Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-04-12


IA tn ~ saasep u MA 10 aioIal Contempt for
the Decisions: of the Supreme Court
Doubtful Policy of the Injunction Casp.
Correspondence Of the Baltimore Gazette.E
WASHINGTON. April IA bill was fled
this mornin. with the Supreme Court in
which the S of Mississippi IS the com
plainant, praying IN injunction to prevent
the infection upon that State OF the pro-
visions of the military acts recently passed
by Congress. 1t was received ana ofoorea
to be printed. 49,.
] cannot say that there is much, il any,
diversity Of opinion among well informed
men here in respect to this movement
Doubtless, there is much to be said III JUS
LITIGATION Of the course which patriotic cit
izens Smarting under intolerablc oppreS-
sion, have deemed it their imperative duty
to pursue No ono doubts the sincerity or
righteousness Of this action. BIT is his u
time 10 b'y c0hS!n'di0"M qteSii0nS2 That is
the point.
1t is notorious that Il decision of the Su-
preme Court, If favorable to the complain
ant. would be treated Ou al sides hurtMg
p0me1' with utter contempt Ere5Y otter
| 5rWsch Of tie G0tefTnlcM would regard it as
so much waste paper and thereby sink still
! lower the authority Of the judicial depart
ment Have we not seen the decisions OF
| this tribunal i'll respect to the test oath and
/ judgments Of military courts entirely repu-
dated bv Congress u,t0 the EcecNttre., is
not the Infamous test oath still administer
ed by the officials III COngress-in every
executive department Of the Government
and i'll subordinate judicial tribunals Are
not Dr. NIudd and his follow sufferers still
! incarccrated ut the Dry Tortugas sentenced
by Il conclavo pronounced by this very
court the highest court OF judlcatuFe III
! the cOuntry--tO have been assembled III
utter violation Of law =? Are not hundreds
OF others 1T this moment suffering punish
lnent inflicted by similar unauthorized
GATHERINGS after It solemn decision OF the
illegality Of this conviction delivered! SIX
months ago :? What, then, is to be gained
by even d favorable judgment under such
circumstances
But does not this new move ''preSs the
mouruers" a little too hard ? DO we not
know that the men composing tins august
tribunal are veritable flesh and blood! la
bic to be operated upon by the influences
which, unfortunately, at this insane mo-
ment prevail universally from the Artistic ok
to Mason and DiXons limo ? Is it to be
supposed that the result Of the Connecticut
election has so far paralyzed the Radical
arm as to secure the very organization OF
the court itself, if, in q matter Of this mo-
mentous importance, it should run counter
to the wishes Of 4 controlling and unscru-
pulons power? Without further heating
the bush, is there not very great danger
that the Court will be coerced by fear of
losing their places and power for future
good to give decision 0dUerse 10 the peti-
lion. tchtcA could not be bit dcciSirc hereafter
il, better days !? In the minds of thoughtful
men, therefore, it would have been better
to have postponed such a proceeding until,
! at least. some respect would be likely to be
paid to the authority Of the Conrt some
rlerr, and by so2ac1odV having power,
coupled with the inclination to carry their
Judgment into effect. This moral influence
of decision. one way or HE other. Is not
worth 4 rush