The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1871-05-27

lnh instant, under the head Of 'tCommer-
cial, we find the following structures on the
late decision Of the Supreme Court, manipu-
inted and packed by Kaiser Ulysses the 1. -
The revisal Of the decision of the Supreme
Court of the United States is a scandal more
injurious to tho public credit than any other
even. that has ever before occurred. Al year
since, the case of Hepburn vs.. Griswold cane
before the Supreme Court, which solemnly
decided the principle that contracts were ga
cred, that debts contracted TO be paid In dol
lars before the passage of the Legal Tender
Law, February, 1862, could only be discharged
In gold. The court voted as follows if Legal
Tender was valid payment: So--Cbase,
Nelson, Clifford, Field, GTier. Yes-Dsris,
Bradley, Strong. This decision was opposed
to the interest of the railroad mpanies,
which had obligations maturing. and meas
uTes were Immediately taken TO have the de-
cIsion reversed. For this purpose, it was
necessary to appoint two new judges tsS over
slaugh the sitting members of the Court. Ac-
cordingly, Mr.. Swayne and Mr.. Miller. both
attorneys for the railroad companies which
sought "A inversion Of the opinion of the ,.ours
were nominated and appointed with the
avowed purpose Of making decision in the
interests of their employers. These new
Judges are knovnto have expressed opinl ons
In favor of the nilroad interests. An at
tempt was then made to obtain a rehearine of
the question; but the scandal was altoget aer
too great, and that project was abandoned
After the lapse Of q little time arrangements
were made to ering up other cases involving
the same question, AS If 1t had not been already
settled The farce of hearing these cases
was gone through. and the vote was then
taken With the following results on the ques-
ton II Legal Tender was a valid payment:
No-Ghaso, Heison, Clifford, Field Yes
Davis, Bradley, Strong, Swayne, Miller. The
four members not in the railroad inter-
ests vainly protested against this declaration
of thing to be law, which the same court
had last year decided not 10 DO law. This
result strikes At and destroys the authority of
the Supreme Count as a co ordinate branch of
the Governments BY reorgauizing the court,
a majority of Congress, however obtained, and
In whose interest sOepeT acting. may have any
decision they please, and the Supreme Court
Is no longer any obstacle TO corporate e aeroach-
ments. The credit of the Government is, Of
course. seriously affected by this less of oonf-
dence in it, judicial branch. All contracts are
at the mercy Of combinations powerful enough
to have their attorneys raised to the bench
This new decision of the Supreme Court is
that Congress may at any time create any kind
OF legal tender, with which all existing con-
tracts may be discharged. The old confidence
Of the public in Constitutional guarantees, to
the effect that contracts for money are sacred
n
certain weight Of pure gold per dollar is des-
t-oyed. No man nov knows how o. if at all
the obligations due him will he discharged.
The same court which has stultified itself
within year may support any proposition
that Congress under ouasitle Influences may
We believe Secretary Seward was the first
to make the public announcement that tho
supreme Court could always be brought into
full asoord and harmony with the dominant
sentiments of the country on all questions of a
partisan nature by simply Increasing the num-
SeS Of judges composing that body, and over
the old members of the court by in
creased numbers who conceded with the po-
litieal sentiments of the majority; and it now
seems TINS certain railroad corporations, who
have the err Of Grant, have availed themselves
Of the brii.iant discovery made fifteen years
ago by tbs apostle of political revolution, the
late Secretary Seward. In this instance they
and their tool. the President, could not create
the new position to DO Rled, Us that would
require an act of Congress, but fortunately
there happened 10 be couple of vacancies
ready provided foB the occasion, and they de-
NSi"ih'u " AnhhV nay NHite yeb tue bllB WIS
shining; and more bare-faced, shfuseless
outrage was never perpetratcd by
a high functionary since the formation of the
Government scandal more injurious to
the public credit than any event that has over
before occurred" II seems a little singular
to MS that while the Alta is so keeny alive to the
character OF the above transactions
it has no words of condemnation for the weak,
besotted and mercenary tool who alone the
country should hold responsible for the con-
sequences Il bewails. Neither the indges nor
the railroad companies are to blame in this
shameless tran, aesion, as the railroad corpo-
rations were doing pHt precisely as any and
MI other powerful corporations would do nm
itr similar circumstances, The judges ap-
pointed were so appointed with especial ref
erence to the decision now made. Both the
new judg. appointed wore attorneys for these
railroad con- panies, and their opinions on the
Legal Tender question were well ana fully
known when Oh ant appointed them. How,
then. ia it that he Alta California can have
the face to denounce openly the railroad com
panios and the judges whom they caused 10 be
appointed, and yet can haze no words Of con-
domination for the professeo guardian Of the
peoples dearest rights2 Gran, Is the agent of
The people, in whose hands they have reposed
a high and sacred trust, and when he sinks
the representative character Of tho WHOLE peo-
pho and becomes the mere tool and creature OF
IL, 4 n,