The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-08-30
IN the present deplorabla condition of q

In the present deporable condition of our coun-
try, when private rights are unscrupulously vio
lated and the statutes of the land are contemptu-
ously disregarded, by the very men who are. of
all others, most bound to respect them, we are
glad>to believe that one bulwark still stands he
tween US and the final triumph of arbitrary power.
80 long as an honest and independent judiciaryre re-
mains Gus, so long may we family hope to stay the
tide of anarchy or desposm. The laws may be
subverted by the Executive, hut they do not
therefore cease TO exist the decisions of the Courts
may be condemned by military cheftains, but
they are not thereby reversed or absolutely mill.
fed. Though rendered nugatorv for the ,nonnapt
the outraged laws will inevitably reassert tboir
supremacy if those whose chief duty is 10 admin
lister them will only continue TO interpret them
fairly, and firmly endeavor to enforce them. Onr
English ancestors, in all probability, would never
have been forced into rebellion against CHARLES
the First if English judges had braveIy interposed
the shield of the laws between the SOVEREIGN and
the people. But the venal and snbservient Courts
only responded to the wishes of their master, and
the memorable necessity of seIEdefence drove the
nation into armed resistance. Fortunately wehave
been thus far spared The bitter humiliation of see |
ing the Judges of the country perjure themselves
at the dIctation OF the Executive. They cannot |
enforce their DEGREES because the strong hand |
VI ihlh'ary despotism holds them, together |
WIN 'noSe VINO ask their protection, in |
l's grasp, out 'hey have, in the main,
been faithful to their obligations. Some faw
time-serving and corrupt individuals, like Judre
BSTTs of New York, have consented to SUSPEND
the laws at Mr.. LINcoLN's bidding, but the great
mass of those who sit in the State or Federal
Courts, have held the scales of justice with steady
and impartial hands. They have fearlessly strven
to uphold the laws, and have freely condemned
the usurpatons by which The Constitution has
been superseded. Especially has this been the
case where the Federal judges have been called
upon TO interfere between the people and oppres-
sion. The venerable Chief Justice of the Supreme
court has not heSitated, in the discharge of the
onnes of his Office TO vindicaie the rights of the
.''Asn' and to resist, as ae best could, the arb-
p'''eeuings of the Government: aud as far
as we can learn, every ono of HI, ai,;.:,,
colleagues on the bench of The Sr,ra, r, =, |
oe rehed on to defend the inteori, g
su'utlon and the laws with eouaI erno.o- ~"
CATRoN, IN his late charge to the CT D'so q
ST. Louis, showed that whatever m;cbt ha. ~ =
character of his political sympathes, he wa. 49,. S
prepared to prostitute himself and his Office evo,,
10 promote the object he has most at heart. Ha
knew mat there were certain rights secured to all
citizens which could not under any nratext bo
denied them, and these he unfipcbinglv admitted s
anu uenneu. In long and argumentatiye ad i.
aress 10 'ne Grand Jury, he laid down explicitly
the following propositions:
!. That to constitute treason tbare ,.. +, , :
BILE intent, well reasonable overt oct ga i
der to make out reasonable intent and overt act the
overthrow the Government. peJ " r
2. That there certain constitutional puarantss
which the passion or a frenzy Of the hour cannot touch