The Placer herald., 1864-02-13
The SOLDIER VoTE UNCoNsrIrUT1oNAL.-

The Abolition party Of California has come
to grief. The Supreme Judges nominated
and elected by them, have decided that the
Act of last winter, allowing soldiers to vote,
is unconstitutional and consequently Abo-
litionsm has fret and fumed itself for the
past week into almost hydrophobious symp-
toms. They say it is a Copperhead decision
they mean by that, decision in strict con-
formity with the constitution ofthe State; and
that only Copperheads will be pleased with
it, while their party is injured and the hearts
of true Union men made sad. They say,
Notwithstanding the Constitution, that the
times required. and Union men expected, a
different decision; and hence the Supreme
Judges have violated an implied understands
ing that their decisions should be in accord
with the pulsalions of the great Abolition
heart.
The Sac. Union--the lamb'like innocent
is pteous in its bleatings, and has under
taken to write the decision down; and as
usual makes itself ridiculous. 1t says the
Court might have ignored the letter of the
Constitution, and adhered to its spirit, by
giving a different verdict. How sagacious!
We had supposed until now that the spirit
OF the Constitution was expressed 10y the let
ter of the instrument--tut it seems not. 1t
has an ethereal part, altogether too subj
mated to be contained in mere gross words,
that judicial eXpounders must seek after
where, we know not, unless beyond our
planet. Was ever more consumnlate gam
mon distilled from the ink horn?
But the decision is recorded, and stands
the law of the S'ate, the Union and every
sore headed Abolitionist to the contrary.
With just appreciation of law and equity,
Democrats--Copperheads if you please
said from the first that the law was unconsti,
tuional; aud their opinion has been ratified
by a Supreme bench elected by their oppo-
nents.
A WEAK Thompson Camp
bell, a renegade Breckinridge Democrat, has
become one Of the BIG lights of A Abolitionsm
and is their recognized leader in he Asst M
bly,. He out distances the old line Republi
cans completely in his expressions of adhe-
sion to Lincoln's Administration and its en-
tire policy. OF course he is the leading
Greenback Of the House. Well, the other
day he thought he would perform brilliant
legislative coup d'etat and suddenly produced
a dispatch from Secretary Chase, in which
he expressed the desire that California would
adopt his greenbacks. Thereupon that gay
old legislative Soon, Tukey, of Sacramento
proposed three cheers, and a large number
of the members gave them with a will The
exhibition was remarkable, and it appears,
very distasteful to many members. But
Campbell was aiming to make point. and
moved that the dispatch be sent Immediately
to the Senate, where the currency question
was under discussion, in the hope that that
body would humbly bow to the desire of The
august Secretary. But they didn't. After
time for reflection came, it was considered
and denounced shallow trick, alone worthy
of demagognes That strategy wouldn't work
and the Senate showed their appreciation
Of the mpertinence of Thomas Campbell
and Mr.. Secretary Chase, by giving the
greenback law its quietus for the session.
Gs- The Eastern news is not important
in the way of fighting. The rebels male a
break at Newberne, North Carolina, but did
not attack the place. Meade made a forward
movement over the Rapidsn, only to find Lee
too strong for him-when he retired witt
some loss.
The European news looks warlike. The
German States supported by Austria and
Russia, are forwarding armies against Den
mark, while France and England are trying
! IN EIa ha