The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-08-09


Chief Justice Rnffin, of North Carolina
has written q long essay to prove that the
j new Constitution of the State aslopted h.,
4 the Convention assembled under the rear;rc.,
ments of the President of the United state.
while the State was undera Provisional
Governments, is illegal and void. He declares
that the Convention was not Legitimate
body, and that the act of the President in
suggesting or ordering the call, as the ease
may be, was an act g of despotic usurpation y
He says that the Convention had no riobt
to make a Constitution, or to alter that
which We had and hane." Brought down to
IL plain point this means that the old Consti-
| tuition which existed before the Rebellion ia
| the only valid one; that the consent of tbe
Convention of 1865 to the abolition of slave
ry, and the reputation of the Rebel debt
! are all void. The consequences of sucb q
| doctrine would go so far as to revive slavery
reaffirm the right of Secession and revoke the
reputation of the Rebel debt. In fact, Chief
Justice Ruffin affirms that affairs are in statu
quo ante beIluna. With that principle, also.
will go the ratification of the constitutional
Amendment abolishing slavery, because If
was adopted by Legislature acting under
| an illegal Constitution. If Chief Justice
Rufhn is right, everything that has been done
| towards restoration since the overthrow of
| the Rebellion is wrong. All the Southern
States were reconstructed according to the
Presidents policy, in the same way as North
Carolina If the proceedings in that State
have been illegal, they have been so else
where. Slavery is not abolished the right of
secession is not resigned, and the Rebel debt
will have to be paid. We should not won
der if the doctrines Chief Justice RuAin
would Immediately become popular through
out the South. The people of that section
would willingly restore the old state of aft
fairs if they could, and now that they are
told by high judicial officer that they NAV
do so, they will exclaim "Oh, righteous
Judge a Daniel come to judgment ave q
second Daniel. -Philadelphaa Inquirer.
The Inquirer is in error in assuming that
Judge Ruffin is now the Chief Justice of our
Supreme Court. That high place is at present
more worthily filled by Judge R. NJ Pearson.
a Union man. The writer of this, soon after
his appointment as Provisional Governor.
availed himself of the benefit of the opinions
and advice of Chief Justice Pearson as to the
best mode of recognizing the State govern
ment of North Carolina. Chief Justice Pear
son then held, as he no doubt does still, that
the action of the President was legitimate
and constitutional and that the Convention
had authority to speak and act for the State
But the opinions of Judge Ruffin, from his
advanced age, his great learning, and the
fact that he had long occupied seat on the
Supreme Court bench, are invested with
almost as much influence as if he were actual
y In office. His mere ipse dirt is the law to
The great body of the secessionists and latter
lay war Hen.
Judge Ruffn was very careful not to huri
lefance at the President of the United States
Until he had obtained his pardon, and the
pardon of all his relatives. He did not COM
nence to preach seditions until he Thought
himself secure. He thinks the President can
pardon traitors before conviction, and restore
heir estates to them, but that, when he at
empts to enable a people who have forfeited
II their rights to establish civil governments,
e is an nsurper and Il despot. Under his
ardon, thus obtained from the President,
e proceeded to sell his lands and make
tile. Is it certain that these titles are good2
Who can tell what the next Congress will
o? Suppose. that body should sweep away
II that has been done. and declare it null
nd void, where will the Judge be? This
uestion furnishes food for reflection"