The Washington union., 1857-10-03
spEEcH on BENIAMIN RusH. Eso.

After the eloquent remarks Of Joshua IT, Owen, esq,
introducing the resolutions, which were unanimously
adopted. Benjamin Rush, esd, introduced to the
meeting by the chairman, and said
That as a temporary resident Of their neighborhood
this summer and fall not far hom Chestnut Hill he felt
hdnored in the opportunity of meeting his ellowczens
of Germantown. He had no doubt of the success
of candidates at the approaching general election than
that they all assembled there that night He
garded II .ixed fact" General Packers majority
he thought, would equal If not exceed that of any dem
ocratc candidate for governor of Pennsylvania for many
years; and he deserved such majority All accorded
TO him high qualities, and great party, whose
standard bearer he was had abiding confidence that he
would make able, sagacious and patriotic chief magis-
uate He hoped that Mr. Hazlehurst would come next,
as much for the sake Of large, complimentary vote TO
him that he might prevail his other opponent for
the sake of the good OF Pennsylvania He had a
sincere respect and regard for Mr. Hazehurst He was
OF his most intimate personal friends and he had
known him from boyhcod He only regretted that he
was Che wrong side in politics He had often told
him 80, and had some hopes of him yet.
The political principles of Judge Wimot, the black
republican candidate for governor he held in unmixed
abhonence He had nothing to say against him person
ally He had understood he amiable gentleman
He had not the pleasure of knowing him.
Our othes candidates the State ticket said the
speaker assured were all good men and citizens
With every claim to the confidence of their feow-ci-
zens, and would all meet With like success To one name
the local ticket he desired to refer particularly
time not enabling him TO speak of athat of James r.
Ludlow nominated for associate Justice of the court of
common pleas. He knew Mr.. Ludlow WE'LL Unless he
was greatly mistaken, his character, cdueation abilities
and lldirected ambition would do honor to the bench
and he hesated not to make TIE prediction that before
his term of service should have expired Judge Ludlow
would have earned FIR himself an enviable reputation in
the Judicial history of Pennsylvania There one
othe name that of his friend and present neighbor Mr.
owen one of the candidates for the legislature whose
eloquent remarks they had just listened to whom he
would have been glad to refer but as he could only do
SO in terms of commendaton and as that gentleman was
perhn from, To his
modesty he had better desist.
From candidates. the transition was natural to the
nursing mother of us aour good old democratic Com
monwealth. That Pesinsy lvania would reassert and
maintain In October by the triumphant confirmation of
these nominations, the proud position she had
herself last year the great conservative power of the
Union, the home of sound democratic principles State
and national and the uncompromisin foe Of fanatcism
and blind error he regarded inevitable consequence
iaying said this much of candidates and our own
State continued the speaker he would pass for few
ments TO the consideration of national politics He would
not fatigue them with long speech. He did not come
there for the purpose But there question and
TO that he would conne himself which during the past
year had absorbed and still continued occupy SO much
of the public attention that could not pass it over He
referred to the famous Dred Scott decision. He once
knew an officer of the army who whenever he became
very emphatic had habit of invoking his great com
mander and was apt to exclaim, 'Great Scott y Now,
as this Dred Scott subject emphatcay one of the
most momentous that had seized hold of the mind
OF the nation having swollen to its present extraordinary
political party that ever existed in any nation perhaps
ton.
Now, what was this famous decision /? What did II all
mean What was 1t all aboutH Why the Supreme Court
OF the United States the highest judicial tribunal the
land to whom of right belonged by the constitution the
exclusive authority to determine the question: and forever
set at rest and whose duty it so to determine it. upon
which they did create but which was brought
before them to be determined after solemn argument
Twice hadyes hoice had simply decided that negro
M the African race whose ancestors had been imported
nto this country and sold az slaves not member of
the political community formed and brought into exist
ence by the constitution of the United States that
say, that such person was not 'czen of the United
states within the meaning of the constitution and could
not therefore, lay claim to the political rights and priv
leges OF "citzen of which was to sue in feJe-
TAI court In other words, that negro of African de-
scent, whose ancestors had been imported and sold as
slaves, could be considered and was never intended
when the constitution adopted to be considered
one OF the sovereign people of the United States form
ing such sovereignty holding the power and conducting
he government through their representatives that on
the contrary that class of persons considered at the
dime of the adoption Of the constitution as a separate
and distinct race, constituting subordinate and inferior
class OF beings who had been subugated the dominant
race The name OF the negro under consideration was
bred Scott
This was the extent of the decision regarded the
rights Of the negro The Supreme Court of the United
states did not pretend to deny to such person parci
patton in tho rights and privileges of citizen any of
the separate States, should any fit to confer them
Wtnn the limits OF such State. With that question they
mao nothing to do That altogether affair of the
separate States and the subject of State jurisdiction
exclusively The United States separate and dis
tnct government and it simply of that government
the Supreme Court decided that the constitution denied
TO the class OF persons he had mentioned participation
In political rights The court went into luminous dis
cussion OF the of Congress the Territories and
set at rest is to be hoped forever with great knowl
edge and power points of vital importance the peace
and prosperity of the country but regarded the sepa
rate rights of the negro about which much had been
said the decision he had stated 1t no fur
ther He had endeavored to state it with the utmost a
cuacy, and to give nearly possible the very Ian
guage used by the court.
And, fellow citizens, said Mr.. Rush. will here take
upon me to say that more logical, powerful and con-
vncing legal argument in support of the decision illus
tated and enforced by the lights of history and universal
knowledge and rendered conclusive by calm unanswer
able reasoning, never fell from judicial ps This may
seem strong but have given reflection TO the sub
ject, and know what am saying
And how was the decision received? Wby to n nor |
tion OF the country it not acceptable Some people
didn't like it. good many people in part of the coun
tion was held good many years ago. and some other
marvellous sympathy for the political rights of the negro
amounts to marvellous inconsistency for the sar,e
men utterly Indifferent to train of social and moral
evils of far greater magnitude should their theories pre-
vail than any which this decision of the Supreme Court
can or could ever by possibility, inct upon the negro
race.
These people denounced the decision ercely furious
ly But how Not by attempting to refute the arpu
ment Oh mol That bevond thar roo,h rTuss;u |