The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-12-31
Correspondence Of the Chicago Times
The Supreme Court Decision Relative to
the Trial of Civilians by Military
s-.-+-- Courts. --.l
WASHINGTON, Dec. "a.

NAsHlNGTON, LOU ~.
The immediate effect oil the decision of the
Unitsd States Supreme Court in the case of
the Indiana 'conspirators" has been to put
an instant stop to oil trials of civilians BY
military courts, in all of the United States
There were several of these trials in progress
at tho time the decision was ended, and Pres
idsnt johnson at ones issued an order to the
secretary of war and General Grant, calling
their attention t, tho decision of the court,
and requiring them to issue such directions
to all commanders of departments % would
put stop at once to all such trials. These
orders have been issued, In spite OF the New
York Herald's denial. They are explicit
and psrempto and hence there will be no
excuse for the trial of a civilian by snilita-
~ court.
The case of DR.. Watson, of Virginia, is q
good case in point. DR.. Watfon had been
acquitted, after fair trial in the civil courts,
for killing desperate negro who had nearly
killed the DOCTORS wife After his acquistal,
General Sehofield arrested him on the same
charge, and organized milit~ry court to try
him, in defiance of the decision of the su-
preme court. From the merciless clutches of
this court, Dr.. Watson was released by the
personal intarpesition of President johnson,
while General Grant dissolved the military
court" and sent the members packing about
their business.
The above effects of this important decision
have excited the ire of tho radicals to a red
hot degree, and they anathemstize the su-
preme court without stint. The Chronicle,
in . savage editorial article, draws q parable
between OWL courts and military courts ;
makes out the vast superiority of the latter,
pronounoes the former utterly vslueless, and
argues that military tribunals ought to be
established everywhere, in the place OF the
civil courts. Articles like this appear every
day in the Chronicle, now, their object osing
and no doubt they viii have that effect
to bring the supreme court into oonsempt IN
the minds of the members OF congress, aud to
lead the latter to devise measures to render i.
subservient to the radical policy.
Your readers will see that the New York
Herald goes even further than the Chronicle
and urges that the rump congress shall abol
ish the supreme court, and organize In its
place another court, with tho same powers
bat with radical judges. This measure meets
with no favor among the radical members o.
congress. Bad as they are, they are not ye
Satanic enough to take that step.
VIII not the negro himself be q much more objec
tionable disturbing element IN our national poll
ties than the NEGRO question" can be?-Oqaa,ckt
Spectator.
As far a. our knowledge extends "ths ne
gro himself has created NO disturbance
wherever he has been permitted TO cast I
ballot. The disturbance has been created By
class Of politicians who strive to make cap
ital out of "the negro question" This olas
of people are seldom known to lend helping
hand to "the negro himself" when In wan
or distress-but taey are always pratint
shout God and humanity" though seldom
rendering any material aid or service to eth
or. If ''the negro HIMSELF wants assistanc
he generally find it among democrats. Tha
has been our experience 80 far in life.