of treason.
According to the definition of the learned
Judge the volunteers of the State of Tennes-
see are traitors in arms against their Gov
eminent, and liable to b. punished as such.
Judge CATKoN is a citizen of Tennessee, and
the Confederate States, yet he clings to his
position under the Federal Government, and
gives it aid and comfort by holding its courts,
and holding over the heads of our patriotic
volunteers, struggling in the cause of liberty
and independence, the penalties of treason.
This may accord with the distinguished ju-
rist's sense of justice and right but it is at
variance with the great principles of the
American Declaration of Independence,
which have given impetus and vigOr to the
revolution of to-day. Judge CATRON cannot
retain his position under the Federal Gov
eminent, and maintain the doctrines OF his
charge, and at the same time be true to the
cause ofSouthern Independence. We believe
he is too honest and courageous to attempt
to impose such absurdity upon confiding
people. His feelings and sympathies are
manifestly with the Government he has been
serving, and whose laws he has been expoun-
ding, for so many years; and he desires us
preservation rather than the successful solu-
ton of the problem of a Southern, Confedera-
cy, driven though the people of the South
have been to the extremity Of revolution by
the tyranny and expressions of the North,
and tie war of subjugation waged upon them,
in defiance of the constitution and laws.
JOHNSON, MAYNARD, NELSON and ETHER
IDGE have been denounced as infamous for
the part they have played in the great drama
which is rapidly approaching its termination.
Neither of them had, or have, the power for
mischief which the eminent Judge possesses.
They are simply partisan politicians. His
position removes him from the influence of
party, and commands respect and reverence.
They carry with them chiefly the prejudi-
ces and passions of the partisan; the judicial
authority appeals to the cool and calm con-
yictions and conservatism of the judgment,
and arrests attention and thought, in sources
the former cannot reach. Shall they be
denounced and ostracised, and he allowed to
encourage conspiratOrs against the peace
and safety of our State, with impunIty?
We would not do the distinguished Judge
any wrong. We have not lost our reverence
for Bench which is digniied by TANEY.
We honor him for his brave defence of the
right Of speech and she freedom of the press.
But, in times like these, it is incumbent upon
every one-particularly upon those in eleva-
ted positions. carrying with them distinction
and authority-to let their fellow-citizens
know precisely where they stand. If the
Judge has been improperly suspected, the
fault lies at his own door. He himself, and
not his enemies, has caused his soundness to
be di.trusted; and he alone can remove sus-
picions which are already ripening into con-
victions. Let him speak. The people want
to hear bim,-and not an interpreter. They
understand his mother tongue, and can COM
prehend what he may say.