Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-04-01
s,,,e. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

| umns, necessarily exclude Tue usual va
riety.
| states Rfghfs-C Citizenship.
Whilst we approved, in the main, of the
decision in the bred Scott case, we took &C.
casion, in an article published some days
ago, to express our dissent from doctrine
preached by Judge TANEY, to the effect
that the States have the right to make cit
liens at pleasure, and independently of con-
gressional legislation. We thought that
this was point not before the Court for
adjudication, and in giving expression to it,
Judge fancy was only uttering an individ-
nal opinion, an Obiter dictun, which we con-
sidered as erroneous as it was nncalled for.
We believe this question was left wholly
untouched, by all the other judges, in CIV
ing the reasons for their judgment, thus ig-
noring its necessity to full and fair deci-
sion Of the case. But for this dissent from
this mere dictum, the Union O. american in
its Sundays issue, strives to array us
against the Supreme Court Of the United
States, and to couple us with the fanatical
clamorists of the North in their opposition
to that august tribunal. 1t would be a
waste of words for us to deny that we hold
any sympathy whatever with the Greely's
and Cheever's of the North upon this sub
iect. We have no idea that the Supreme
Court, as at present constituted, could or
would make decision, which would Justify
revolution, by any section of the country,
and we know ofno other way by which the
decision of that body can be resisted, with
reason and efficiency. We shall therefore,
always be ready to abide the judgments
and DEGREES of that court, however errone-
Gus or contrary to good policy they may
appear to us to be. But in this instance,
we did not even cosider the decree or any
part of the Judgment erroueous--it was the
private opinion (rather publicly expressed)
of the Chief Justice, upon subject not
embraced by the Record, to which we ex-
copied.
The Union and American thinks that this
dictum is pressing heavily upon know
nothing corns," and that we oppose it
through merely partizan motives. We
have no doubt it is sincere in this belief:
when it adjusts its editorial spectacles, it
would be exceedingly difficult for it to see
any thing in any other light. Our views
and opinions on this subject, however, have
been formed Independently Of our ideas of
party policy. We do not now propose to
90 into an argument of the question; but,
as matter of policy, we think that so far
as it could produce such result, it would
give the States rights, as individuals, and
deprive them of much more valuable rights
as community. If California, in the ex-
ercise of her sovereignty should choose to
clothe all her Coolies and Indians with the
mantle of citizenship; or, if Massachusetts
should choose to give such scope to her
ideas of humanitarianism, as to endow all
her coIored population with the high pre-
negatives of citizenship, these would GER
tainly be within the limits of the States
rights doctrine, and would probably accord
with the views of some who have the State
sovereignty mono-mania. But it is not
likely that South Carolina and Tennessee
would feel disposed to divide the powers
and privileges Of legislation with people
so incongruous, and so destitute of ca
pacity to mingle in and give tone to the
affairs of civilized government. 1t is
not likely. either, that the other States
would admit this heterogeneous mass
into their body polite, on an equal foot
ing, as to rights and privileges, with
the most favored and intelligent citizen.
It's inevitable tendency would be to di-
vide the Union, to ALLEVIATE one member Of
the confederacy from another, to weaken
the bonds which hold us together, pow
erful and united people; and in the same
proportion to make us a weak, discordant
and miserable set of factions. The ruinous
policy Of such a doctrine should for ever pre-
vent its Inauguration as principle. AS a
matter of law, we think it is fully as I'M
tenable as it is as a matter of policy. The
highest law known to this confederation Of
States provides that the citizens of each
State shall be entitled to all privileges and
immunities Of citizens in the several
States and that the rule of naturaliza-
ton shall be uniform. 1t is almost impos
sible to found an argument upon an axiom;
we had thought that a mere reference to
the law would be sufficient. And mas
much as our neighbor, while laboring with
great assiduity to sustain the principle Of
permitting FREE negroes TO cote as'Tigh and
proper, disclaims all idea of favoring the
POLICY Of a practical assertion Of the right
we are disincined to pursue the subject
further at present.
From washington
The correspondent OF the n. Y. Tribune writing
from Washington on the 26sh ult, says.
Mr., Appleton Withdraws Immediately from The
Union. and the question before the Cabinet is
whether the Administration shall indicate his suc-
cessor, or leave the responsibility OF the editorial
management with Messrs Wendell, Mcclure. and
Abthers, who are the real proprietors, under the
rose.