The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-04-26
[From Donn Piatt, in Cincinnati CONNIE, cial. |
FRUITS OF RADICALISM.
President Grant's Packing of the
Supreme Court of the United

President Granes Packing of the
Supreme Court of the United
States.
Tile evil effects attending the attempt
to pack the United States court by the
executive, are already manifesting them
selves. You have read of the scene that
occurred in the courtroom on the morn
ing of the 11th of this month. l was
not present, but gentlemen trhu were,
tell me that so unusual an occurrence In
SO quiet and dienified body was very
startling, not to say painful. 1t has been
heretofore relief to pass from the tur-
bulent scene and foul atmosphere Of the
semitic and house, to the quiet dignity
Of the courtroom, where the best legal
minds and the purest characters are col
lected TO hdjudicate upon high questions
touching the rights of citizens. One
feels as if in all this drifting of the gov
eminent that leaves one confused, and
sick, hnd uncertain, that there is here,
at least, one grave organization that
holds it's own, and stands secure upon
the deep foundations the fathers of the
republic designed.
This sort OF praise is not popular, of
course We have ideas Of progress that
mean change-and if any obstacle pre-
scnts itself to the current, however ttr
bulent and dangerous, the first impulse
is its removal When States under our
constitution can be reduced to military
dependencies and governed by irrespon-
sibie epaulettes-when the test of loyal
| ty to the government has come to be the
support of party-why should the su.
preme court be left to retard or render
void the edicts OF party leaders, and
stand in the way OF corrupt factions p
Let it be so modified that it will, like the
executive, record only the edicts of the
senate
There was q time when the senate
stood like the supreme court, a great,
calm, dignifed conservative body. But
since wealthy men have bought their
way in, and poor, needy representatives
of. faction have gone there to grow
wealthy through the sale Of votes and
influence, the senate has ceased to be the
senate of the fathers, and is now the
more dangerous arm Of the government,
because its members are the more Sc
cure in their positions. What money
obtained, money can keep; and the long
term allotted each affords full time for a
corrupt security of his continuance
These senators seem to accept and re-
cognize their degradation. Ten or twel.
We years slnce, l could not have writteH
the above paragraph and told the truth
Had | put to paper. an attack of half the
j severity or one containing any imputa
ton of corrupt practices, l would have
met with quick and effective resentment
remember when Hiram Robinson pen
: ned, under political excitement, h brie
paragraph headed "Look out for thu
senate,' and in twenty fsur hours aftel
| its appearance, was under arrest befor,
the insulted body, and forced to purg,
, himself of the contempt. The alacrity
with which my friend complied wa.
, somewhat amusing.
!, This sort of thing can not now b,
{ done, because public opinion would no
: sustain the senate-and in that contes
between the journalist and that angus
: body, the latter would probably be callet
upon to do the purging. 1 would b
glad to see the issue made up betweel
, the illustrious senatorial Fogbank an,
) some quill-dliver The contest no,
+ would be very entertaining, and pcrhap
: instructive.