The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1868-02-12
NEW SERIES--VOLUME 8, NO. o.

my property from theft and from robbery
Congress has nothing to do with that.
In all my dearest rights, relations, inter-
ests, family, character. person. liberty and
life, am befenlcd BY the laws Of Wiscon-
sin: not by the laws OF Congress, at ALL
Nothing is more clear. therefore, thsh
the necessity OF guarding with jealous care
against all rncrOachments by the Federal
Government upon she just rights Of the
State Governments; for it is only under
their authority that my most precious inter
ests are secured. The Supreme Court is
organized by the Constitution for the pur-
pose of holding, not a false balance. but
idst and even balance between these rights
which the State Government secures, and
certain other rights, just as sacred, if not so
near and dear, secured to me BY the FEEDER
al Government against encroachments by
the State, against insurrection IN the State,
against invasions from abroad, and IN cons
troversies which may arise between me and
the citizens of another State-all OF which
it is the duty Of Congress to defend or Sc
cure.
Suppose Congress- under political excite
ment, pass law encroachlng upon my
rights of life, or liberty, or person. or prop
erty, which belong to the State to defend,
and that case arises in the Supreme Court
to determine whether the State Govern
ment or the Federal Government has usur>
ped power over the question, shall the Su>
preme Court hold an even balance between
the States, on the one hand, and Congress
on the other? Or shall that Court hold its
balance with one side already loaded down
by law of Congress IN favor Of its own
! usurpationsf
Upon this very question of its usurpa-
| tions shall Congress prevent even handed
justice. by placing manacie upon one OF
her hands?
Justice hitherto represented as majestic
woman, with eyes bandaged, holding pair
of even balances, must hereafter be repre>
sented with false balances in her hand, with
one eye uncovered, no longer looking
straight forward in search of truth but ask
ant and obsequious, seeking apologies Tor
the usurpations of central power.
| In our system two forces are ever strug-
Cling with each other; one tending towards
Capitalization, the othertowards the States.
Each operating without the other would de-
stroy the system. As in the solar system,
The centripetal force left to itself alone would
draw all the planets to the sun, and thus
destroy that system. Tie centrifugal force,
left to itself alone, would drive the planets
into infinite space, and thus destroy that
system also. But the combined operation
of both forces, the one balancing the other,
retains all in their proper orbits. How long
could that system last if the centripetal
force should be doubled The other force
remaining the same could no longer balance
it; all would go to the centre. It the cen-
| trifuga force we're doubled. it could no Ions
ger be counterbalanced by the other, and
the planets would leave their orbits and
wander through space.
So if tho Supreme Court. which holds
the balance between these political forces in
our system, is to be so chained and mana
cled that unless six-eighths of the Judges
shall decide against it, the decision shall al
ways favor Capitalization, how long will it
require to concentrate all the powers Of
Government at Washington, and to practi>
caIly destroy the States as part of our
system2
| And, on the other hand, if it required
SIX eighths OF the Judges to declare the
validity Of any law of Congress, would not
this Government be IN danger of losing its
just authority?
There Is another measure proposed in the
House. 1t may pass that body. 1t has
been reported By a majority Of the Judicla-
~ committee.
1t is proposed by law to compel the Su-
preme Court to dismiss the appeal of Mo
Cardle, and to make all similar appeals to
the Supreme Court impossible. | can
hardly believe such law can pass the Sen.
ate. 1t is sn open confession that Radical
reconstruction is unconstitutional, and that
they dare not come to a decision in the Su-
preme Court. -.
Pass that bill, in addition to the rest, all
the last vestige of civil law, or civil juris-
diction, is swept away, from the Potomac
to the Rio Grande.
From where stood this morning, upon
the steps of the Capitol, with the flag OF
the Union over me. can look across riv-
ell and look upon a land OF absolute, un-
qualified despotism. If1 visit Mount YER
non, and sit down by the tomb Of Wash
ington, sit under the, shadow of military
dictatorship, more unlimited than can be
found 10 any civilized country upon the
globe. Constitutional liberty is already
bound, scourged and crowned with thorns
here-here, in her own sacred temple.
! Shall the General of the army, urged en-
by the Radical chief priests, cruelty her or
this sacred Capitol Hill? 10 her own home
under her own banner? amid the SCOTS and
jeers of all the despots of the world?
Let the people answer.
Respectfully yonrs, ,.,.
j. Il. DooLirrLE.