Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1867-01-08
4 new ana startling nasger.

ANew ana Startling naager.
The Supreme Court Of the United
States Is = supremely respectable
body. 1t members fold their arms
with rigid preciscncss over hearts
whose measured throbs are accelcra-
ted BY no exhibition Of wrong or in-
jastice-by no outgush Of humauitar-
ian &elmg-but which beat on with
he Judicial dignity Of the ages, rccog-
nizing no principle which is unshreud.
I'd by the cob-webs Of precedent, &C.
cepting no conditions which fail TO
present legitimate Judicial ancestry.
Wrapped as they are in the ermine
which scents Of antiquity, the revolu-
lions Of the age are to them but the
mysterious by-play of crazy fanati-
cism-incomprehensible, and repul.
Gve - innovations upon the staid and
satogethcr proper march Of dicni6cd
history. The mustiness Of aristocra-
cyscents the atmosphere they breathe.
and 40 beam Of pure American sun
light pcnctrates to the inner recesscs
If their souls. If the Judiciary is to
be a perpetual hindrance to the rro
gross Of liberal principles; if its pow
crs are to be directed to the overthrow
cf every Law which looks to the ad.
Sanccment Of democratic IDEAS: If it
Is At blew to render null and void
every measure Of Congress designed
10 assure freedom and Justice to the
oppressed; it it is to be the hand maid
Of slavery and Southern rebels, the
sooner it is legally abolished the bet
ter.
We have been led to these remarks
IN view Of the recent decision of the
Supreme Court Of the United States
that Military Commissions are upcon-
stitutional. This decision involves
vastly more than may at FIRST thought
be apparent. 1t renders the Freed
mems Bureau and Civil Rights bills
utilities. thus placing the loyal negro
again at the mercy Of disloyal whites.
II encourages rebels and discourages
unionists. The announcement Of
this decision created intense excite
ment at Washington. 1t is truthfully
regarded as the sevcrest blow We,
struck at the civil and persona! secur.
ity Of the negro. In addition to this.
the President confidently asserts that
the Supreme Court will decide the pro-
posed Constitutional Amendment un-
constitutional Such decision would |
practically annul the amendment al |
ready adopted, abolishiog slavery.
since the conditions affecting one at.
feet equally the other. There is oc-
casion here for the prefoundest alarm,
for If the Supreme Court is to break
down the barriers against treason and
oppression - rapidly as erected by |
the people, through their representa-
tives, then may We count the meas
ureless sacrifices Of four years. war
rs but the mocking holocaust upon the |
altar Of slavery.
The united conscience Of a loyal |
North has long since decided spprov-
ingly for those commissions, which the |
anomalous condition of affairs conse |
quent upon the rebellion rendered
necessary, and no counter decision Of
any court vhateyer can in the least az
feet the moral dignity and justice of
this patriotic approval BY The people.
The moral force Of the decision BY the
Supreme Court is almost entirely lost
when we consider that four Including
Chief Justice Chase) out Of the nine
judges dissent from it. The five IA
voring il are pro-.lavery in antece.
dents and sentiments. We thus find
the highest Court in the land that
august tribunal supposed TO be entire-
" removed from the influence Of poll
tics-lending its decisions to party in
terests and pandering to that spirit
which sought and endeavorcd practi-
caliy to accomplish the overthrow Of
the Government.