Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-01-04
Washington Correspondence.

/
WASHINGTON. y. c., Dee. Goth. 1866.
The Late Decision Of The Supreme Court'
and sonte Of its Coaseqaeaces;-7 The ncr'
! Pey IF Gierks,-The heather ETC.,
Mr.. EDIToR;-
| There Is not much going on here during these
holidays, and the absence of Congress, out OF
which may construct letter of interest to
your readers. Washington Is about deserted,
The members are pretty much all away. some
at their homes, some gone to New Orleans, and
not a few of those Coming from the more dis
tant States, are keeping Christmas time in New
York.
The most important topic of discussion in all
Circles in this Capitol Just now is, the late de-
cision ofthe Supreme Court. You will rccol-
lect that this issue was brought before the
Court on an appeal in the Case of Milligan,
Bowels, and Jersey. civilians of Indiana, who
were tried in that State during the war 10y a
| military Commission reasonable Conspirit-
Ors. This decision aside military trials and
all similar military proceedings against Civil
ians in states where the Civil Courts were or
are open There is much rejoicing among rel,-
els and their friends the Coppcrhead-, on nc
N'uHt VI WIS utNfSipi. IL wen ~, i'i
ii is in the interest Of the Confcdcracy. How
hereafter will any man be tried for the Crime
of treason with any prospect of his conviction :
All laws Of the United States for the punish
ment of treason, and Conspiracy to destroy the
Government acrhcncefmth nudity, and no
man or set of men, need Icar any interference
on the part of the authorities 10 check or punish
them for their attempts I" overthrow the Fed
eral Government. I1cnceforth. they may move
onward to the Contamination of their diabolical
plots with IMMUNITY for there is no law nor any
process oflaw nor any possible administration
Of public justice, that cal reach them. Where
in all the Southern Country can Il jury be found
that would convict any man of the Crime of
treason or any white mn for numbering
negro. Murder and treason may. and doubtless
will run rampant hereafter. and hold grand
carnival over the agonic, OF white loyalists and
unprotected negroes: for says the largest tribu-
nal in the land. the Courts are oren. and the
refrain of this Court Is taken up by President
Johnson and his Cabinet. and moreover the
lite liberty. anil property Of every truly loyal
man South. and every negro. i at the mercy
of the unrepentant and tood-thirsty traitors
who-nre now shouting pemls of praise in slpri-
iicatiou of thi, decision of the supreme Court.
The Courts are open ftrsoth How open:
Every body knows that the action aud dec ision
Of these Courts is but solemn mockcry. There
is no such thing as justice, and right; and all
attempts to administer justice to traitor, and
mur,ierers of Col,red men by those gatherings
in the South called Courts If justice. is but
show and farce.
The case Of Doctor Watson of Virginia which
has been published in the lapers, is y ease in
point. This mi>crcant Watson committed a
cold boodcd murder of colored man. was
tried by one of these civil or more properly UNI
civil Courts in the Old Dominion and acquitted
General Schofitld ordered military Commits.
sion for the trial of this murderer Whereupon
the President and Cabinet held ha>ty mectiig
and acting upon this decision a. law PROFOUND
ed by the supreme Court d,olv,d the Commits
sion. and the members Of the Commission per-
formed to them the pleasing dut: Of congratul-
aiing thi. red handed murderer upon his
escape
Mr.. David Davis one Of the justices of the
supreme Court of the t. ;. and the personal
and political friend of The martyr Lincoln is the
man who together with the other members Of
ion, Had Davis been trcda very different re
suit would have been reached.
This decision il not the end. II i only the
other aud more IN ,n>trous decisions
are To follow. and already Andrew johnson
and his satellites are iubilant and boast that
Congress cannot carry out it, plans of recon-
struction because the Court will annul IL laws
We shall see. The people AMI the peoples rep
resenatives are above the Court. The people
make Courts and judges Will IL. We'll TO rsmcm-
mher that they are I'M. r"@'i, dtd Some Of them
very Wcak ur'n.
The committee of Ways and Mean, have had
under consideration the proposition of raising
the pay of the clerks of the dificrnnt d part
mcnts They are understood To La in favor Of
raise five per cent. The committee of finance
OF which Mr.. Fessenden is chairman ha, no,
concluded their consideration, Of the question
yet.
The weather is extremely cold here now
though there has rs yet been but little SNOW
The Potomac j. frozen over, and soon our lee
COMPANY will IT, at work hp,i-in. the crop
The holidays are passing away quietly and
pleasantly aud the grand reception will com.
on on Tuesday next nj thu Executive Mansion
may give you some account Of this gathering
in my next.
PHARoS.