The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-03-15
HABEAs CORPUS-AN EXCEPTION.

| It is somewhat remarkable that every Judge in
the Confederacy, State or Confederate, before
whom habeas corpus cases have been brought, in
vovng the question of the constitutonality of the
act Of the Confederate congress, of January 5th,
1864, putting an end to the exemption of persons
by substitution in the army, has sustained the law
and affirmed its constitutionaty, with the single
exception of Judge Pearson, Of North Carolina,
who has recently. given adverse decision.
1t has also been remarked, and it is not little
remark-worthy, that in no single case brought be-
fore Judge Pearson, to which the Confederate
Government has been party, has he failed to de-
eide against it. So uniform has been his course,
so wel-known and decided are his procivties, that
no matter what the case may be, the public are
always prepared for the same result-a decision
against the Confederate Government. Men see
this, and say this. Whether this prevailing i'm
preston, apparently we'll founded, is calculated to
add to the confidence reposed in the Judiciary, and
the reverence entertained for its decisions, is
question that seems to to admit of but one an
swer, and that in the negative.
1t is matter of deep regret, but we fear it is
matter of too much certainty, that the supreme ju
dietary Of North Carolina does not now command
that respect nor enjoy that confidence which per-
tanned to it in the days of Castor, Rufhn and 9TH
ers. No one doubts the ability of Chief Justice
Pearson. We, at least, wish to say nothing against
careful in that respect, but it would be only hy-
pocrisy for us to pretend confidence in the g. Us
impartiaity, where the Confederate Government
is concerned. This may be readily accounted for
by remembering the known and bitter preiudices
of that officer, without attributihg any more OBJ
jectonable motives, though this is enough to rem
der him capable of much Darn at this time.
L is known that Judges Battle and Manly, COM
posing the majority of the Supreme Court, differ
fhof thorot fbo
Court will sustain the Government and overrule
the Chief Justice. The. course of Chief Justice
Pearson may, for time tend to embar-ass the
tion Of the enrolling officers, and even to threaten
US with collision between the State and Confed-
crate authorities, but it will not alter the case
finally. The law will be enforced by the officers,
and sustained by the Supreme Court, C. j. 4. NJ
Pearson to the contrary Notwithstanding.
We see that Chancellor Carroll, of South Caro-
lima, has this week delivered an elaborate opinion,
sustaining the consttutionality of the act of the
Confederate Congress, putting into the army per-
sons heretofore exempted from service on account
of having furnished substitutes WI Journal
No MORE INSULTS TO RICHMoND.-Gen Bragg
has determined to order fifteen hundred cavalry
to be permanently stationed around Richmond
Such force, picketng the roads, will effectuaIly
protect the city from the insults of raids, as well
the country from their juries Such caval-
ry force in front Of a raiding party, will always
check them, until the cavalry from General Lees
army can come up.
Such force has always been wanted here and
the fact that no cavalry was permanently attached
to the Richmond defences, has encouraged the
enemy in making these raids The presence of
these fifteen hundred cavalry will relieve us from
raiding parties
If General Hampton, with his "six hundred"
L
Fredericksburg, overtake and capture many,
what damage would fifteen hundred fresh cavalry
men have done under such leader ?-Richnaond
Enquirer.