The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-09-26
WENDELL PHILLIPS.
w hat lie says About tho 8 pr ne Court.

From the Anti Slavery standard.
Ofall the instruments used by the south in
the old times. the supreme court was the most
evil intentioned and the most efficient, The
people have been bred in such serivile rever-
ence tor its decisions that whichever party
got possession ofthat weapon wasa almost sure
to conquer. Its judges, appointed for life,
and lingering on the bench to extreme old
age.-ns Sidney Smith said of bishops, with
" Episcopal rertinacity. have always rep
resented the opinion OF . former generation.
This departmel tof the government has al
ways been the last to come into line with the
nation as new eras have opened. The south
never appealed to arms until IL found that
this usually formidable weapon had, in 1860,
lost its power. The nation swung away from
treason like Taney's, and the ship of State
moved on with upright keel. Stung to
madness, the south appealed to the bullet -
unsuccessfully.
The signs at Washington Indicate that Mr..
johnson meant to try to fpd refuge under the
old shelter. He plans evidently 10 strength
en- himself by putting the army into the hands
of bis friends as far as possible. But only as
a reserve force. The checkmate he intends
to call on congress is to be, it would seem,
some action of the Judiciary, dec garing all the
reconstruction legislation unconstitutional.
How dangerous and embarrassing check
that would be to the nations progress every
one familiar with the anti slavery movement
vi Il fully appreciate. Whether Mr.. johnson
will succeed in obtaining such a decision, no
one knows. His counselors evidently count
upon it; we fear with too good grounds for
their trust.
Every thoughtful man has anxiously
watched that tribunal ever since 1861. Mr..
So II, . 10 Stnk
and was only deferred from a vigorous at
tempt to avert the danger by the fact that,
the appointing power resting with Mr.. Lin.
coin, it seemed impossible to SECURE any suf-
-fcient change in the character Of the bench.
The action of most of the judges who owe
their appointment to Mr. Lincoln is evidence
enough how unwise and dangerous it would
have been to put it into his power to saddle
us with any more enemies. empowered to
balk US as long as their lives lasted
Mr. Johnsons main object il, to confuse
public opinion and divide the ranks of the
republican party. No more efectual means
could be desired than decision of the su !,
preme court. adverse to congress. Round
such decision would rally all the timid,
tired, weak kneed, halfway compromising
and dishonest elements which victory has
lured into the republican ranks LandIocked
ana nampered Dy Such opposition, the recon-
struction movement would move very slowly
and htfuly iorward-the youngest of US, in
such circumstances, may reach old age be.
fore it will be ended-in any true sense of
the word.
What measures the radical element in con.
gress will adopt to meet such contingency
lime Will show. We entreat them to remem-
Der how much hangs on their action. The
nation will support them in going. as Frank
lin said, ITO the extreme verge of their con
stitutional power for means TO meet such
an emergency. Salus pcpuli suprema ler.
WENDELL puIIIJps