New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-03-18

The extreme degree vi iShotonoo "n'N P''
the community in relation to American history
as notorious as it is noteworthy. This is about the
last branch of knowledge deemed necessary to the
accomplishment of American youth. Hundreds
are deeply read in the history of Greece and Rome,
France snd Epg and, whose knowledge OF the a.
f,irs of their own country is mainly or wholly de-
rived from some of those meIe compilations OF the
dates Of discoveries, explorations, settlements and
battles. used iu our schools under the name oil
abridpments of American history. Nor is this ig-
norance by any means c)nfued to our schools, or TO
the class of literary persons. 1t is equally exhib-
tied in our balls of legislation and 10 our courts OF
Justice. 1t is even more conspicuous among our
iurists and our Statesmen than among our school
boys and collegiaDs.
The most astonishing display Of this ignorance
ever vet made has lately been exhibited from the
bench of the Supreme Court of the United States.
The opinion delivered in the bred Scott case, that
the Constitution of the United States does not
recognize free negroes as persons who by any
chance or possibility con possess the right of suing
IN the United States Courts il based in the opinion
delivered by the Couit, wholly upon historical
grounds The Constitution in its terms neither
IL axes nor implies any such exclusion. The ma
iority of the Court, to sustain themselves in go
out Of The Constitution and appeal to history for
heir warrant. This appeal they make in the most
direct terms, aid in the fullest confidence, apps.
rently, that it cannot possibly result except 10 IA
vor of the decision they had previously determined
to make. They admit that - every person and every
"clsss ard description Of persons "as the time
"of he adoption of the Constitution regarded as
"citiz.ps of the several States" became citizens
under the Federal Constitution and entitled to all
the rights OF citizenship which that instrument
c. nters. In order TO decide who are citizens OF the
United States, the Court declares that it becomes
necessary Ito determine who were citizens OF the
several States when the Federal Constitution was
"adOpted."
Bavlns thus laid down the basis Of their de-
csion, instead Of an investigation otO the facts of
the case instead Of looking into the laws, cOnsti-
buttons and history of the several States OF the
Confederscy, TO see who were ACTUALLY In possession
Of the rights of citizenship at the period referred
b., they assume it as fact thet by the laws ard
previous to the adoption of the Federal Constltu-
ton. he groes we're excluded from the right Of citl-
zeDship and that, having citizenship in Psrt'cu-
lor States, they could not, UNDER the Federal Con-
siilutop, become citizens Of tho United States.
Turns out, however, upon an investigation made
by our acute and intelligent correspondent, whose
con munication we published yesterday, that the
actual fact s precisely the Other way. In only two
Of the thirteen States were negroes, at the time OF
the at option Of the Constitution, subject to any eX
cluson from citizenship by reason Of their race or
color. In the other eleven Siaes IL they possessed
the Necessary pecuniary or freehold qualification
they were entitled even to the night Of suffrage, in
con LION with tbs other Inhabitants. II is evident
then, that this decision OF the Supreme Court, tn
,te Dcapacly OF begroes 70 be citizens Of the United
Slater, TESTS Up"n q goes aid palpabe error of
feet. Upon their own premise, the decision ought
to have been tae other way. The exclusion OF DE-
erOes from tie right 10 sue in the United STATES
Courts caDDOt be set down ss legal dec~ion, Du'
only as a HISTORICAL Hunder.