The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-01-23
CoDs0lation.

IT. very fortunate, says the Richmond
Times, that The people Of the South eschew
politics at this time, for, as used BY those
who jump at the crack Of THAD STEVENS
whip, no honest living can be made at
such trade
When the history of these time shall be
written; when the men of to-day shall
come up for judgements before posterity !;
when the student Of American annals
shall consider our glory and our shame,
it will ELL him with wonder and surprise
to see how rapidly agreat and virtuous
nation can become degenerate. He will look
in vain, in Federal circles, for that char
.acter, integrity and intellect which shed a
halo Of renown over the cradle of Amevi-
can liberty. In the cold, dreary, enyenom-
ed tide Of Radicallsm he will find no one
to compare to WAsHIsGToN, JEFFERSON.
MADISON, FRANKLIN or JAY; nor since
the elimination Of our country have any
such men as CALHoUs CLAY or WEBSTER
stood as sentinels on the watchtowels Of
of national safety and honor.
The American people have degenerated,
there can be no question of the fact. else
how could such men as STEVENS and
BUTLER betheleaders Of great party north
ofthe Potomac? Aud how else could there
be such little respect for the rights Of the
living and the memory Of the dead, as
that Virginia to-day should be held as a
conquered province, and IN the city bear.
ing the name of the Father Of his Copn
try, the brutal, Ignorant negro should be
admitted to political privileges which are
denied to the descendants otrevoIutionary
sases aud heroes?
IT. is very grievors q ~ the victims Of
oppression, but there IS more lofty hoaog
and glory in d.yiagliAe martyr 1t the
stake, than is being q member O the vile
rabble that applies the torch TO virtue and
madiy yeiIs and oaaeas around The burn
inc body Of the dying saint eau stsad
anything except the good "plnioa q those
who hate and persecute Us Chat Eouhl Ee
leprous shame.
Tise Test Gath.
The following is d telegrapllie synopsis
Of the important decision Of the Supreme
Court Of the United States, On the TEST
| OATH delivered on the 18th.
Associate. Justice Field today deliver.
ed the opinion Of the United States Su
preme Court in, the Missouri test oath
case, John A. Cummins, a Catholic priest,
who was indicted for teaching and preach
ing without taking the oath prescribed by
the Constitution Of that State, being the
plaintiff in error. The court decides that
| tho test oath in this case is uncorstitu-
tional, being in the nature of punishment
without, trial, and in it's character e.c post
facfo and as bill Of attainder The
| judgement Of the cours below was rever
sed, with directions that the plaintiff shall
depart without delay.
Justice Field also delivered an opinion
Of the court in the ca ras-te cases OF Gar
land and Mari, who, having taken part
in the rebellion. ask to be allowed to re-
turn to practice at the bar Of the court.
The court holds that the s. Statute imposes a
punishment for a crime which nav net
have Zen punishable a. tho time tie Of
fence was committed, and it is in its ma
u,lre an e.e post ff;teto law Attorneys are
hot officers Of the United States, but of
court. and hold theft officers during their
good behavior. The court is not the reg
lister OF the edicts Of any other power.
| The applicants obtained q pardon from
! the President, which reliyes from the con
sequences Of the offence, and makes a
citizen in the eyes Of the law what he was
before it was committed. Congress can
not limit-the preregative of mercy can
pot be fettered by legislative restriction
1t followed that the prayer OF the pet
itioner must be granted. and also the pray
er Of Mr.. Mari The rule which requires
attorneys TO take the test oath must be
reseinded, and tho order lsmade according
",
Associate Justice Chase and Associates
swayne and Davis rendered a dissenting
opinion.
The UsEi,y laws.
We have SO often written on he subject
e :. : -