The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-02-25
Letter from a United States
Judge.

We find the Journal of Commerce the
following letter from Daniel +. Miller,
who was some time last Summer appoint
ed by the President, Judge of the Su-
preme Court of the United States. This
letter shows the man worthy Of the posi-
ton, and our only wonder is whether his
appointment was an intelligent one or a
glorious blunder of Mr.. Lincoln.
LETTER FROM A JUDGE OF THE UNITED
STATES SUPREME COURT.
Some time in the latter part of last
summer President Lincoln appointed
Daniel r. Miller Judge of the Supreme
Court of the United States. We remem
Der distinctly that, when the appoint
.ment was announced, the question was
asked by almost everybody, "Who is
Daniel +. Miller?" If Judge Miller is
/ as sound a lawyer as he is politician, we
must give the President credit for having
made one good appointment.
The Judge, in letter dated "Keokuk,
Iowa, Nov. H. 1862" declining on ac-
count of his professional engagements to
attend a 'grand jubilee of the friends of
constitutional liberty and of the Union,'
thus declares his sentiments
| The recent elections have gladdened
my heart more than 1 can find language
to express, for I feel that by the success
of the Democracy we shall have speedy
restoration of the Union and constitutional
liberty
I am an old Clay Whig, as you oil
know, and when the party went down, /
united with the Republicans, in the hope
and belief that it weuld succeed to all the
| loyal and national virtues of the Wing
party, and that we would have Whig prin-
ciples and policy, prevail under another
name. But I got more than I bargained
for. It was not in the consequence Of
Republican success; that the public treas
ury was to be plundered by Wholesale; that
free soil in loyal States should be cover
ed with martial law; that Stree speech y
should be chained in the dungeons of the
bastile; that free homes should be sacked
to desolation, and that free men should
be confined in its practical application to
the negroes of the South, and the Aboli-
ton wing of the Republican party at the
North No! We old Wings, in uniting
with the Republican party, did not con-
sent to be party to any such violations
of constitutional liberty.
Had the connsels of Gen. Scott, Mil
lard Fillmore, John j. Crittenden, Stephen
A. Douglas, and indeed all the wise and
good men of our nation, been needed we
would not now be afflicted with the civil
war that is upon US. They could not have
prevented South Carolina from her at.
tempt at revolution, but the Crittenden
proposition would have saved all the rest
Of the Southern States, and long before
this, at a trifing expense of money, and q
small loss of life, that rebellous State
would have been humbled before the flag
of the Union.
But how did the frenzy of the Aboli-
ton leaders meet that propositionP They
said away with it, away with it, and cruelty
all who advocate it. They farther said
let the Slave States gol We can do with.
out them, and we can speedily reap the
\ advantages of separation. When the
/ conservative element of the nation pro
claimed itself for the Union, then the
abolitionists assumed that they were the
war party, and denounced all others al
rebel sympathizers.
That the Abolitionists are in favor o
prosecuting the war for their love of thu
Union, am sure it is not the case. Thei
object is to abolish slavery only, and i
that should fail, they will again speedil,
raise their old cry of "let the Union slide.
Gentlemen, it is the mission of tn,
, Democratic party to save the Union.
| 1t has always been loyal and nationa
lparty; it has ever upheld constitutions