The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-09-09
Hoconsiguction

Sou,hern people.
----s-ss-
iscconsisuction
An editorial with the above caption
appeared in the Press some days ago.
We clipped it, made some hasty notes,
and laid il aside; but by some oversight
the article and the notes sceompany ing
got among other copy aud appeared yes.
terdsy IN our columns, in very crude,
aud, "a Ear as our notes were concerned,
ia rather an uniutalligible form. We
therefore proceed to comment more fully
on the positions assumed by our cotcm-
porary in the srticle specified. The
Press sAys
The PREss adopts the paliGtsl creed
which declares that all lA1s Il the
United States affirmed to BE- yo-sttu.
Iional by the Federal Supreme Court,
have paramount claim to the obedience
of the individual citizens of every State.
Oar neighbor appears to intimate that
the sanction Of the Federal Supreme
Court is necessary to establish the claims
of laws duly enacted By congress 10 the
Obedience Of the people. Is This sane
ton essential to the validity Of the Fed
eral laws? Is the Supreme Court the
supreme poice Of the land, or is il only a
GO ordinate branch of the Government,
having It's own peculiar duiisa TO per-
form, and without any tight to eucroseh
upon the powers Of the other branoh
either xecutye or legislative Certain
ly tbe Federal Supreme Court possesses
no such supreme power as tho position of
our eotemporsry would appert to init.
mate, This would be to make it an alb
solute dictatorship established over the
heads OF the people fer he Many of the
laws Of the United States have never
come before The Supreme Court and yet
they have been enforced for many years,
aud have a valid claim TO the obedience
Of the people. Whom the President was
about TO enforce the draft in New York
Gle time-seryire and trcacherous Sey-
mour, Governor of lhe State, endeavored
to compel him to suspend the enforce
mont of the draft unal Che validity of
the law could be tested by tho Courts,
but the President wisely and legally dis
regarded his appeal. and proceeded to
enforce the draft. Clearly there are
cases where the decisions Of the Su-
preme Court may be disregarded,--
James Buchanan, and many other poll
iiicians Of his school, declared their b.
lief that the Federal Government had no
po,ger or authority uRd.r tie Constitution to
suppress he rebellion ly foros Of arms. Sup
pose that the Supreme Court Had given
decision, in accordance with these
views in regard TO all the measures
adopted by Congress and the President
to suppress the rebellion; the laws for
raising soldiers the appropriation bills;
the army and navy bills the appoint.
ment of Gonerals; the creation of mil
itary departments She appointment of
military Governors the confscation act,
and other measures which make up the
military policy Of the Administration:
would the Press affirm that such a de-
cision of the Supreme Court would set
aside the acts Of Congress to suppress
the rebellion, or justify resistance to
their enforcement? Il seems o us that
very great and a very dangerous error
prevails with regard TO the power of the
supreme Court, in making is not only A
Judicial, but alao a legislatiga body
United States laws passed by the agents
OF the people, are not to be ,0'5 DOM by
a few Judges who sit on the Supreme
Rgnoh,
But The Press adds
TIE Press stands committed to main
tain tbo reserved rights Of the States
meaning thereby all the rights which the
states have not surrendered 20 the Fed
cral Government, according to q fair in
depreciation Of the Federal Constitution.
Among the reserved rights of the
States so far recognized and maintained
by both the Federal Legislative and
Judicial authorues,is that which belongs
TO each state, TO dispose of the negro
slaves within it's borders without the
control or interference of the Federal
Government And without intending to
ID 80 o.. "a
question, any opinion as 10 the dispo-
muon proper TO be made Of this popula-
ton, 'es assert H0t his right icW Lel9Hg 10
ne reconstructed STATE II Tennessee as en-
'Teiy as q dI3 lsfors he rclclA0a
lheae are our views of the normal and
peaceful relations between the State of
tenine'seo and The Federal Government
AZ The same time we hold that these re-