Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-03-24
THE GEORGIA INJUNCTION CASE

The Supreme Court of the United
States on the 18th inst gave leave tC
Judge Black and the other counsel fol
Gov. Jenkins, Of Georgia, to file bill il
chancery in the name Of the State o.
Georgia, for an injunction against Gen
Grant, Gen Meade and others, restraining
them from executing the sO-called recon
struction laws of Congress in that State
in the manner they have been doing. The
following interesting and urtproceedings
took place in the court on the Doth ina
slant:
Mrs Black said off the court please, 10
the case of Georgia as. Gen. Grant and
others, the bill having been flied for an in-
junction according to the prayer of the
bill, / ask that il now be heard by the
court"
The Chief Justice-"Mr. Black, your
first motion made is for process"
Mr.. Black-"Leave has been granted by
the court to file the bill, and / supposed
process would issue as of course"
The Chief Justice-"The practice is for
application TO be made to the court to order
processes to issue"
Justice Nel5on-"Mr. Black, there are
no rules regulating the original jurisdiction
of this court, and the practice has been to
apply to the court at every step of the pro-
ceedings"
Mr.. Back--"Very well. Then / move
for process"
The Chief Justice, after consultation with
the other Justices, said: ave will order
process to be issued returnable the first day
of the December term"
Mr.. Black-"Now, if the court please,
we move hearing of our application for
an Injunction"
The Chief Justice-"Has notice been
given to the defendant ?"
Mr.. Black-"SO | understand" But,
after consulting with Governor Jenkins, he
said: "lf the court please, am not GER
tain that proper notice has been given"
The Chief Justice-"You must apply to
the court for an order for notice to the
other side of the time when the application
for injunction will be heard"
Mr.. Black-"We ask for an order fixing
the time for this hearing, and we suppose
mat o. AIC ulluOSt, not iilOft iDdU Que week
will be considered necessary"
The Chief Justice-"The court will take
the matter into consideration"
Mr. Black-"When may We expect an
answer ?'
The Chief Justice, sharply-"When the
court announces it,"
Mr.. Black, patronizingly the
court means when it gets ready"
The Chief Justice-"Yes, sir"
The result of this unexpected hitch in
the proceedings will be to delay, it is be
lieved, the entire case to the December
term of the court, while it is extremely
doubtful if even hearing is granted at
that term. These proceedings show the
great disadvantage under which the
Southern people labor in appealing to a
tribunal whose officers should know
neither party or section. Every obstacle
that can possibly be thrown in the way of
a party appealing to the Supreme Court
to test the constitutionality of the acts of
Congress snder which the Southern States
are held and treated as conquered prov
inces, is done with an alacrity on the part
Of the Justices which shows that delay,
not justice to an oppressed people, is
what they seek to accomplish. Whether
This is done from an unwillingness to
come in conflict with Congress, or in the
hope Of wearing out opposition to Com
yressional misrule, the end will probably
be the same.