Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-09-25
From the ARti-slaveTy Standard.l
WENDELL PHILLIPS On THE ST.
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or all the instruments used by the south
in old times, the supreme court was the
most evil -intentiOned and the most eff
cient. The people have been bred in
such servile reverence for its decisions
that whichever party got possession OF
that weapon was almost sure to conquer.
Its judges appointed for life and linger-
ing on the bench to extreme old age-as
Sidney Smith said of bishops, with
" Episcopal pertinacity y"-hsye always
represented the opinion Of former gen
Grafton. This department OF the gov
eminent has always beer the last TO come
into line with the nation a. new eras
have opened. The south never appealed
to arms until it found that this usually
formally weapon had, in 1850, lost its
power. The nation swung away from
treason like Taney's, and the ship Of
state moved on with upright keel.n
Stung to madness, the south appealed 10
the bullet-unsuccessfu
The signs at Washington Indicate that
Mr.. johnson means to try to find refuge
under the old shelter. He plans evil
IDENTIFY to strengthen himself by putting
the army into the hands Of his friends as
far as possible. But only as a reserve
force. The checkmste he intends to call
on congress is to be, it would seem, some
action OF the Judiciary declaring all the
reconstruction legislation unconstitu-
tiOnal. How dangerous snd embarrass-
ing a check that would be TO the nations
progress, every one familiar with the
history of the anti.slsvsry movement
will fully appreciate. Whether Mr..
johnson will succeed in obtaining such a
decision, nO1one knows. His coUHseloTs
evidently count upon IL: we fear with
too good grounds for their trust.
Every thoughtful man has anXiously
watched that tribunal ever since 1861.
Mr.. Stevens early saw the danger in that
quarter, and was only deferred from a
vigorous attempt to avert the danger by
the fact that the appointing power rest
ing with Mr. Lincoln, it seemed impOs-
sible to secure any sufficient change in
the character Of the bench. The action
Of most Of the judges who owe their ap-
pointment TO Mr.. Lincoln is evidence
enough how unWise and dangerous il
would have been to put IL into bis power
TO saddle US with any more enemies,
empowered to balk Us rs long as their
lives lasted.
Mr.. Johnsonis main object is to con-
fuse public opinion and divide the ranks
Ot kht &c tiAD4Atah kAAAty aANt AhpAC Ca
fectusi means could be desired than
decision Of the supreme court adverse to
congress. Round such 2 decision would
rally all the timid, tired, wesk-kneed,
half way, compromising and dishonest
elements which victory has lured into
the republican ranks. LandlOeked and
hanpered by such opposition, the recon-
struetion movement would move very
slowly and htfully forwsrd-the young
est of Us, in such circumstances, may
reach old age before it will be endsd-in
any true sense OF the word.
What measures the radical element Ia
congress will adopt to meet such a con-
tingeney time will show. We entreat
them 10 remember bow much hangs on
their action. The nation vii! support
them in going, as Franklin said, " to the
extreme verge of their constitutional
power,n for means to meet such an emer-
gency. iSIttts l0oPlta stFDrsnld Ter
NENDEIiL PHILLIPS.