Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-12-26
THE CASE OF DRIED SCOTT.

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As this case is one of decided importance,
it may be as well for US to state what are
the points involved in its decision.
Surgeon Edmonson, of the .. S. Army,
had slave by the name of Dred Scott, and
living in Missouri. Edmonson removed to
Rock Island, in the State of Illinois, and
lived there three years; and thence, to Fort
Smelling, Minnesota, where he remained
some time, having Dred with him all this
time. Dred was married to female slave
while at the latter place-said female slave
being the property of major in the regi-
ment to which Edmonson belonged. A
child was the result of this union-born, of
course, north 36o 3O' north latitude. Anoth-
er child was subsequently born in Missouri.
By the laws of the United States, and of
Illinois and Minnesota, Dred Scott and his
wife were made free by the voluntary act
of their masters in taking them into free
territory. The children would also, of
course, be free Dred sued for his freedom
in Missouri, but the Judge declared his
claim invalid, and his children also condem-
ned to bondage.
By some means the case was appealed,
and of course, through the agency of the
master, as the poor slave could not possibly
have taken the necessary steps, How was
he, poor, friendless slave, to carry an ap-
peal to the .. s. Court at Washington -
The master, it is said, transferred his title in
bred to John F. A. Sanford, of New York.
Sanford is now plaintiff in the appeal from
decision IN his favor? The decision Of
the Missouri Judge made Dred and Dred's
children his slaves-what moro did he de-
sire? Hewanted to draw from that notori-
Gus pro-slavory body of old fogy jurists, the
q. s. Supreme Court decision which should
fasten the chains upon all such persons as
Dred and his family forever. The intention
was to get decree from the highest legal
tribunal in the land, (heaven save the mark, J
allowing the stakeholder to bring his slave
into the free North-to kVe here Nth them,
and BREED SLAVES HERE-aye, condemn to
eternal servitude children born beneath
the sun of a free commonwealth Think
of that, freemen! If Dred and his children
are pronounced slaves, land they will be,)
the STAKEHOLDER may enter our towns and
cities-may establish himself across the
street, and there hold his human chattles,
aye, and breed slaves for southern or wes-
tern market What's to hinderl The chill
dren of Dred were born in a free State, in
territory eonsec1ated to Freedom, and they
are sold to whomsoever will buy. Who says
the world does not move!
The Albany Journal says at is a made
up case-a politically contrived plan for ae-
quiring the influence of the Supreme Court
of the United States to these new Demo
cratic claims for the benefit of Slavery
'lst. That the owner Of human beings
can lawfully sojourn with them in Free
State, and maintain his claim to them as his
chattles,' the law of that State or the Law
of Nations to the contrary notwithstanding
'2d. That men of color, though gifted
as Fred. Douglas, Ward, McCune Smith, or
Garnet, or as gifted as angels in virtue and
intelligence, are not citizens of the United
States.
"Sd. That the Equality Of States re-
|, quires that property in Slaves should be as
fully recognized and protected in all the
States of the Union, as property in horses
is recognized and protected in all the States
of the Union.
"4th That the constitutions of Freethe
Estates prohibiting Slavery are penal Stat
utes,' which neither the Courts of the Slave
States, or of the United States, are bound
to enforce, or bound to regard.
A programme worthy of Egyptian De
mocracy-a fit introduction of the admins.
tration of our James Buchanan.-Ledder.