The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-08-01

~ We remember very distinctly when
the Copperheads, then, as now, calling
themselves Democrats, were great stick
lers for the authority of United States
Courts and Judges. Indeed they carried
their devotion much farther and even made
United States Marshals and Commission
ers objects of most devout adulation and
worship. Most persons have had reason
to note the alacrity of the "Union- savers"
in years past to proclaim the infallibility OF
these Courts and officers and to denounce
all who had the temerity to hint that it
was just possible that some of them might
err in opinion or action. To doubt the JUS
tice or wisdom of Court of the United
States was, in their eyes, an "unpardona-
BILE SIM" deserving universal e1ecrations
But in these days of treason and REBEL
ion, of enormous crime and wickedness, of
peril to the country, of sorrow and gloom
to freemen everywhere, great change OF
opinion is manifested by these identical
men. Then the United States Courts were
to perpetuate the Union and the rights of
the people," Nov, the State Courts are to
do the work! Then, the Federal Judiciary
were infallible, Now, they are all corrupt,
ignorant, incompetent-the mere tools of
executive will and the instruments by
which the Administration seeks to destroy
popular liberties! All the rectitude, abili-
ty, learning, judgment, decision and pat
riotism to be found on the Bench, have de-
serted their former seats, and have taken
Judgements in the State Courts, Judge
McCunn has become the Copperhead mod
el and authority. He is the Copperhead
exponent of the judicial character and con-
duct. The dicta Of the City Judge of New
York are of more worth to Copperheads
than the deliberate decisions of the highest
Court in the land. The friend and sssoci-
ate of the Observation-Disclosures expelled
from the army, the defender and friend OF
New York rioters, has grown suddenly in
to the great arbiter of law, the interpreter
of the constitution, the savior of the peo-
plel
Itwould trouble stranger to the nature
of the Copperhead to account for this won
derful conversion. But those who under
stand the reptiles find no difficulty in. ex-
plaining it. In former days the purposes
of the traitors were aided by the Federal
Courts. Now, there is hope Of aiding in
the destruction Of the Republic by the as
sistanoe of such villains as MoCunn. BY
the aid of one or two such miscreants In
each State they have had hope to impede
the action of the Government, and thereby
assist tho existing conspiracy against the
Union and popular rights. That Ii tho
cause of the change. That is why Copper
heads wish State Courts to decide what the
constitution declares they shall not
nS~ Mr.. Justice McCunn, the distin-
zuished City Judge of New York. who has
been. airing his Copperhead propensities
by the issue of writs of habeas corpus, and
the prompt release of every traitorous vii
lain he, by that means, could aid, has al
last got his ''quietus." On Saturday las,
the Supreme Court of that city alta Genera
Term, decided tina: this Judge had no au-
thority whatever to issue such writs, and
Judge McCunn, in 80 doing, has all the
time been mere usurper. So the Judges
vocation is gone-horse thieves, house
burners. pickpockets, robbers, murderers
traitors, deserters, the whole rabble of out
laws. who have confidently relied on theii
friend and associate, will mourn over the
fact. Every body else win be delighted.
re- DEGREES of condemnation wer,
made in the District Court of the United
States at New York, on last Saturday
against the British steamers Peterhoff
Springbok, and others, and also agains
their cargoes. The value of the property
was about ono and half million dollars.