Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-11-21
The Conscription Act.

We publish to-day the decision of the
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, delivered
by Chief Justice WALTER Ii. LowRIE,
asserting the unconstitutionality of the
Ccnscription Act. The subject being one
of intense interest, will commend itself to
the ate ntion of the public, and il will be
grateful relief from the doubts and per-
plexilies that have been engendered by the
enforcement of the act, to have the enigma
solved, aud the whole matter sifted and
thoroughly analyzed by competent judi.
cial tribunal. OF course, the vials of
Radical wrath will be opened upon Judges
LowRIE, WOODWARD and THOMPSON for
expounding the law according to their con-
scientious Interpretation, and not in accor.
dance with the wishes of faction.
The Philadelphia Press, as usual, is
foremost in the application of abuse. 1t
suggests that the decision is the result of
the spleen and vindictiveness of the Judges
in their disappointment at political defeat
How this grave charge can apply to Judge
THOMPSON, who was not candidate, the
ingenuity Of the Press, perhaps, can ex.
plain.
The Justices of the Supreme Court of
Pennsylvania have enjoyed reputation as
learned and upright officials. They have
discharged the responsible duties of their
position 10 the satisfaction of their fellow
citizens. and till now reproach has not
visited them, nor accusation of official dis
honesty sullied their names. But one
decision that runs counter to the Radical
desire is sufficient, it seems, to blast the
well wen honors of a long career Of use.
fulness and integrity. They are dishonest
Judges, forsooth, because they cannot be
bought nor intimidated into compliance
With tho Radical will, They have ad-
judged falsely, because they have not
prostituted their high calling to the uses of
tyranny and fanaticism. Such is the
reasoning Of the Administration organs,
who make it a point to villify every Judge
that does not adopt their theories upon all
questions, and to laud extravagantly and
quote as patterns of judicial worth all
those that reflect from the Bench the ideas
Of their faction:
However much the opinions Of Admins,
tration organs may be at variance with
those Of our constituted tribunals, we trust
that all parties will accept the law as in
terpreted by its legitimate expounders.--
There may be no penalty for insult, but
there is for violation of the law, and that
penalty will attach to the highest in au-
thority as well as to the humblest citizen.
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has
declared that certain citizens of this State
have been deprived of liberty, placed un-
der military restraint, and subjected to
great privation, suffering and danger, by
process which the Constitution forbids.
If the Administration have erred through
ignorance, now let them rectify the error.
They have no claim upon the Pennsylva,
mia couscripts in the field it is not we that
say SO, but the Supreme Court Of Penn
sylvania. If the predicament is perplex-
ing, it gives our rulers occasion to reflect
upon tho advisabllity Of adhering closely
to those principles which have heretofore
governed in the Republic, and of enforcing
no harsh measures of doubtful legality
without due investigation by competent
tribunals.