Wilmington journal., 1870-04-29
Rssnect for the Law and its Officers


Rsspeet for the Law and its Officers.
The most significant and the most dan
Rerous feature by which the political re-
volution through which the country is
passing has been characterized, IS the
gradually decreasing respect shown for
the laws and the depreciation in the char
acter and standing of the judiciary. Othef
changes have been ominous enough, but
these are positively dangerous. We have
experienced these evils here, and many o!
the ills under which we are suffering are
traccable to these causes. But the lntiu-
enees at work here and throughout the
South, are not bounded by State or Sec
tional lines. The canker-worm is busy
elsewhere, and the Indifference to the
sanctity and obligations of law, and suspl-
cion of the integrity Of Judges, is spread
ing throughout the country. Nay, the very
highest legal tribunal is not above re-
proach.
We are led to these observations by the
action of the leading Railroad Companies
of Pennsylvania in regard to the payment
of the interest upon the bonds falling due
on the first of April. According to late
decision of the Supreme Court Of the Uni
ted States, a contract to pay money before
the passage Of the legal tender act could
only be complied with by payment OF spe-
cie This was the law of the land upon
April first, as pronounced Gy the highest
Court known to our form of government.
It has been repeatedly said by newspaper
correspondents that the recent cOnfrma-
ton of the nominations of Judges STRONG
and BRADLEY was influenced by a promise
upon their part that this decision should
be reversed, it having been decided by a
majority of only one Of the Judges then
on the bench. We had supposed and
hoped that this was merely political
scandal picked up on the streets of Wash
ington, but from the action of these Com
panies, whose headquarters are at or IN
the vicinity of the homes of both of these
gentlemen, we fear it is something more
than q rumor.
We quote as follows from Philadelphia
papers of April first, in regard to the ac-
tion of these Companies
The Press (RadicaD says:
The interest on the bonds of various cOmpa-
MES falling due to-day was generally paid in our
ring to stand a suit sooner than submit to the
recent decision of the Supreme Court The in
Yiduals refused to receive anything but gold, and
as they not rendered it they left the Office,
threatening all sorts Of legal proceedings.
The Age Democratic is bold and hon
est in its reflections. It says:
The prospect of such action has already been
the cause of much disturbance. Behind it the
State Of Pennsyivania, after once repudistine
the Just claims OF its creditors has meanlY re.
treated, and the City OF Philadelphia has imita-
ted the bad example. The Pennsylvania Rail
road Company paid its interest in currency, with
. memorandum promising to make said payment
equal to gold If the decision should not be re-
whose interest matured to-day, the Camden and
Amboy Railroad, the Morris Canal aud the Le-
high Navigation alone placed themselves square
ly, SO far as we are informed, upon the platform
OF tho law as 1t now stands.
The Ledger, an independent paper.
says:
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company viii offer
ats creditors payment OF their coupons i'll cur
rencyI and will also give 20 each agreement.
or obligation Of some kind, to make such cur
Tency payment equal to gold if within the year
she recent judgment of the United States gu.
p<eme Court in the legal tender is not re-
veraed. Some other companies having old OBJ
legations maturing will act in concert with the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company, or follow its
example. How humiliating is this spectacle
The Judgment of the highest court in the land
must be held in abeyance until the debtor party
10 satisfied with the law. Verify, corpora
tIon power is becoming fearfully potent.
We suppose the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company is the strongest, most Influential
and Wealthiest corporation in the United
States. 1t is more interested in the main
tenance of the laws and the stability O.
the Government than any other corpora
tion. Yet it defes the one, and conse
quently endangers the other, with a cool
ness most astonishing. It's chartered
rights and its numerous franchises depend
for security alone upon the supremacy o
the law and the authority of the tribu
nal which it defes.
Why does this Company give the wager
ing agreement to make their currency
payments equal to gold if the illegal
tender decision should not be reversed
within a year Why should it not comply
with the law as it now is, and as individ
naIs are doing What would be the use
OF the judiciary department if parties cas-
1a suits can nullify the decision of Courts
by obligations to obey them if not re
ersed?
Il hardly adds to the enormity of thi.
action by rejecting upon the wealth o1
the Company, the paltry amount to be
paid and the comparatively small difference
between gold and currency at this time.
The fact stands out that the law has been
openly defed by great corporation, and