ington, amid those corrupt and wicked judges, and in the
name of history which they falsified, of law which they profaned, of justice which they mocked at, with a manliness which Story never showed on such occasions, he pronounced his sentence against the wicked Court. I remember his former conduct with indignation and with shame; but no blackness of the old record shall prevent me from turning over a new leaf, and with golden letters writing there—In the Supreme Court Judge Curtis defended once the higher law of right.
I am truly sorry his manhood did not stay by him and continue his presence in that Court. The defence of his resignation is found in the inadequacy of the salary. It was M500 when he took it, *6000 when he left it. A pitiful reason—by no means the true one. Samuel Adams was a poor man ; I do not think he would have left his seat in the revolutionary Congress because more money could be made by the cod-fishery or by privateering.
II. The Dred Scott decision was the first enormity. The next is General Walker's filibustering expedition. I regard this as the act of the Government. "What you do by another, you do also by yourself," is a maxim older than the Roman law which preserves it. I am not inclined generally to place much confidence in Walker's word, but he sometimes tells the truth. In a recent speech at Mobile, he says he had an interview with the President, last summer, and declared his intention of returning to Nicaragua: his (filibustering) letter was published with the President's consent. A member of the cabinet sought a confidential interview with him, told him where he might go with safety, where only with danger; and added, "You will probably sail in an American vessel, under the American flag. After you have passed American limits, no one can touch you but by consent of this Government." A cabinet minister told one of Walker's friends, if he made an alliance with Mexico, and attempted the conquest of Cuba, "means shall not be lacking to carry out the enterprise." Walker says the Government arrested him, not because he attacked Nicaragua, but because he did not attack Mexico! I hold the Federal Government responsible alike for the conduct of Walker and the Supreme Court.
But omitting particulars, looking only at the general
