The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1866-10-11

or thought of suing . soldier in the field.
so the law then was conceived in fllsehood
and brought firth IN iniquty. No man who
felt tho moral obligation OF contracts aa Of
any force, took advantage Of the law. II
was not the poor who asked for the law, WHO
made ", OF who were mainly benefited by
1t, for they did not find il 80 easy 10 give
security IL was the rich with wide fields.
barns full, and cotton In store; the trader
who could turn his money 10 better account
than paying his debts with 10; the sharper.
| speeulatsr and shaver who are ant 10 fare
best ~ hard times---these were the gentry
who hAtched the "thirtlinp lawn and f,d and
i"ttened upon II. When tho law was an
nulledb there was no moro suing than there
was before, and no general eomDlainfa nf ita
abrogation ~B q, A." tells us, he has ft1ll
confidence that his plan "will stand the test
OF judicial scrutiny" | doubt that; bnt
suppose II shoGld will IL stand the test of
the Almighty's serutinyl VIII il stand tbe
test OF the law Of nature of the law
OF honor the law of conseien,,,
IL III q. A. " one of thos, man
whose whole code Of morals il wrapped mn
within the narrow confines of the Consti.
lulioh Constitutions arc hve thousand
years Younger, than the inbom PRINCIPLES
OF justice which they embody. They were
made TO govern those who govern the peo-
ple--to limit their power--to eoniine its OK.
ercise TO the objects for which IL was given
TO prevent its abuse misuse aud peryer.
SION. They are sgftgHards not statHtes for
the people. They pre-suppose that ever,
man who takes office under them repounces
ms Individuality as sooa as he assumes his
olnolal robes Ihencetorward he becomes
vice Of the peoplo-thc whole people-higb.
low rich, poor, all-with equal fidelity 10
all. Aud yet there are very many srrnat
fundamental principles of right aud wrong
which are of such universal recognition
I nat no man would ever dream of inserting
them IN Constitution. Who would ever
tliink of inserting such an article IA this III
. constitution mo Judge shall show more
favor to debtor than creditor In his Conrt
lilo shall not regulate the pleadings 80 as
10 favor tho Que 10 the preindice of the
other Would You over think "B. q. A..
y sleli clause were In our State
y"hs'liutioh, OF setting down To
each judge how he might do
bo things forbidden without VIOLATING The
And yet, sir. yon are engacod
u business ton Thousand times more pre-
osteTons than this would be- Under two
which declare that the Iegia-
Iture shall pass no law impairinQ the OBJ
CATION OF contracts, and undor one which
eclares that that body shall keep itself
'ooi anu distinct from the Judiciary, You
re- inviting then to do this very thing
coord to You, sir, benevolent motives and
enorous sympathies, but You are allowing
iell to seduce You into dangerous and for.
ldden ground. State officials should not
ily roVoro tho Constitution, aud keen
rietly within It's pale but they should do
thing which Is even of doubtful eonstitu.
Dnnlity; this, 10 render IL sacred in the
es Of the people, for no other purpose
ut what are you doing, Al @. Ar You
9 teaching the Legislature, not only how 10
nile out ot the Constitution, but how 10
limp the Supreme Court DO you not
. the awful tendency Of such teaching
'ad u IN the case which have cited. be-
70 God, and at the bar OF your own consc-
ce, did not the Supreme Court decide rightl
they did, then the Legislature violated
3 Constitution. Which Of the two is en-
led 10 your highest reverence If your
Institution is worth anything. which Of
, two II the most Trustworthy guardian
u Are Legislatures more honorable
IN Judged Is the Congress Of the Uni
States more honorable than the Supreme
nrt Of the United States Enough for
present. More anon, with the Clarions
or. A.B.L