The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-11-20
Pennsylvania,on Conscription.

The friends of civil liberty and constitutional
law have found, at length, solid anchorage for
their faith and hopes in the judicial action and
legal acumen Of the Supreme Court of Pennsvl-
vania. At General Term of this Court, held
at Pittsburgh on the 9th instant, the question
OF the constitutionality of the Conscription Act
was argued at great length, on the application
tor injunctions in the cases of certain drafted
citizens of Philadelphia, restraining the Gov
ernment officers from transferring them to the
military service Of the United States.
The Importance of the question to be decided
has been thoroughly comprehended and its leg.
al aspects carefully analysed, in the forcible and
elaborate opinion of Chief Justice Lowrie, whose
profound and dispassionate logic must carry
conviction to all impartial minds.
We have in the opinion of the highest court
OF Pennsylvania at once an able defence of
State rights and an eloquent vindication of the
patriotism of Pennsylvania. And for the first
time in the history of this war, we find ourselves
confronted with high Court of Justice that
possesses combination of nerve and intellect
clear enough to discern, and powerful enough to
maintain, the dignity of State sovereignty and
the personal liberty of the citizen.
The weak policy of Wilson's conscrption
scheme, from its first inception in the mind of
that visionary Abolition enthusiast up to the
present hour Of its ignominous defeat and prac
tical overflow, would convince anybody, except
an insane partisan Administration, of the utter
impracticability of this method of soldier max
ing. Whatever may be the follies and weak.
nesses Of the imbecile Cabinet that chance has
made the transient custodian of the National
helm, it cannot be possible that it is so blinded
by passion and melted by selfwill as no. to
comprehend the shallow logic of arbitrary pow.
er and military despotism. Surely it cannot
mii TO comprehend how brief must be its reign
how despicable its premature dissolution!
We cannot, with the record of nearly three
years of Federal despotism before us, entertain
even vague supposition that this judicial voice
OF the highest court of Pennsylvania will he abls
to penetrate the thick skull of Washington All.
olltionism, or secure the respect of even form.
al consideration at its hands. But whatever
Federal officers at Washington may choose to
think about it, or whatever course of action
they may pursue in regard to it, we have a de-.
clsion OF the highest recognized legal tribunal
OF Pennsylvania which even unjust men will
not dare to violate
There is law for the people as we'll as for the
Government, and it is the solemn duty of every
man to see that it is not transgressed with i'm
punity; and we hesitate not TO say that the 10y.
al, iaw-abiding citizens of PENNSYLVANIA, who
have hitherto submitted to the hardships of this
Conscriptlon Act because it was recognized as
law will be prompt to demand and enforce its
Judicial repudiation. 00s
Let all the liberty-loving men thank God that
amid the cringing suppliance and fawning syc
ophancy and timid cowardice of the hour. there
exist in the staunch old State of Pennsylvania
brave and true men, of spotless purity and nm
questioned courage, who dare to stand nm IN
the proud stature of their manhood. and combat
the insane fury of fanaticism and the wild Econ
tousncss of lawless passion. J. Lader