Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1857-03-31
TUESDAY, MARCH 81, 1857.


pulpit, the Legislature, and in private cir
cles throughout the country. We have
just read a personal sketch of Chief JUS
tic, Taney in the New York Tribune,
which we condense for the benefit of our
readers: He commenced life as practis-
ing lawyer, in one of the interior counties
timore, where he gained some distinction
rs cunning and tricky lawyer and warm
politician. When quite unknown to fame
Gen. jackson appointed him Attorney
General In this Office, he always man
aged to find la,O to sustain Gen. Jackson
in any measure he determined to adopt.
When Duane, Secretary of the Treasury
refused to remove the deposits, the Gen
put Mr.. fancy in his place, who at once
performed the job. He remained in that
Office but a short time, for the Senate re-
fused to confirm him, he having no quail
fications for the post. Very soon after,
Judge Duvall, of the Supreme Court died,
and Gen. Jackson appointed Taney in his
place. But the Senate again refused him.
Soon after Chief Justice Marshall died,
and Gen. Jackson again appointed Taney
to fill his place. Reverdy Johnson, in the
meantime had been helped out of diff
Guilty with the Maryland Bank by Mr.. Ia
ney. and through his engineering the same
Senate which had refused to confirm Ta-
ney rs Associate Justice now made him
Chief Justice. This same Reverdv John
son. who procured Taney's confirmation,
and who possesses more power over him
than any other man, was the principal
lawyer of the South in the Dred Scott
case, and in his argument used all his pow
ers of reason, temper, sarcasm, partizan
and personal feelings to induce the Judges
to decide as they have decided, and sue
ceeded. In personal appearance Judge
Taney is far from prepossessng. His fore
head is contracted, his eyes sunken, and
his visage has a sinister expression. He
walks with inverted and hesitating step.
The decisions of Mclean and Curtis are
highly spoken of. The latter administers
a severe rebuke to the majority of the
court. His points are: 1. That the free
native-born citizens of each State are citi-
zens of the United States. Q. That as free
colored persons born within some of the
States are citizens of those States, such
persons are also citizens of the United
States. 8. That every such citizen re-
siding in any State has right to sue in
the federal courts, as citizen of the State
in which he resides. 4. That as the plea
to the jurisdiction in this case shows no
facts except that the plaintiff was of AT
rican descent, and his ancestors were sold
as slaves, and as these facts are not incon-
sistent with his citizenship of the United
States, and his residence in Missouri, the
plea to the jurisdiction was bad, and the
Judgment of the Circuit Court, overruling
it was correct. The Judge then remarks
that the majority, after deciding that the
court had not jurisdiction, transcribed the
limits of their authority in deciding the
Missouri Compromise unconstitutional,
and he does not consider any opinion of
any court binding when expressed on a
question not legitimately before it. We
notice an article going the rounds to the
effect that Dred Scott is really owned by
the wife of DR.. Chaffee, Republican mem
ber of Congress from Springfield, Massa-
chusetts. This we think is mistake
DIR. Chaffee married the widow of DR.. EN-
erson. the former owner, but Dred had
been sold to Mr.. Sandford, of Missouri,
who is one of the parties to this suit, and
who, it is said, is now lunatic The suit
was carried up to the Supreme Court for
political effect, and Mr.. Sandford's con-
sent was obtained after much solicitatio
on the part of Southern politicians. Itis
possible that we may be mistaken, though
such is our recollection.
KANsAs.-It is said that Buchanan has