The Washington union., 1857-04-16
THE DRIED soorr CASE.

Know that loyalty ana ndey 10 The constitution and
the laws are confined TO no particular part of the
Union, but that even in the midst of fanateism and
there brave, sound national democrats TO
proclaim the doctrines Of the party of the constu-
ton and of truth:
TIM DRED SooTT CASE No decision has for genera.
ton created deeper sensation throughout the country
than the given in the late appeal from the Missouri
district The questions naturally, ii not legitimatey
arising under this appeal and which the court OF last re-
sort has deemed il proper and imperative settle have
for twenty years gradually encroached upon the public
attention; indeed, some OF them have attained such
pepondennce to divide the North into two great and
contending parties.
.'The indignant protest with which this decision or
rather the basis of IT, is received by perhaps majority of
the northern branch of the Union Is matter of sur
prise 1t was expected by the best informed minds and
due preparations made for the impending shock. The
smoke Of the late political conflict had vet cleared up
and the passions which it aayed had by means sub
sided The public mind is still blind from the fury of its
ianatcism and in respect qualified to pronounce upon
the judgment of the Supreme Court The storm which
RACES is not, therefore, be regarded as ominous
can il wisely be held to be prophetic OF crusade
against the constitution.
" Under these circumstances, the question frequently
arises, what is the duty OF the citizen
Without assuming to prescribe the limits of the whole
field we shall take such survey to bring IL within the
obvious reach of the common understanding.
The first duty of the citizen is to acq,esce in the
opinion OF the Supreme Court That opinion may bc
roneos of at best III Is nothing than the perfection
OF human reason; but, whether not il
be regarded for the present possessing the of law
and entitled to its respect Our belief its
does not affect obligation yield to it, and at
all times to sustain it,
e second duty of the citizen to defend the character
OF the highest tribunal known to his country that neither
confidence in 1t nor the authority Of it may be les
sened. Its purity and capacity must not be called in
questionboth without reproach and both above i'm
parchment.
1.-THE third duty Of the citizen to refrain from all de-
nuncation against either the opinion the court Tn
less possess the learning and ability to investigate the
points involved and dedicate them the task we have
moral right to pronounce upon the validity inya-
ly of the decisions of the bench or to claim for our
dcta in doing any weight upon the public mind. 10
feel full confidence in deductions to inspire II in
Others, must be conscious of bringing to the inquiry
high qualifications distinguish the federal tribunal
Few very few, of the legal minds of country
clothed with these qualifications Hence, taken in
the aggregate, small indeed Is the number Of those who
can with any show Of consistency aspire to sit in jug
ment upon the opinions of the Supreme Court TO try it
jury of peers.
Under this vie. Of the case the presumption and in
science Of nconsdcrabe portion Of the partisan press
almost incredible. Every contemplate sheet which
hsscs from the ruins of covert has found tongue
and, true to its first great type whispers meretrons
sophisms in the of baser Ignorance and ceSulity
oracles Of editorial wisdom have been established over
every dark fountain and their prophetic words transfer
red to leaves scattered from end to end OF the land
Men who have never betrayed any divine instincts
intelligence have suddenly become the priests of Apollo
and filled the world with legal knowledge women who
have surprised their friends with and sensbil
ity in the nursery. have leaped upon the judicial
tripod, and, in travail of inspiration given law our
lawgiyers and lessons to courts
'And what next This inquson, blind and mad rs
it s which has oisled itself into the pulpit and the fo
rum may be expected to sit with yelled face in
mockery of common and common dcccncy upon the
last relics Of constitutional liberty blow aimed the
authority of the third great branch of the general govern
ment, the Judiciary, Is tantamonnt TO blow struck at
the heart Of all law and order Undermine the respect
and confidence which have been and must ever for the
safety OF human rights be felt for and in the adudic-
tions OF the highest federal court and you have taken
the first step in the overthrow Of the government The
legislative and executive branches may survive but of
what avail when the administration Of the laws denied
to the people!
Because decision startles convictions or conflicts
with views which have long entertained it does not
follow that it is wrong that commissioned by
revelation law not to respect and sustain it, In the
late opinion pronounced in the Dred Scott case that
which perhaps more than any other wounded northern
sentiment is the declaration that persons of African de-
scent not citizens OF the United States, and cannot
therefore, bring suits in the courts thereof Assuming
the contrary TO be true which is not the fact the pra
cal effect of the decision is Of little moment to either
the negro or the white The African has in the his
tory of the republic, and WILL enjoy the same and
equal franchises with ourselves in the social civil and
political relations of life. The citizens legislatures and
courts Of every State North and South have held
the of Ham to be equal fellows and brethren. The
mmunities rights and privileges Of whatever character
they enjoy to-day, have been granted by to them
by one with jealousy charity, and in slow and feeble
nstalmcnts. In States, however, the negro has
been and crcumscribed placed under greater
and greater disabilities whilst in others his freedom has
been gradually but cautiously enlarged But in none
In rnng Massachusetts, who has claimed the sim
gular merit Of being the great nursing mother OF the
children of Ham has he been permitted to share but
tithc of the liberties of the freeman.
Tho decision Of the Supreme Court does not there
FORE deny any franchise to the African which he has hith
erto exercised, and TO which, by reference To the treat
ment he has received from the States are authorized
in claiming him to be justly and constitonally entitled
He has not at any period been regarded citizen in
the proper and honorable of the term whether of
the Union OF State The sovereignty with which that
clothed by the law and practice of the realm has
always been, il must in tho ordination Of Providence
be- in the case OF the African, shorn OF Its fair and full
proportions.
1t is not invariably safe to argue against conclusion
from the consequences likely to follow its adoption
but we cannot deny ourselves, in the issue raised
peep into the results which, in snbordnation an hon
est consistency, must necessarily flow from the doctrine
that tho negro is citizen and entitled the rights of
the same
The first result proceeding from this doctrine would
be to wipe out from staue-books and court records
and all laws and decisions touching the free African
as distinct and peculiar member OF the body polite.
The second result springing from this doctrine would
be- not to restore for he possessed them but to
vest the free negro with all the powers and privileges with
which the white citizen is clothed
'To this end he should be at admitted to the full
exercise of the elective franchise be made eligible to any
Office in the gift of the State Union and ii his oua-
cations superior to his fellows be promoted To them