Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-03-14
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WAsHfNaroS. March 6.

Unc,n. 4, . tionsIity Of the Missouri Compromis
.-peei.ion of tho supreme Court In the Dret
scott Case. riE .l
WAsHiSoroN, March 6.
The opinion Of the Supre ne Court in the
Dred Scott case, was delivered to-day, by
Chief Justice, Taney. 1t wash foil and elab-
crate statement Of the views oil the court.
They have decided the following oil impor-
tant points :--Firs.-That negroes, whether
slaves or free, that is, men OF the African
race. are not citizens Of the United States by
the Constitution Second-That the ordi-
nance of 1851 had no independent constitu-
tioual force or legal effect subsequently TO the
adoption Of the Constitution, and could not
operate Of itself to confer freedom or citizen
ship within the Northwest Territory, on ne
gro.s not citizens by the Constitution.
Third, that the provision OF the act of 1871,
commonly called the Missouri Compromise,
in so far as it undertook to exclude negro
slavery from, and communicate freedom and
citizenship TO negroes in the northern part
of the Louisiana cession, was Legislative
e. act exceeding the powers Of Congress and
.voi,l." and Of no legal effect TO that end. In
deciding these main points, the Supreme
Court determined the following incidental
points: First-The expression Territory
snd other property" of the Union in the Con-
stitution. applies. in "terms' only, to such
territory as the Union possessed at the time
Of the adoption of the Constitution. Second
-Th. rights of citizens Of the United States.
emiyratinc into any Federal Territory, and
the power Of the Federal Government, there,
depend on the general provisions Of the Con-
sttution. which defines in this, MS in all other
respects. the powers Of Congress. Third
As Congress does not possess power itsflfto
make enactments relative to the persons or
property Of citizens of the United States in
fe eral territory. other than such as the Con-
sitution confers, so it cannot constitutonally
delegate any such powers 10 territorial
government organized by it under the Con-
stitntion Fourth-The legal condition OF o
slave in the State of Missouri is not Affect
ed by the temporary sojourn of such slave in
any other State, but on his return his condi-
tiOn still depends on the laws of Missouri.
As the plaintiff was not a citizen Of Missouri.
aud therefore could not sue in the Courts of
the United Stutes the suit must be dismissed
for want Of jurisdiction.
The delivery of this opinion occupied
abont three hours and il was listened to with
profound attention by crowded Court room.
Among the auditors were many gentlemen oil
eminent legal ability, and due proportion OF
ladies.
Justice Nelson stated the imerits Of the
case. the question being whether or not the
removal of Scott from Missouri with his
master to Illinois. with o view of temporary
residence. worked his emancipation. He
maintained that the question depended solely
on the law of Missouri and for that reason
the judgement of the Court below should be
nlIirmpd.
Justice Catron believed the Supreme Court
has Jurisdiction TO decide the merits of the
case. lie argned that Congress could not do
- 4 rpctlv what it could not do indirectly. If
/. could exclude one species of property 1t
could another. With regard to the terrific
r'"s cedej. Congress could govern them ouly
with the restrictions of the States, which
coded them, and the Missouri Act Of 1920,
violated the leading features Of the Constitu-
ton, aud was therefore void. He concurred
with bis brother Judges that Scott is slave,
and was so when the suit was brought.
Several other Of the Judges are to deliver
their views tomorrow.