Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1867-01-18
The Supeme Court and its Powers

The Supreme Court consists OF nine
members. James NJ Wayne of Geor-
gia, was, appointed in 1885. and isa Re-
publican. Samuel Nilsson, of New
York, was appointed in 1915, and Is
n pro-slavery Democrat. Robert &.
Grier of Pennsylvania was appointed
in 1916, and lisa pro-slavery Democrat.
Nathan Clifford, of Maine, Unsupported
in 1853, and is a pro slavery Democrat.
David Davis, Of Illinois, was appointed
in 1852, and was q Republican till lie
followed Andrew Johnson into the
rebel camp. Noah NJ. Swayne, of
were appointed in 1862, and are Repub-
was appointed i'm 1868, and had not
enough Republicanism in him to keep
him from following after Johnson. -
Salmon p. Chase, of Ohio, Chief JUS
tice, was appointed in 1863, and is Re-
publican. David Davis was chosen. rs
the spokesman of the pro-slavery five
ninths OF the Court, in tho recent Mill
igan decision. 49,. ed. H..
The excitement just now in reference
TO the Supreme Court is not Occasioped
ny the Mi!iigan decision especially but
that decision gives n clue as to- what
decisions will be given upon other inn
portant questions hereafter to be pre-
scented before it.
Andrew Johnson and the copper
heads declare that the Court will, when
the question is brought before it. de-
clare the exclusion OF the rebel States
from the representation under
ony pretense whatever, as unconst;tu-
tionnl; that all legislation done in the
absence of the Southern States is un-
constitutional; that the Constitutional
Amendment abolishing slavery is I'M
constitutional; and the first we know,
the Constitution itself will be declared
= unconstitutional" go
Bat there is no real occasion for alarm.
1t is q great mistake to suppose that
the cause of freedom on this continent
depends on that odd copperhead. The
just God who presides over the destinies
of nations, has not left the helm of
affairs in the hands of the devil And
por del. if the PEOPLE understand
themselves, and they think they do, the
PEOPLE are the rulers Of this land, and
propose to remain so. The popular
will is not to be nulli,ied 10y one man,
whether he sits in the White House or
on the bench of the Supreme Court. If
David Davis is supreme ruler--which
Andrew johnson is not, for the Sen
nate can refuse to confirm his appoint
ments, and two thirds vote can over
ride his yetoes-if the majority of the
supreme Court undertakes to settle
political questions in defiance of the
PEOPLE, an affectual remedy will soon
be found for despotIsm so odious.
The Supreme court is the ultimate tri-
bunal established by the founders Of
the government; but there is q higher
law in the hearts of the people, which
even Supreme Court decisions must res
pect, or be nuilified .<a@ -tsssa
We have heard suicide argued from
scripture, by al ingenious juXtabositio
Of texts: "Judns went and hanged him
self -"Go though and do likewise"
SO ingenious men can sOr: ont and patch
together words from the Constitution
til! they are made to mean something
very different from the plain intent and
spirit thereof. AS specimen Of such
sophistry, Judge Dvis' denial Of the
power of Congress to provide for. the
punishment OF conspiracy against its
life, is plausible enough. SO was Judge
Taney's Dred Scott decision. D.staste-
full as it must be to both, DRIED SCoTT
and MiLLIGAN must go down to pos
tetky together. lANES, StartlnE upon
his hypothesis, demonstrated, to the
of the South and the Demo-
cratic party everywhere, the doctorine
that all men have an equal right to life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness,
to be an unconstitutional lie. DAVIS,
standing upon his hypothesis, has DEM
onstrated to the satisfaction of every
enemy of the government, that the
nation is constitutionally helpless in
the presence OF rebellion. Legally,
there is no appeal from either. Yet the
DRIED SCOTT decision helped rather
than hindered the cause OF freedom,
for 1t reused the public mind to "a just
apreciation of the fancy theory of gov
and hastened the downfall
of the Great Iniquity. And tile MIL
IGAN decision will have the same
effect. From it we appeal to the moral
sense and patriotism of the People. /
The Supreme Court will soon cease to
be an object of respect, and become an
object OF contempt, ii its decisions in
tlcate that it deems its principafunc-,i
ton to be-to hold the Nations hands !
Thil3 assasins cut its throat!