The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1880-09-29

I
the South openly declared that il the wor,
private" were stricken out he would vote To-
the bi l.
They had no objection to paying of public
debts with chat, but private debts they though
should be paid in money.
State debts are sacred above national oblisa
tons in Southern ethics-a sovereign State /,
of higher essence than the nation, aud this wa.
the standing defense in rebellion for goinI
with their States. Moreover, State and mu
nicipal obligations are for home purposes. 1
their own State faith and credit is not invio
late with Southern leaders, what in theil
hands would be the fate OF obligations which
were the means, the cause, the memorials o.
their deieatl
But we are told General Hancock would
watch them! An angel might watch tiger;
child might attempt to divide beeisteal
with a bloodhound; a lamb might lie dowr
with lion, but the lamb would lie inside.
The peril OF Democratic ascendancy in all the
branches of the government is deeper rooted
than any measure within the scope OF existing
public questions. Statesmen abroad tIlk O
the balance OF power, and OF changing the
map of Europe. These sayings mean moi
much more than might easily occur here.
The resolution admitting Texas to the Union
in l845 provided for erecting out OF Texas ioul
additional States. The area and population
are both sufficient. The area is 274, 900 square
miles, the population million and half.
Such proceeding would add eight to the
number OF Southern Senators, and add tc
Southern power in the electoral college. From
New Mexico and other Territories, whose
traditions and preiudces have descended iron
saveholding influences, several new States
may also be made. Schemes exist not IN
en bryo, but far advanced, to obtain slice OF
Mexico. Cattle stealing on the Rio Grande
border has been and is fruitful occasion for
incursions into Mexico. Special cavalry regi.
ments of unusual size have been raised and
.tauoncd on the Texan frontier. 1t is an open
secret that not long ago much exertion and
alertness were needed to keep us out of another
Mexican war.
Without violating the Constitution or tran.
scending the usages OF the republic, at least
seven new States could be brought in, and in
the case of some of them very plausible case
conG be made. The project would become a
high party measure. Its success would assure
complete Democratic ascendancy in the nation
ior q generation at least. 1t would put the
government not merely in the hands of the
Democratic party, but of the Southern Demo-
cratic party.
Why should not this be done? Who and
what is to prevent it il the Democratic party
is elected? The Northern wing could never
resist the Southern wing in Congress were
these new States brought forward for admis-
sion. The Northern wing never could, never
will, AMI never can withstand the pressure oil
tho lar stronger Southern wing Gravitation
and arithmetic make such resistance impossi-
BILE, Just as a pound cannot outweigh ton,
Iust as one man cannot outnumbera regiment.
The past is pitiful in its warnings in this be-
hall. Despite pledges and Northern indigna-
tion, Northern Democrats in Congress united
in voting down the Wilmot proviso in order
to make California q slave State; united in
voting Tor the fugitive slave law; united in
tho mighty pei fidy which overthrow the Mis-
souri, compromise in order to fasten slavery on
Kansas and other States, and united in defeat
l. z the homestead law-all ut the behest OF
the Southern majority.
Mr.. Van Buren, at last, like Macbeth, would
/" go no iuIther in this bloody business" and
political destruction was his reward. Mr..
Douglas at last made brave sand against
sectional aggression, and he was hunted to his
grave. Caucus is king, and the avenging
angel is hardly more inc xorable in decree OF
mo- unerring in re ribution.
One OF the main bulwarks of the republic is
the judiciary, The courts OF Justice are um'
pire, conservator, citadel. The supreme court
is the final arbiter OF many momentous con.
lroversies. This great tribunal is very OBJ
noxious to Southern leaders in Congress anC
out. 1t is in their way. 1t does not always
decide as they think. The halls OF Congress
rang last year with assertion, uttered with
passionate vehemence, that he laws for pro
tecting elections are unconstitutional. Soor
afterward case on the docket OF the supreme
court, involving the validity of these laws
was reached, and the court decided then
valid. A registry in bankruptcy not long age
overruled the chief t-justice on the construction
OF a statute and SO it often happens that tht
court is not able or recondite enough to get a
the "true inwardness and profound depth
OF the law as understood on the hustings
where the moonshiner thrives and the fire
eater reigns. Mutteripgs deep and loud
breathings OF dire longings to ego Tor" thu
court, have for years been gathering il
volume.
In the House OF Representatives for two O
three years this feeling has now and agaii
found harsh voice in unseemly sinister words
Not only Kentucky, through the chairman o
the judiciary committee, MIR. Knott, but Mis-
souri,, North Carolina, and other States, as
sisted, | regret to say, by representative
from this city, have uttered language, gros
and calumnious OF the court, aspiring its in
tegrity and its decisions. "Mere drivel
moralized, packed tribunal decisions to b.
observed pro tempore only, dirty work OF il
masters, mt de political decision to order
fiery Indignation OF an infamed people-thes
| are some of the buiietipgs to be found in tn
Congressional Record, delivered sometime
| from carefully written speeches, and some
times received, the Record says, with lou
applause"
TO what does all this pave the way2 Th
Congressional Record will inform you. Oh
the twenty sixth OF January, 1880, Mr.. Mann
ing OF Mississippi-a State well-known to b
jealously sensitive to the pure administration
OF justice and the rigorous punishment Q
crime-especially hideous, cowardly murde
and maasacre-intro oduced bill to plac
twelve new additional judges on the suprem
bench. What an cay, effectual, and withs
plausible, disposition this would make Of tn
court Increased business would be such a
innocent excuse the court could cit by seven
for some purposes and meet in banquet for q
large purposes when State sovereignty an
State rights amendments to the constitutio
and cotton taxes and the like are at stake
The bill passed to second reading, and wa
referred TO committee, whose chairman
few days aiterward came into the House an
denounced the court, and said majority {
the present judges were " "hopelessly lost in
tog." For the present it would be prematur
and bunging to pass such bill; veto migf
SPOIL it, and it might spoil the result in som
close Northern State. But let the Democrat
elect their President, or rather their party
Tor the party is running who will SO
that this bill will not find its way to th
statute-book. You can all say what sort
Judges the twelve new ones would be.
But no new law is needed; natures la,
, and the statutory limit OF age at which judg'
may retire, will, during the next four year
vacate at least four seats on the suprem
bench. These four appointments will decit
: the political complexion OF the court. Wit
, what judges would the Democracy fill them
The circuit and district courts are obno'
I ious also. They are still more easy to de
, with. Like the judges OF the supreme cour
| these judges hold their places during good b
havior, but legislation, as has often been sec
J in States and in the nation, has ways to plo
. around this stump. Abolishing a circdit
district, or adding to it another, takes his Sc
a | out from under Judge aud gets rid OF hi