The Portland daily press., 1867-05-23

The Supreme Court adjourned yesterday tiii
December, but before closing Tue session SCI
tied finally no doubt, the attempt 70 prevent
the enforcement of the becohstruuC:an In law
The history of the injunction DIS is one oil
weoLness legally and morally. When, over
the veto OF the President, Congress passed the
supplementary Reconstruction bill, the South
welded at once. Such law had been known
10 he inevitable; more than this, it was felt to
he inst There were few men in the Rebel
States who did not well know that over their
heads hung the sword; that the United States
had the right and power to impose all the pefl-
alties of treason, and that confiscation and the
division of lands were punishment from which,
at least no legal appeal could be made. The
extent of the punishment was a quest on OF
morals more than OF law of generosity more
than OF Justice. Davis, Stephens, Lee, John
ston, Hampton, were all men whose lives and
property the Government held at its mercy. IL
spared the men, it spared the property, ana Tic
terms it finally required were felt not to be So
much punishment as precautioI ,,
lore, when the South was placed uhuer eelipo
rary military rule, when the ballot was given
to the Freedmen, and the methou Vi restora-
ton was prescribed, the South was ready TO
Weld and did weld quietly, though there were
men and ionrnals who did their utmost TO or
ganize resistance. Lee, Johnston, Hampton
counselled submission; most OF the Southern
Governors advised the people of their States
to take mart in registration, and formal opposi-
tion heaan and ended with Gov Sharkey of
Mississippi, and Gov. Jenkins OF Georgia
More dangerous opposition, it is true, is en-
bodied in the brutal murders of negroes we
have from week TO week reported, and in such
bloody riots as that at Mobile last Tuesday,
but tnat may safely be left to the law itself To
subdue. nr
The sole hope of those who thought that d-
rect resistance might be made, was in oppos-
ing to one branch of the government a CO.
ordinate branch-in putting the Supreme
Court against Congress. All the tradi-
tons of the Supreme Court were
in their favor; but, US it has proved
the law is not. Even the Attorney General
confessing that his sympathies were with
those who denied the constitutionality of the
law, was obliged to oppose the suits brought
by his friends. The Georgia injunction bill
Was dismissed on the main ground that the
Court had no jurisdiction in the matter, and
yesterday the motion for leave 10 amend the
Mississippi bill, so as to obviate certain legal
objections was refused by a majority OF the
Court and the bill dismissed. Thus ends the
solitary hope OF nullitying the laws OF Con-
gress and the will OF the loyal people. In law
the question is settled, we presume, forever in
fact, it can only be illegally disputed by riot
or new rebellion. We are not sorry that this
attempt was made to set aside the RecOnstruc-
ton law by means of the Supreme Court for
its failure must convince all the citizens of the
rebel States of the absolute necessity Of sub
mission. They know now, if they did not be-
fore, that the will of the people is not to be
turned aside by bubble, and that the method
of reconstruction is fxed.-Neto York Tribune.