Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-10
li.s x.re not embraced in the original


very large majority Of the votes cast at
the election in these two counties, held
under an act Of the Legislature to take
the sense of the voters on annexation to
West Virginia, had been cast in favor
of such annexation. These two coun-
ties not being included in the latter
State as admitted into the Union by Mr..
Lincoln's proclamation OF the 10Th OF
April, 1868, separate assent Of Con-
gress to their admission was necessary.
Before that was given 1t was shown
that the Legislature Of Virginia had
never consented to the separation OF
these two counties, and Congress was
notified of that fact by an act Of the
Legislature directing steps to be taken
to test the question before the Supreme
Court. Congress then made haste to
recognize the transfer Of these two coun-
ties to West Virginia. The matter
went to the Supreme Court Of the
United States and was decided in the
interest of West Virginia Republicans
and of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad.
"And this" says Munford in his his
toricaI synopsis, prefixed to the Code
of 1873, page 20, "was the conclusion
of events, by which was consummated.
under the Himsy gauze Of law and legal
proceedings, shameless violation Of
fundamental laws, State and Federal
a contempt Of right, equity, decency
and honor, against the dictates of JUS
tice, propriety and truth-and noble
old Commonwealth that deserved high
consideration for her uniform generosity
and unequalled patriotism in the better
days of the republic, was, by such
means unblushingly despoiled."
Next we have the decisions of the
coupon cases, with which of right
the Supreme Court Of the United
States had nothing to do. We are
all familiar with those cases, espe-
cially with the regeneration of Mr..
Stanley Matthews. But we seem to
have forgotten that Mr.. Justice Field
undertook to 90 behind the record into
the merits of the preamble Of Coupon
Killer No. |, and insolently to charge
that the allegations therein were false {;
that the very opposite Of the recitals
was true. At the very time when he
went out of his way to do that there
was evidence that the allegations of that
preamble were true and when his at
tention was called to his conduct he
might have easily ascertained that
he had slandered the State, and
could then have made what repa-
ration was possible for the wrong ;
but he did not choose to do it; upon
which remark that when man who had
been a California railroad lawyer ; a
man whose brother, known to be one
of the most INSCRIPTIONS of New
York's mlliOnaires. is at the same time
the close bosom friend of this unjust
Judge, this Judge who sits on the bench
with another judge whose seattle knows
was purchased for him, as he must
know also that the fact is Of easy proof
when such man undertakes to Islander
a sovereign State he lays himself open
to the remark that not disgust at vii
liany. but something else, has stimulated
his pretended fastidiousness. What
that something may have beer
| cannot say. Whether it wa,
disappointment at failing to reach
the Presidency, which he sought
whether it was Partially for devoted
partisan who had striyen for his nomi-
nation and ran a newspaper in his In
terest, or disposition to reward thai
partisan service by judicial decree
whether it was sympathy with the
moneyed class, especially with those
of them who are aiming to make RAPID
fortunes by crooked ways; whether II
was the hatred of Virginia which IS
felt by so many more than avow it
whether it was one or more OF these
or something even more unbecoming
in a Judge, cannot say. But | car
say that no man will believe that il
was love of virtue and hatred Of vice
which persuaded this man to violate tht
prophecies of his position, SANDER
sovereign State, and outrage the feeling,
Of all her citizens.
AS little will they believe that he
any more than Stanley Matthews
thought that the judgment of the cour
was not rendered against the State
when it was rendered against its Off
GERS, by whom alone it is recognized
and by whom alone it can act. Al
well believe that you do not smother {
man when you stop his breath, o.
starve him when you take away hi
food.
need not repeat how the ele 'entl
amendment has been abolished and the
Constitution set aside by this sec
tional tribunal, not august in an
sense, but only a fair representation o
the times. For when men prefer to 81
on a board of brokers rather than on
bench of Judges, to lead in a railway
ring rather than in listening Senate
to keep a hotel" rather than dwell
| in an executive mansion-in 4 word
when ambition becomes pecuniary ra
Their than political, and men prostitute
intellect to money, OF necessity all de
partments of the Government mas
come under the rule of mediOcrity, AM
the Supreme Court partakes Of tn
general deterioration and becomes
weak and incompetent body-such a
all able lawyers know the presen
court to be.
In view Of all this is it not strange
Mr.. Editor, that eminent gentlemen arr
to-day urging that the State of Virgins
shall once more enter the portals o
this august tribunal" and agair
trust her rights to the hostile arbitra
ment she has already experienced:
Is it not stranger still that good citl
zens, who know when they think Of /
that the State has been despoiled o
territory, cheated ofrevenue, robbed o
guaranteed rights, insulted in open cour
by unworthy judges like Field, AM
blackguarded by licensed attorneys Xix
Wager Swayne-that good citizens.
say. should align themselves with bond
holders and degrade their State still
further in order to save a small sun
on the taxation which poor men an