The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-04-16
Our Washington Letter.
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS OF THE DAILY NEW

. q .
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS OF THE DAILY NEWS.
The CAP1rAi, April IS, 1867.
| TIE SUPREME COURT PETrr1oNED TO ENJoN rHF
PRESIDENT
Nothing has lately attracted public inquiry and
presence to the United States Supreme Court sc
much as the arguments made yesterday before
that tribunate in behalf Of Mississippis petition
Tor writ Of injunction against the President, as
tion Law in that State. Friday being the regular
day for tho presentation of 1notions legal circles
and public-minded men, generally, were in attend
ance in great numbers to hear tho argument upon
tho issue in question. The bar and encircling
aises presented an array Of distinguished person.
ages not ordinarily brought together. In favor
table cxempidcation of the saying that the devil
always has an eye to courts, stood fmpeacher ASH
LEY of the lower House, attitudinizing and frown-
ing Fundamentally in rear OF the Bench itself.
The Georgia injunction case, which comes MP
after the disposition of its sister suit, was fully
represented by it's counsel, ready and vigilant to
in the present instance and which, in c'l probable
ty, will be applied to their own side of the ques-
tioni mt q later date. :. - n
Ior the case IN point appeared for the petitioners
Governor Sharkey and Robt. J. Walker. Opposed
stood stansbe1ry, the law adviser Of the Admins.
tration- The latter, Of course, had the opening of
tho argument, and q rare and powerful plea it
was Stansberry has the very air and presence OF
great lawyer. Grey, grizzled, and angular. As
1 u ssn5RS H. ~; !. sa a ssnet4lly
With face as dry and pointed as his logic Keen,
heavily arched eyes, and a certain conciseness OF
utteranse that is cminenuy source Of satisfac-
General looks the craft of which he is ono, and
conveys to the observer strong sense of power
and professional eminenco. He has not advanced
to restrain his chief in the exercise Of the late Con-
gressonal enactment before it becomes evident
that the advocate is entering upon new ground
Of jurisprudence, so far he is concerned. but is
advancing with all the rapidity and huency of pre-
Judgment and careful research. The whole theory
OF the case is instantly made to turn upon thai, to
US novel consideration Of the inviolate nature of
tho Presidential Office. We are told that ssAn.
drew johnson, Of Tennessee" garbed in the ma
glster1al robes, becomes, for the term Of Office,
person and name too sacred either to associate
Us party principal IN SUIT before the Courts
or us the subject Of q writ of attachment or o,so
oaT1an1o: me petitioners must learn that there
mlBht exist exceptional cases. where the possess
sion OF n right did not thereby insure a remedy
And this was one of them. sss 5l ~
The pedestal Of the Presidency was raised above
1no posltlvc assertion OF authority By the courts
nnd r as the law adviser of the present head or
ing Government, would 80 instruct his chief, and
counsel prompt refusal to comply with any writ Of
attachmcnt winch this Court might direct against
hs person. True, there was 8 tribunal which could
CAKE authoritative cognzance of the Presidents acts
and demeanor in Office, but that came in no closer
relation to this Court, than by the provision Of the
Constitution which provides that tho Chief JUS
tico shall preside over the Senate during the tnnn
it may resolve itself into high Court Of ,mpcach-
msns; After being stripped or his robes of Office,
anl deprived Of his dignity as the Chief Ruler Of
the nation, by this latter Judgment, Andrew john
son, or any other occupant Of the executive chair
VINO might happen to be mpeached, could be
brought before the Supreme or other Court, not
to be dealt with as President, but for sentence
as citizen, who had betrayed his trust, and as
man who had sinned against the State.
This portion of the Attorney Generals arnument,
was lneSpress1bly tine, and evoked not little dra-
malc sensation among the distinguished legists
within the bar, and the straining and attentive
crowd, which encircled them. Tho Bench Itself
appeared unnsualiy animate. even Justice Fields
alternate maps and yawns being ftfu, and not en-
tlrely accompanied by Inconsistencies. ~;
II RoHERT =. WALKER FOR TIE: PETITIONERS Ss est:$
Mr. Stansberry occupied about an hour in open-s
ing 5he Argument; MIR. Walker held the floor;
hcult even for thoug ghtful-minded men Witlain and
without the bar to repress smile at HE ineyi-
tab!e contrast that would force itself upon the
or the two advocates. Il Il. Stansberry had the
lengan @ ana drectness OF, a Parrot gun, Walker
may 1!t certainly be classed among those powerful
Atue engines, the Cohorn MORTAR His shots are;
aiMays dlrected upwards and in tho fall lare sure
e burst unexpectedly right in tho enemy's midst.
asee Is od iessZs psss ts
counsel of Go, ernor Sharkey ana the long
comcal lpointel shells Of, the AttorneylGener
mpst needs be aimed with more than ordinary pre-
I In the latter instance the argument was moro
dlscursive, because it not only analyzed the OPEN
ing plea, but reviewed nearly the whole field OF
precedent and analysis embraced in the petition.
1t was capital commentary upon the character of
republican institutions as compared with monar-
chcai customs and immunitics. s1That the King
can do no wrong, " was shown to have no shadow
OF adaptation to the acts and discretion Of our
Pres1dent. a British crown, indeed might: set
aside the mandate Of England's court, ir, indeed
such tribunate had the temcrity to issue process
against the sovereign, but that was bench whose
very name Of the Queens Court" denominat:d it's
subord1natloD to the executive. " si5H i'F% -5g
me whole Argument was replete with quotations
from eminent jurists and precedents in point pro
nounced 1t is true, with the simplicity and silrill
treble OF child, but with f1uency and exhaust.
Less energy that indicated the fire and master IN
telect within If the Bench had been wakePul and
attantye before, it was absorbed and doubly
watchful now. Pencils were in reqnisition, and
their Homors were pleased to make frequent memo
randa OF the opinions quoted and referred to- as
e. 1ndefa5igable advocate progressed. Charles
0Connor, Ex-Attorney General Black; :Reyerdy
Johnson, Ex-senator Cowan,. Sharkey,s Jenkins.
Stansberry, all followed the line of argument with
9 vigilance that was proof in itself how well
the way OF advocacy had been chosen. .ss :sa,s7-
Though not complete. the argument in question
is already classed among the finest pleas that have
been made before the Court; and it's resumption.
upon the opening ofthe Court on Monday win nm,
doubtedly be attended with even more evidence
Of public interest than at the outset sS4 VIDEX sa
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