The Nevada journal., 1857-04-24
THE DREp SCOTT CASE.


the reasons which have generally been
given by our contemporaries of the Cali
fornia press. The latter have looked
upon it, as final settlement of the vex-
ed question of slavery. One prominent
paper at Sacramento alluding to the
subject, says: "that measure which has
so often shaker olr nation from centre
to circumfere ne Is at last thank God
settled" anda -.ner, after very conf
IDENTIFY announcing that all cause for
sectional excitement is now entirely re-
moved, expresses its deep regret that
similar decision had not been made
twenty years ago.
All this may sound very fine to one
who shuts his eyes to a painful truth,
or whose knowledge of the American
people and the history of the slavery
question is superficial. Such one may
persuade himself, or do some little to
persuade others, that the chronic dis
ease which for more than half a century
has been deep seated in the national
life, at times threatening speedy disso-
luton, and every year growing stronger
and stronger, has been suddenly eradi-
Gated by few magical words spoken
by the half dozen gentlemen who rem
dered this decision. Those, however,
who are better acquainted with the con-
dition of the patient, and more honest
in expressing their opinions of the case,
must see and admit that this new pre-
scription will not even give temporary
repose. but will only aggravata the
symptoms, and hurry on the crisis
This slavery question is one of long
standing, and has engendered the deep
est animosities. Its alarming character
can be got rid of only by radical
change in the sentiments of the people,
by gradual softening of sectional pre-
judices, by spirit of Cancellation and
mutual concession; most certainly can
it not be crushed out by any action, Ell
ther legislative or judicial, which in
cludes complete triumph of one party
over the other.
Instead of regretting that this decis-
ion was not made twenty years ago, we
do sincerely regret that the Supreme
Court has been called upon at all, to
interfere in this dangerous struggle. 1t
was necessity, perhaps; but if so, we
regret the necessity which has compell-
ed our highest judicial tribunal to dip
its ermine in the turbid waters of sec
tional politics. Heretofore its wisdom
has been universally and confidently re-
lied upon; its decisions have been re-
ceived as conclusive authority; its
character has been held as sacred; its
mandates have been implicitly obeyed !;
and no one has thought of questioning
the business and righteousness of its
judgments. But to expect that this
same confidence and unqualified yield
ing up of opinion will follow the decis-
ion of the court in the Dred Scott case,
is utterly vain. 1t will inevitably be
looked upon as political opinion, and it
is useless to say that the mere fact of its
having been pronounced from the bench
of the Supreme Court, will be sufficient
to invest it with judicial sacredness.-
The questions passed upon in this case
have, for many years, been hotly con-
tested in the fierce arena of sectional
politics; and from the peculiar complex
ion of majority of the court, it was
well known what their decision would
be, long before it was delivered. We
have no fears that the judgment, while
unreversed, will be disregarded so far as
it relates to matters legitimately before
the court; but we cannot expect that
its decision as to the whole bread ques-
ton of slavery will be received as final
and irrevocable, and we much fear that
this case, from its peculiar character,
will greatly lessen that reverence which
the people have, heretofore, uniformly
entertained for our highest judicial tri-
bunal.
Every new phase which the slavery
question has taken, within the last few
years, has opened new dangers; and
we fear that this recent decision of the
Supreme Court, whether right or wrong
on the abstract question, will but give
new intensity to the struggle. The
ablest organs of the opposite party have
at once opened their batteries on the
august tribunal itself, with even more
than their usual vigor; and it seems as
though the opposing forces were rapid,