Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-01-10
RUTLAND HERALD.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1867.
The supreme Court.

NuuIbi thrtdtcuinS 10 suUVtrJ anu ucs-
troy all the advantages gained to loyalty
and freedom by the results OF the late
war, has justly led TO serious agitation
on the subject of recognizing that
branch o. the government. As the New
York Herald and Washington Chronicle
pertinently remark, no one man should
be allowed to stand in the way of the
loyal States in the work of recenstruc-
ton, and though we would be unwilling
TO convert that tribunal into political
faction, the people of the North who
sacrificed so much in overthrowing the
rebellion, crushing traitors and abolish
ing slavery, are not willing that the re-
suits thus accomplished are now to be
torn from them by any one man or body
of men, whether in an executive, jude
ial or legislative capacity; and If the
Supreme Court attempts to undo these
results, then we say, and we believe we
but utter the sentiments Of our loyal
brethren throughout the nation, let the
Supreme Court be re.organized and re-
modelled, and place judges upon its
bench, who, having taken solemn oath
TO support the Constitution, will not
violate that oath and endeavor to ele-
vate to political rights and citizenship
the very men who sought to subvert and
overthrow the foundation OF our Repub-
lican fabric.
Congress appears to take this view Of
the matter, and dispatch from Wash
ington few days since informed us that
the ever-watchful Thad. Stevens is about
preparing a bill for the accomplishment
of the objects mentioned.
Congress, at it last session having
passed bill reducing the number Of
Supreme court judges, thus shelving the
appointment of the present Attorney
General to seat or it's bench, it will OF
course, to bring about the desired result,
be necessary to entirely undo the legis-
lation Of that session upon the subject
The same power that created the Su-
preme Court can, Of course, overthrow
it, and in view Of the announcement re-
Gently made by President Jonson that
the present court will decide the pend.
ing constitutional amendment and many
OF the most important existing laws PEI
alive to the restoration of the lately re-
bdllious States unconstitutional, it is
necessary for its own vindiCation, that
a radical change be effected, and speedily
too. The Supreme Court, as at present
constituted, comprises nine members
their names and dates of appointment
being as follows from which it will be
seen that five of them were appointed
by President Lincoln during his first
term 1863. S. P Chase, Ohio, Chief
Justice 1885, James NJ. Wayne, Georgia;
1916, Samuel Nelson, New York 1916,
Robert c. Grier, Pennsylvania 1858,
Nathan Clifford, Maine 1862, Noah NJ.
Swayne, Ohio; 1862, David Davis Il
linois 1862, Samuel F. Miller, Iowa
1868, Stephen ]. Field California.
The bill of Mr.. Stephens will probably
not remove those already on the bench,
but simply provide for the appointment
Of an additional number of judges.
These will have to be appointed by Con-
gress, as ifleft to the appointment Of
the President, it would simply be leap
ing from the frying. pan into The fire,
and our condition would be in no man
ner bettered. Whatever the provisions
of Mr.. Stevens bill are, they can GER
tainly place us in no worse condition
judicially than we are at present, and
the whole country await with interest
further information as to the details Of
the bill.
THE Pacific RAILRoAD.-The report
of the Government Commissioners on
the ninth section of 35 miles of the Un-
ion Pacific Railroad west from Omaha