The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-12-18
rhe Slave Gaze In the Cs.ited States Supreme
Court

Court
wAsENGTos, Dec 1T, 1855.
In case NO g, ssThs United States vs. Brig Neurea,
Koher, CLAIMANT Juc &c Gricr delivered opinion
versng the decree Of the United States Court for the
Northern ds.rics o. C3norns remanonS tho c.se for
further proceedings, In conformity vita the opinion Of
this Court.
The csys Of Dred Scoa vas resumed this morning.
George T. Curs Of Boston, appeared ASSISTANT
sci for p,alntiG
VI. Reverdy johnson made powerful argument for
defendant He stated that ne saould address himself
sD,y to the question Of the copsttucnaIiy Of the Mis-
sourl compromise First, however, he attempted to
show tina. the constitution of the United Satea
designed TO consider black men as ctizecs He maintain
cd throughout that maa have property ia ana
acYed y ths description 0! property aai sae eoasta
ton piscges the orce OF the Ualoa to protect IT, Toe
safe Of Illinois cannot lcgsste 90 tols or ans other
subject for the citizens OF Gssoun Regarding the Mis-
fonri compromise, no conended that Congress mas the
icr 10 estabh irrespe tire Of the eonsent Of tho peo
pic In the Territory. 10 wue hat the Missouri compro
mise vas atoped 10 settle vhat was .aed coasidcredS
eoEo"on ci things iaisl 70 tas aon ua SIS rctsed.
But ~ ves the power 10 prohibit. p In tue ff5.
place power eSiss 20 prohibit except 10 the sgsa
iare. Tae Prtsdsat has not tie jndiciy havo not,
tbs paopie have a not What p, Copgress3 II is
body OF LEGISLATORS, the people Tor eli pur.
DO, es a. aad 70 excrcie the o wers conferred
~ the Colartliion. bad been assumed by some that
tho poser granted n toe constitution applicable 70
TIRE procpic Of domestic sorvtude. rnis assumed. a
tive power Slavery existed pao-, u the S,tes
tine Of tho adoption OF the constitution, ead promises 70
c!ei through al time. Il may be thai tha contains
q The prosperoul ccnoiion q country hke ours
depends NOR. or isrs upon tots nsttcton Ir ino
power : granted ~ Congress, Il el.ias IA the 500
lion ~ the rorliiiLtion nGtho.1sng ihe fle acqus
ton Of territory ~ c3rQnest or by treaty. sad nsor
va-us tho power 70 dispose o. or regulate u. II was
rot iner6et shat territory thus acquired should be
rnsnagcd IL any ether way than pressly provided;
would follow that n The existence OF Territorial
sws was not negative Of The power to gcgcro me Ter
Fifr no no Car
tain LIMITATIONS II there wore sucn general swesp.ng
authority 10 logislas Congress 70, wo Nc contend
ed srnfp every lesMayc power Bot tne resu. OF sien
an unlimited power would DO n briuy s,ou stats OF
things Inconsistent with 100 found OF installations
cnantoor Kent tells sIf thetoo-o tho government
Of hc United states carry INTO execution the project Tor
cclonizipg the valley OF Columbia r-er, would afford
:or considerations 20 ths descy Of that
country. n Will be lorr time hlsre N viii oe erected
INTO states, depending upon the doctrine OF the laws
Of Congress and upon the jucicsi decisions oil the
supreme Court these coioaes viii ps In state Of con-
pe,e subordnaion, AMI dspeneent upon the will OF
Cor grese should hsve beea had Parliament; succeed
cd IN bringing us TO ir will such ncs coogcnsi with
republican institutions. All the legislative power iptend-
ed 10 be gven TO Con supposed NJ time 70
be embraced In the e.shb section OF the hrst sr,,e
OF the constitution; hut theso IA not word In
that section giving power 10 prohion slavery. In tho
clause giving all rced,ui 10 make rules aud
laors for the of the Territory Of the United
Ststce apparent that the term territory "a used sy
nony NOUS with property. Arain Conssws has the
TO dispose Of terriiory meaning 10 ge rid Of 20 SELL &c.
unil that end accomplished thai Congress stall havo
authority 10 make tho nscdfal rules regulations for
clam, 81 tbs tinted s.,,s or Of sny p.lculsr state
This being tho case, what ground can the power TO
prohibit slavery all within tho power communicated 10
CoBgCss lie could conceive but the most useful d
posaJa the hypothesis the excinsiou slavery
enhances the value Of the lands 20 bs opposed o cup
pose such 10 be the valuable say asposc nj
Ierty suppose Congress has power what possible
doubt ihcro bc tat variety of things may done
to accomplish that end, and more eaeciusyy siavory
strikes a tho fundamental prnsiples Of our govern
meat IN important that adopt some rule
or regulation 60 strito u the root at o,ce.
Prohibiting IN tho Territories will rot do, Tor southern
90 there waiting ths good timc
question % STATE organization 20 Northern 90
thnl NJ the time snail come when ,s sts visited laad
viii be Dedicated 10 God and freedom TIE necdful
would b. 10 prohibit Soutnerncys from rc,t1g and
Ecrthernars from going or pass law that no southern
man BE- permitted W buy negro; that no s,nthern man
be permitted 10 cmigrato 10 tns territories and set
Tic. 10 has eprors srci Upon him which may prove
right 10 csair a.e - n thai he Will
tempt the introduction o. slavery INTO The Territory.
Either o thcse rules vii accomplish ,hc cnd n'ucn better
than tho rule ered. 1hsro exsts IN Congress- under
that esusc authority for such Unequal dlsparsgne
and nsulung iegtlaou II rot unoer that clause, upon
wki: coecovaoe groanss suia lriiy for ths sw
be placed It's nacesaTy 20 govern the rcrrisory but
" there NJ limitation the authority givcn CopgrcssG
u ,hore "a, What Is msi authority u sccms 70
he tho a,ctrino that tho coostlteton does not
extend n Territories pegnsnt IN s,ing seres,es.
The e,ctrine OF tho c9naucror, an s ~ ODD 0 MIN
rod The people of tho south do not stand tho relation
of servants 20 tho peopio of North They wcre
the .o,stu,on placed hcm, eaua IN the sight of Gcd
hnd nan. And now let me- nqurc where, except IN this
doStna Of the corqueror. . possible TO maintain this
rower andor tho coasttuuJr oC he United saiesY u n
the ss of the s'roat scnriej N ,he exercse of the
luCrcr xt Tho ~tGics ccllectlvc Constitute the
lrtcd tstcs INe apscluto uncouirpllabls ceusty OF
E the states " sampca ca al NE FEATURES Of me consf
t1ti0n. Sovereignty noArs Tho rgnt 20 sgt upon asy
question rra1 wnlrh any other soyerc'Kpty
Mr. Ionnyun IN aired hew C0ngr~.s Va pass the
compromise "a is3G Il aathinr but O dlvsion OF
tns Territorial dfruee. Ibe ~Tnsn ooneutet herself
With beng sassdod n,avcry pormissod 90 No
EHe coFsprculise Of prDcrle ncressary 10 tae
etsience OF the Irpn-s corlpronisc ~ each, rather
fnsn each s5bcrnG % hs idoa and per,Iirg the
seSce of Jnos whca tue ~ctld osed With amass
r1cDt and rot sny authority for of iattice Hc
ceEciuaed with qnlcgum sgon tho high character and
justice Cf the Court, and tribute 10 tho Juion. Ad
Soarncd.
H. n nfxssxl ltr.xs