The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-05-27
Che Drc0 Scott Case.
MINORITY REPORT
HON. WILLIAM II. VEL LSH,
IN THE SENATE OF Pa,


IN THE SENATE OF PA,
From the Select Committee TO ,chieh wds referred
the Resolutions relative 10 the Decision Of tht
Supreme Court Of the United States IN fht
DIed Scott case.
The undersigned, members OF the select
committee 10 which was referred The resolu'
lions relative TO the decision Of the Supreme
Court of the Uured States in the Dred Scott
case, not agreeing with The opinions and con
clusions of their three colleagues in the re-
port submitted by them, beg leave TO present
their views in relation lo.lh question before
the commiuee.
Before touching upon the great principles
contained in the decision, the minority oi
your committee deem il both right and prop.
er TO advert 10 one or two points which are
involved;in the discussion Of this subject
We cannot but express our deep regret, that
hostile attitude has been assumed low wards
the recent action of The Supreme Court oil
the United States. Whatever difference oI
opislon may exist in reference 10 that decis.
ion, il should receive The respect and sane
lion of all law-abiding citizens, until the
same breath that gave it existence shall pro-
nounce its principles erroneous and its doc
,rines unlenabls. To ''repudiate" ito say
tha, II is 'inoperative as law"-and TO pro
claim its authors ''diclatorial." !" "tyrannical, u
and "unwonhy of confidence and respect |:
cannot but be regarded as startling PROPOSE
lions il the candid estimation of all who
view that Court as the great conservative ele-
men, in our government, and the constitution
al protector of the rights and Liberties oil the
people. Such terms are, al least, Of question.
able propriety .sTheH boldness is only equal
led by their utter fallaciousness. Instead oi
attempting 10 weaken the influence OF the lu-
dietary by assailng it with hollow aud un'
meaning defamation, we should endesvor
TO throw around il the broad and ample shield
o( public confidence. While il is acknowl-
edged as one of the CO oordinate branches ol
our government, il must be considered SUI
rteme in the enunciation of law and sacred
in yhe assertion of authority. In The past lis
binding force has been the oil which has
calned the troubled waters and qnieled The
s,otmy sea of lana,icisln; aad in the future,
If the hand of narrow seclonalism should be
raised 10 break down the barriers erected 10
prolec, The Constitution, the inherent slreng,h
contaiced within that Court OF last resort,
will be found 10 be Of sufficient power 10 re-
sist and overcome all the assaults that may
be aimed al the common liberties of more
than twenty-five millions OF ,chife freemen.-
Viewing i, in ths light just indicated, we feel
called upon by an imperative sense OF duty,
most earnestly 10 deprecate all efforts 10
bring it's decisions into disrepute, or TO rob ii
of that potential sway which has hitherto
made i, the true conservator OF our national
freedom.
The minority Of our committee, also beg
leave 10 call in question the proprey OF
Slate Legislature attempting TO review The ac'
ZION of the Supreme Court of the United
States. I, must be patent to every one that
such course is entirely fnlile'-and without
anv Tpoosik.s effect. No practical results, OF
positive benefit, can, in any way, accrue 10
the parties raising such an issue. The pow
ets of State Legislature and the functions
Of the United States judiciary are settled and
dis,inc, in their nature. They can never come
in conflict. Entirely independent of each
other, they have their separate and determin'
ed sphere of operations. This Legislature
was no, chosen by The people of Pennsylva-
mia TO engage in useless discussions upon
questions which, under lis most extended
privileges, should never arise upon this floor.
They have no business here. This is moi the
proper forum fov their consideration, and rails.
ing the question of jurisdiction" we conf
denily assert, that if the "opinions and dec
iaralions" of the Supreme Court be, as IS al.
legged, "extra judicial" in greater degree
is the action of the majority of the commit
tee, exlra.leglslative. They propose no mea-
sure that can affect that court-they assume
no su,hority TO resist or oppose lis decisions
they ask no legislation that would, in any
manner, cure the evils of which they so
loudly complain. While we cannot refuse
Them the luxury of lameniing over the de.
cision of that tribunal, we most emphatlcal'
ly deny their right in legislative capacity
to interfere with It's action or 10 controvert ts
opinions. The greatest criminal in the land
may bewail his sentence, but 70 one will
pretend to say ii is his prerosative TO arraign
the Judge who condemned him. The reso-
fulions submitted by the majority must, there
fore, be regarded as "void" and altogether
"inopsraliye as law" The Legislature of
Pennsylvania may enact them, and every
day replace them on her statute books The
voice Of depunciation may echo through her
halls and 20 out upon the wings Of The wind