Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-04-02
The Slavery Questionable Deci-
sion of the Supreme Court.

The Slavery Questionable Deci-
sion Of the Supreme Court.
Under this head the Editor of the New
ferk Times proceeds to give us very lucid,
and correct opinion of the recent Decision
of the Supreme Court. Coming from the
sourse it does, and speaking $50 boldly, will
insure it to be read wish great interest.
Twen:y years ago South Carolina denied
the paramount authority of the Supreme
Court OF the United States, and few to arms
to resist it; while Massachusetts touk the
lead in asserting the absolute, unqualified
duty of ereH citizen and every State t.
yi,l implici, obedience TO lis decisions NJ
on all questions of Constitutional Law. To-
day the position Of these two States, and o.;
the sections which they represent. is likely
to be re, ersed. South Carolina will bee me
the champion o. federal supremacy, and
Massachusetts, will assert the doctrine of
State Rights. And this change o. position
Illustrates the fact, TO which it is due, that
interest and reason rules over and regulates
the sction Of States as well as of individuals.
South Carolina resisted the Federal Govern
NETT in 1882 because her interests were
menaced by its action. She asserts its su-
premacy in 1857 because IT has become the
champion and protector of her institut ions
and her property. 4
The decision Of the Supreme Court in
the Dred Scott completes the nation1liza.
tim of Slavery. Slavery'is no longer a local
| insti'uton,-the creature OF local law
dependent for its existence and protection
upon State sovereignty and State legisla-
ton. 1t is incorporated into the Constiiu-
ton of the United States. Its return is the
tenure of all property, and he CONSTITUTION
protects and preserves it, to the same extent
and upon the same principles, as it protects
any other property Of any kind whatever--
This is the fundamental position which the
Supreme Court has just asserted, and upon
which all its decisions in this case rest
Congress cannot exclude Slavery from Fed
deral Territory, because the right to slaves
is the right to property, and cannot be d.
vested. For the s1me reason the people of
the Territory canno, exclude Slavery from
their GA domain:-and when the time for
the next step comes, we shall have ii in the
logical sequence, that no State Government
has right 10 deprire any citizen of property
trhich the Constitution Of the United STATES
projects him in holding.
1t is not too much to say that this decision
revolutionizes the Federal Governments ,and
changes entirely the relation which Slavery
has hlther,o held towards it. Slavery is no
longer local, it is national The Federal
Government is no longer held aloof from it.
as thing wholly ana exclusively out of it's
jnrisd ction:-it is brought directly within
its sphere ard put Immediately under its
protection. The doctrine of State Rights,
So long its friend, is now its foe.
That this decision is to produce the most
profound impression upon tie public judg-
ment is certain. Its first effect will be to
paralyze and asteund the public mind
Familiar as urs people have become to the
advancement OF Slavery towards supremacy
in our Government, they have not believed
thot II OOusu ouldlI 81 dUSOlulc q seat IN the
supreme council of the Republic at so early
a day. The decision will be accepted and
obeyed as law. There will be no wide or
loud protest sgainst it. The public peace
will not be disturbed the public ear will
moi be vexed,-by clamorous outcries or
noisy denunciation of the Court and its de,
cree. But the doctrine it has promulgated
will sink deep into the public heart, and
germinate there as the seed of discomfort
and contest end disaster hereafter. They
mistake the temper of the men of this Re-
public, who believe that they will ever ac-
| ccpt Slavery as the fixed and permanen.
law OF the American Union. They have
trusted to time,-,o the progress of civiliza-
ton, to the melioration of legal codes,-to
climate, to poi ulation, 10 established metes
and bounds, to old covenants and compacts
and the advancement of Christian principle,
for Ultimate deliverance. They will strive
still to cling to such of these as violence
and wrong have ileft untouched. But this
last decision leaves little to hope and every
thing to fear. And the people will begin
to ask why, if Slavery is national, the ma
tion should not assume the custody and con-
trul of it:--why il. should be constitutional
for the Fedora: Government to protect, and
not to remove, it:-why, if its extension is
synonymous with its existence, both should
net be ended together.
| A2parent peace will follow the action OF
the Supreme Court. The par,isans of its
conduct and IFS doctrine will proclaim it TO
be The end of controversy upon this subject,
4 and the Immediate result will seem TO cor
firm their hopes. But it has laid the only
solid foundation which has ever yet existed
for an Abolition party; and it will do more
to stimulate the growth, to build up the
power and consolidate the action OF such a
party, than has been Done by any other
eventsince he.Declaration oflndependence of