Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-09
The F0urQurean=PriCe Company.

II may be OF ono only-is accorded the
mower of fastening such Interpretation
as they see Mt upon any part of the Con-
stitutlon-adding to It, or subtractir 8?
from II or positively varying It's require e.
enthusiastically making and unmaklns
the Constitution; and TO their work all
good G. lZens must bow, as q equal al-
thority with he original instrument rati-
fed by solemn votes Of the whole peoplel
Great applause) If this be so, the oath
10 support the Constitution Is hardly less
Offensive than the famous "et cetera'
oath devised by Archbishop Laud, where
the subject swore 10 certain specined
things. with an &c" added. Such an
oath / have not taken.
The power OF our Supreme Court Is
great, and its sphere IS vast; but there are
limits to its power and sphere. Accord
ing to the Constitution, "the judicial
power shall extend TO all cases IN law
and equity, arising under the Constitu-
ton. the laws OF the United States. and
treaties: but it by no means follows
that the INTERPRETATION Of the Constitution,
incident TO the trial Of these cases" e
final. OF course, the judgment IN the
ease" actually pending IS final, az tho
settlement OF a controversy, for veal or
woe, to the lltigating parties, but as a
1 precedent Il IS not final even on the
/ Supreme Court itself. When cited after
ward Il will be regarded with respect
as an Interpretation OF the Constitution
, and. n nothing appears against II, or
controlling authority; but at any day in
; any filtration, at the trial Of any ease.
/ IL will be within the unquestionable COM
potency OF the court 20 review Its own
! decision so far as II establishes any
! Interpretation OF the Constitution. II the
/ court itself DO not constrained by its
/ own Drecederts, how can coordinate
! branches, under oath TO support the Con-
| stltutlon, and, like the court Itself, called
incidently 10 interpret the Constitution,
| he constrained by them? In both in
stances the power to interpret is simply
/ incident TO other principal duties, as the
! trial OF CASES. the making OF laws,
! or the administration OF government; and
n seems as plainly incident to ease"
4 OF legislation or OF administration as 10
case" OF litigation. And on this view
I shall act with entire confidence, under
the oath have taken.
THE ERRORS OF JUDICIAL TRIBU-
NAILS.
For myself. let me say, that / hold
| Judges. and especially the Supreme Court
| in much respect; but | am 100 familiar
! with the history OF judicial proceedings
/ 10 regard them with any superstitfous
| reverence. CSensation) Judges are but
men and I'm all ages have shown a full
share OF human frailty. Alas! alasl The
worst crimes OF history have been per
petrated under their sanction. The BLOOD
az martyrs and Of patriots. crying from
the ground, summons them TO judgment
IL was a judicial tribunal which con
demned Socrates to drink the fatal hem
lock, and which pushed the Saviour bare
foot over the pavements OF Jerusalem
bending beneath His cross. 1t was Z
judicial tribunal which, against the ties
timony and entreaties OF her father
surrendered the fair Virginia as a slave
which arrested the teachings OF the grea
apostle to the Gentiles, and sent him II
bonds from Judea 10 Rome-which, II
the name OF the old religion, persecute'
the saints and fathers OF the Christian
Church, and adjudged them 10 a martyr
death in all it's most dreadful forms
and afterward. in the name OF the new re
llgion enforced the tortures OF the In
quisitlon, amid the shrieks and agonie
OF it's victims, while 1t compelled Galile
to declare, in solemn denial OF the grea
truth he had disclosed, that the cart
cid not move round the sun. IL was
judicial tribunal which, In France durin
the long reign OF her monarchs, len
itself to be the instrument OF ever
tyranny as during the brief Reign Q
Terror II did not hesitate to stan
forth the IMPLYING accessory OF the un
plying guillotine. Aye. sir. II was judi
cIal tribunal in England surrounded b.
! all forms OF law, which sanctioned ever,