Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-01-14
PUBLIC LEDGER.
THE SUPREME COURT.

-
In the Capitol at Washington are now
assembled the Judges Of the Supreme
Court of the United States. For outward
dignity and decorum this sanctuary OF
Justice is without parallel in the world.
The Judges are all imposing men, and
Chief Justice Chase the most dignitied
of them all. Parallel with the bench IS
the desk of the Attorney General, and
Mr. Stanberry's tall and gentlemanly ap-
pearance chimes in admirably with the
lofty presence OF the Judges, and with
the serene aspect of the courtroom.
Yet, if it were not for the presence. OF
Mr. Chief Justice Chase and few other
new era Municipalities, the spectator
might stiii fancy himself amid the Del
milan oracles of the old slavery era.
Caleb Gushing, Jeremiah Black, and
other relics of the past ~ ..G
New era" Judges All the old
Judges, all the old books, all the old
decisions, all the old traditions, all the
old men Of our country, 70 pass away,
and be succeeded by a new order Of
things-new Judges, new books of law.
new decisions, new men, new practices,
and a new bible According to our
Jaeobins, the Government has been
changed by the war-changed to cores
pond with, and consummate the policy
of the abolition party formed thirty
wears ago, when it first lifted its head out
from the dismal swamp Of republican an
archy Fortunately for their success, the
South assaied them before they we're quite
ripe, quite prepared to take the offensive.
They, if taking that could not have
succeeded. They could not have forced
the Northern people into an appeal to
arms to destroy the liberties and property
of the South They never did love or
respect the Government They were
always its enemies, and prayed for moth
ing SO earnestly as for war in which
the Constitution the object Of their pro-
found hatred-should be crushed under
foot. Their prayers have been answered,
their petitions granted. They boldly an
pounce the end of the old Constitutional
era, and bless heaven that it has been
succeeded by one wholly new. How
they. despise MARSHALL, KENT, STORY,
fancy, ami all the great luminaries Of
the lawl How they despise WEBSTER,
d.
CaoArE, WRIT, JoHEaoy, PHcKsEY, and
all the illustrious defenders of the Con-
stitutioni How they hate the volumes
which announce the law of the land
that law from which there is no appeal
but to revolution CUSHING and BLACK
--..relics Of tile past What past? The
days and years when the Constitution
given US by our fathers was the law Of
our conduct when order was the rule,
and law and justice the guide ? On the
ruin of all that was glorious and just, q
new set Of men, headed by SUMNER, STE-
VEINS, PHILLIPS, FoRSEY, BRowNLow,
and others no less destitute Of political
virtue, stalk forth and tellus that new
order of affairs is to be instituted. They
manage the locks aad dams Of the cur.
rent Of party politics. They give law to
a people already mad with passion, and
control the ballotbox. CHASE, with a
few determined followers, sits among the
Judges TO construe and combat tbs old
and announce new rules Of law. If tbs
old Government was an object of hatred
and should be overthrow, consistenc,
would inquire, why are the people of thu
South so terribly prosecuted foF attempt
ing to overthrow it, or Offering thu
Jacobins an occasion for performing tht
work which Southern arms could no
affect? This is the spirit tina
rules the land. The Supreme Cour
is against the order Of the new era
Five of them are among the relics O
the past, and the difficulty of getting
them out Of the way is the lion in the
path of Jacobinism. Propositions look
ing to that end are already before Con
gress. By consolidation of Circuits
one or more Of the Conservative Judge
can be, it is supposed, dispensed with
Then, there sill be no bearrier agains