New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1867-05-01
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. PETI-
TONERS.

Modesty is to be commended, especially
in distinguished public men; and the mod
esty of Judge Sharkey, or Governor Sharkey,
as some call Him. we think is quite aston
ishing. The Chicago Tribune in a few
words, shows up the peculiar modesty OF
the Black Walk who have
taken upon themselves in this nineteenth
century, to mutter their lamentations over
the dead body of State Sovereignty, with
the hope of raising it to life and power
again.
1t appears that Judge sharkey has been
explaining the motives that led to the filing
of the applications now pending in the Su-
preme Court, and he speaks of these appli.
cations as having been made "Jy Mississippi
and Georgia" As the application in enc
instance was made and signed by Sharkey
himself, and In the other by Jere Black, it
is apparent that Sharkey regards himself in
diyidualy and personally as being and
constituting the State of Mississippi,
and magnanimously accords to Jere
the same important position in the
State of Georgia. He says these applications
hSiT bhC DlSt A4tbhOh VI hGdlHsL
the Reconstruction Law, and that in future
contingencies the States can point to these
documents to show that the Congressional
plan Of reconstruction was forced upon the
South against its will Sharkey's modesty
here takes a still loitier attitude, and he
claims that he and Jere are the whole South.
The truth is, the people of Mississippi and
Georgia had nothing whatever to do with
this ck-Walker-Sharkey proceeding, and
neither one of-the attorneys had any right
to claim to represent State. The people Of
those States disapproyed Of the steps taken
by the lawyers who falsely claim to represent
them, and have gone right on in the work
of reconstruction as though no such meas
ures were in progress.
His explanation of motives was plainly an
attempt to mitigate the humiliation of de-
feat. 1t is, in fact, intended as an apology:
but it is poor one. II was, if possible to
stop the work of Reconstruction under the
new law; to set up the Judicial department
Of the Government against the people; to
induce it to usurp the functions Of both the
Legislative and Executive departments, and
to assume, in fact, the whole power of the
Government. He may have been induced
by the decision in the Milligan and testoath
cases to believe that the Supreme Court was
ready to lend itself even TO scheme so
revolutionary as this, for, since the bred
Scelt decision, there has been nothing so
unfortunate for the reputation of the Su.
preme Court as its obiter dicta in the cases
TO which we have referred; and the Court
has itself to thank If its recent course EN-.
boldened two attorneys TO appeal to it, and
demand, in solemn form, that 1t should
cast aside precedents, disregard the Consti-
tuition, and subvert the liberties of the
country. These insults it has invited; but
since the decisions that so degraded that
tribunal in the public estimation, there
has been great change of sentiment
both in the North and South. Then
1t was believed by the so-called Con-
seryative party that If the decision
of the Supreme Court could be mould
ed to the policy Of the Administration, the
party Of Congress would be thwarted, If not
wholly oycrthrown. But the storm OF pop.
ular wrath and Indignation that followed
those decisions, and the prompt acceptance
of the new Reconstruction law by the PEG
pie of the South, have completely dispelled
the Illusion; 1t is now admitted on all hands
that the policy of Congress accords with
the views Of great majority of the people,
and will prevail in spite Of all obstacles and
opposition No man OF ordinary intelligence
believes that IL the Supreme Court should
grant the Black-WalkerS harkey writ
of injunction, II would have any
other effect than to delay con.
summation that Is inevitable. Under
such circumstances, the Supreme Court
could hardly find motive, even lift sought
one, for an attempt TO subyert the princi.
pies Of the government, while aware that
the attempt must certainly fail. And with
the general dissatisfaction North and
South at the Black-walk er-Sharkey
applications, 1t is not strange that
their chief author seeks to appease
public feeling, and prepare 1t for the
defeat he evidently anticipates. We would
recommend, however, that instead Of assum-
ing to speak for the whole South, he shall
speak only for himself.