The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-04-08
CHI ARL ES TON
MONDAY MORNING, APRIL 8, 1857.
u1ss1ss1pr1 AND THE SUPREME COURT.

MONDAY MORNING, APRIL 8, 1857.
n1ss1sslppI AND THE SUPREME COURT.
It appears that the preliminary steps TO
the argument before the Supreme Court Oh
an Injunction against the President ana
General ORD to prevent the execution OF
the Reconstruction Act, have been taken IN
Washington. We see also that in MISSISSIPPI
the State on whose behalf the motion Is
made, there great difference of opinion as
to its wisdom. Many Of her most distinguished
citizens. including some who served with large
reputation during the war, have expressed very
decided opposition to this proceeding. we 90
not purpose to criticise the action OF the state
Judge SHARKEY is very eminent lawyer; has
presided for a long term of honorable years
over the Bench in Mississippi, and IS wise
and moderate man. IF he thinks that learned
argument on Constitutional law will either per-
snade the Republican party to abdicate l' their
power or reconcile the South to o more willing
submission, and if the Supreme Court is will
ing to hear him, we suppose such an argument
win do no HARM: and, perhaps, d century
hence a philosophical student Of our history
may find in it matter for profitable study But
as q. matter of practical influence upon the duty
which lies before us; it is about as Important as
the discovery of an ancient record containing
a Greek argument before the Areopagus.
The practical public mind Of this country has
long been convinced that one Of Che Chief evils
Of our past history has been the everlasting as
constitutional .argufying which made every,
question of practical policy legal issue, and
which forced people who wanted to- do the same
thing to quarrel for ever over the way in which
il should be done. Now, if there Is one fact
which is clear to-day it is this, that the people
Of both sections have determined to settle this
question and be done with it. We, of the South,
would have preferred to settle it in accordance
with the principles Of Mr.. JoHNsoN's policy.
for that policy spared our pride; preserved
most of the old forms of ipolitical thought
and action, and did not add to the @steriai de-
struotion Of war, the shock Of ( Complete revo'
luton Of ideas. 5sEhe party who really held the
power Of the country refused to adopt this
poiicy. After two years, during which our m II !
dustry was paralyzed, our energy suppressed
our minds tormented and confused as to what
we were and where we were, the Political
struggle ended in the defeat Of those we believes
our friends-a defeat as complete as that which
proceeded the surrender of our armies. And
lust as General LEE, in words of brave and
touching simplicity, Ashich win livefor ever in
history, said to his SCARED and tatteEed veter-
ans. s.I have dome the best could for you,
and sent them home to fold up their flags and
nut away their arms, so Mr.. JOHNSON has
fought his fight and met his defeat, and neither
be nor we, if we are wise men, will violate the
terms of surrender by 3 useless and mischiev-
Gus guerrilla warfare. :...iss...::..
We might as well soy plainly Whist weth!inIk thin
honestly. We think the South ought to stand
upon it's own creed. # we are eindeed martys,
do not let us deny the principles for which we
suffer. We went into the war with. the distinct
declaration that we were exercising our right
when we seceeded.s We resolutely and ldelibe-
rately came out Of the United States. We disa-
vowed its authority, rejected its Constitution,
repudiated its flag. We claimed to be, and we
were, an Independent people, complete self
sustaining Government. j For five long years
we maintained that independence, and have
written upon the pages of history the: record OF
q national life which was as glorious as it was
brief. We were free, brave and independent |
people; but we were conquered The Confede-
racy we created vanished. ''The earth has
bubbles as the; water hath, and this vase OF
them" That great army, whose deeds were in
sll mems mouths, suddenly and silently passed
out Of all mems sights The flag whose cleaning
stars and bars were recognized by every nation
as the symbol of "a lawful belligerent, faded
from the seas and as a people we stood IN the
world Of civilized nations without sheltersav
the shattered fragments Of our State organiza-
ton. Now is.it consistent with self-respect, Is
it wise, is it true to disavow all this, oil that
made our war war for rig ght Can we maln-
tain to-day that the States which passed the
Ordinance of Secession were not States, but,
as Mr. SEWARD called them, combination OF
lawless individuals, who had usurped tho State
authority? Can we maintain that the Govern
ment we reared was no Goyernment-that |
JEFFERSON DAVIS was not the representative |
Of a lost cause, but rebel Senator more unfor-
tunate than AARON BURR in his failure, and not
as lucky in the legal acuteness by which he IS
defended? Can we to-day stand before the su-
preme tribunal of the republic and declare that
I'VE are now, what VIC have always been in
separable portions Of an undivided country
that as equal and coordinate States We have
never left because we never had the right to
leave the Union? If so what shall South |
Carolina answer when the blood of her children |
cries from every battlefield, why and for what |
have we perished?
The terms which have been granted us may |
be unwiscs may be ungenerous, but we cannot
alter them. We fought as brave men hght
who love the truth, but the war we inaugurated
has ended in revolution not merely of power
but of thought Old landmarks, old lnstltu-
tions, old thoughts have been swept away be-
fore the torrent. 'Old things have passed
away and all things become new" Let US |
bury that dead past with reverence and love,
but let us do our duty to the living. We owe
it to the children of those who died for u.s. |
that the auarrels shall not 90 on forever over |
their graves We owe it to them and to our |