The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-07-12

Stanton and JEFF. Davis.
Permit me to describe one of the early scenes in thu
grand drama the last of which has not yet beei
! played.
! 1t was during the session of congress, the wlnte
preceding the Charleston convention, that grave
senator occupied the attention Of the senate on TN
state of the nation. His solemnity OF MANNER III
simplicity of STYLE his extreme views on the su9Jee
States rights all proved the sincerely OF the speaker
and recalled to memory the figure, voice and sentiment
ofthe dead Calhoun. The voiced SCENE more like the
emenaon of spirit than the uttered convictions OF the
man who was destined to be the leader of the great
rebellion sort of awe spread the senate cham
Der, and even Wade and Sumner, and Chandler listen
/ ed with an attention akin to respect Among the
auditory there was who seemed more than the rest
absorbed in the scene before him. The senate dourned
and Stanton fastened from the senate chamber to one
of the great hotels of Washington, and asked to be
shown to the room Of the venerable Governor
Medary, Of Ohio Scarcely had he entered when,
with voice full of passionate energy he exclaimed
'Medary, have just heard Davis and by all the gods,
he is the greatest of living statesmen! The south is
right, and Davis must be the nominee of the Charles
ton convention; and to that end you must come
at once to Washington and take charge of the govern
ment organ
Governor Medary suggested that there certain
reasons why such arrangement might not be accept
able to MIR buchanan, when Mr.. Stanton replied
81 will box to that will be responsible for that
will go atonce to the White House, and in two hours
from nowI will see you again."
Medary waited, Stanton returned; but for reasons
unnecessary here to narrate the scheme failed This
was the opening scene which preceded the rebellion
and Edwin NJ Stanton played the chief role as the adj
vocate Of southern rights and the especial friend of
jefferson Davis
Governor Medary sleeps in an honored grave, but
thereare yet three living witnesses to the truthfuness
of this narrative. One is State prisoner who now lies
in chains at fortress Monroc another is his aior who
declared the prisoners views to be just, and who
sought to place the man he holds in irons in the
presidential chair the third and last is the veneraed
James Buchanan. This is but IA scrap of history, but
it is not unworthy of being preserved N. Y. News.
-%s ~-------
JUDICIAL DECIsIoN.-If a recent decision of Justice
Nelson of the United States supreme court be cor
recy reported tlnay be justly regarded one of the
most important which has been rendered since the
of the late war. The point involved
in the case adudged by judge Nelson was whether
person residing in State engaged in rebellion and
who was himself involved in the affair." had any
standing in United States court that is could appear
and plead.
In this case the party pleading was the owner of
certain stock in northern corporation, and appeared
in court, by attorney, to claim his property His ca
Iacity to appear in court and prosecute his claim was
murred to- and by the court below decided adversely
to him. He was regarded either as a rebel or alien
enemy, and in either could not plead in United
Safes court On appeal this decision reversed by
Judge Nelson, who, that judge Catron is dead is,
we believe, the oldest justice the supreme bench |
We may add that member Of that court is regarded
With higher respect and Yeneraton by the bench bar
md people.
The decision in the case referred to recognises the
light of an alien enemy or rebel to appear and prose
,ue defend his rights in any court of the United
States. In the case before the court however the
udge assumes that the party concerned was a rebel
md that rebel cannot be regarded alien enemy
,ut as citizen of the United States charged with the
anne offence Of rebelng against the authority of the
government He may be punished for this crime but
wen in an indictment therefor the bill would have to
designate and regard him as citizen who seeks by
olece to oyerturn the government to which he owes
lis obedience. For this he may be punished and that
punishment may include a acknowledgements if the law
o provides, but until he is convicted he is presumed
o bennocent, and entitled to exercise all the rghts
If citizen Of the United States
Suci is the decision of Judge of the highest Judi
ial tribunal known to our laws
If tits law, binding all the officers of the gov
e1nmet it certainly conflicts with many of the iudg-
neuts decrees orders and rulings Of inferior courts
Ind officers in various parts of the country In this
state, especially, all persons charged with being en-
ragged rebellion have been excluded from the courts
nd IRON nearly all civil rights In the United States
ourt, n.ervenors claiming property seized for confs
alton rave been compelled to purge themselves of all
ympahy for all interest in all connection in the past
nd present with the rebellion before they conId bn |
eDeHon sometime before, and renewed their alleganee
tie United States they could not be admitted to in
irene to claim property seized by the United States
belonging to rebels, unless they could answer mega
1ey such questions these-whether they had ever
loced over victories achieved by the Condolences
mourned over those won by the Federals whether t
ey had ever had any sympathy for interest in or a
sentiment of favorable character for the socalIed
n
Lawyers, too who cannot give like answers to such
cannot appear and conduct suits in the
llted States courts. Gen. Butler went great deal
yond this, and prohibited all persons who did not
&c the oath prescribed by him. from exercising any
al rights Whatever-from entering into any contracts
de, businessmen from making any complaint in 81
rt except for assault aud battery or of appearing
a witness, making will, drawing check or exeT7 Il
ing any right ever possessed or enioyed by a mem
of civil society.
The decision of judge Nelson is in conflict with all
Be decisions and orders. b
is most ferventy hoped that president johnson tt
y as quickly as possible, issue the declaration of n
zee, which the northern papers declare he has been
npatlng for some time that the people NAV dis g
ftIy understand by what decisions they are to be u
Cerned, and the constitutional and accustomed fri IN
as be reinyested with all those powers and duties la
IN which the people have hitherto relied for their pr
'lnty and protection. New Orleans Picayunc ra
Trade Restrictions Removed. m
PROCLAMATION BY THE PRESIDENT. NJ
Whereas it has been the desire of the W