Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-03-20

from Missouri to Rock Island, Illinois,
where he remained two years. He at
terward returned to Iowa territory, where
bred was married to another chattel and Il
had two children. Subsequently the
parties returned to Missouri, when an I
action was commenced against the repu-
ted owner on the plea that having beer 8
taken voluntarily north Of the lire 36
deg. 80 min, the ordinance of 1887 and
the Missouri Compromise, which forever
prohibited slavery north of that latitude,
made them free. The case was tried in
Missouri and the court decided in favor
Of the master. 1t was then carried to
the Supreme Court and argued last year,
but owing to disagreement it was held
over TO the late term with the order that I
it should be re-argued.
Chief Justice fancy delivered the de-
cision of that body on the 9Th inst. The
Court decided first, that a person Of At |
rican descent is not a citizen Of the Uni |
ted States agreeable to the Constitution,
and therefore cannot sue in her courts
that the famous declaration in the pream-
bic, awe hold these truths to be self-evi-
dent, that all men are by nature equal"
had no application to men who had ever
so small quantity Of African blood in
their veins, that is, these truths only ap-
ply to whites, and ours is a white mans
Constitution; blacks are an inferior order
% beings, sort of cattle, two legged
property, having 10 souls, entirely past
caring for, and therefore that august
body dismissed the appeal for want of
jurisdiction. A black man cannot sue in
this Court.
IL there is any thing that would make
man having drop of human blood in
his veins, hate his country, we think it
must be to sec those grave men sit as ju-
rors, the supreme authority Of the nation
and say that man who has been stolen
from Africa by his ancestors, brought
here and subjected TO our Christian civil
ization, even very strongly tinctured with
the blood Of their owners, should now be
considered less than men.
Here the case might have rested, but
that august body composed of a majority
Of Shareholders, were not satisfied witt
thus Outraging human nature and degra
ding our country; they 60 forward, con
ing Congress authority over "the terri
tories and other property" of the Union
to mean only the property and TERRITORY
then possessed. All territory or proper
ty the United States might acquire, Con
gress has only some limited control over
In other words, it is acquired for the spe
cial benefit Of slavery; is open to it, an,
cannot be set apart for freedom! The
they pounce upon Mr.. Jefferson's ord
nance Of 1881, which is in reality a pal
Of the Constitution itself. and declare
unconstitutional-nulla and void; ditto I'll
Missouri Compromise, the Wilmot Pr,
viso, and all laws which assume to Or,
hibit slavery in any of the territories
the United States. The Court had a
ready decided the case, by making n
groes below humanity. They might
well have gone on and told us Just no
much African blood it takes to degrac
man to the position of brutes under Il
Constitution, as to have passed their
cree upon this question, that is, SO far
the case was concerned. But this W
evidently a case got up by the friends
slavery for the express purpose of brin
ing out this decision, and so the fl
southeren judges covered the who
ground. They are not satisfied wi
pronouncing the Constitution unconstit
tiOnal, but go on and invade State RICH
II has been held forever that slave v
unfairly brought into a free state, "
free, but this decision removes that la
and gives the owners of this species
property the right of going any whe
IN the Union, and protecting him wi
the broad shield Of the Supreme Cou
This caps the climax
The states are no longer free; OF
Shareholders are free, and we may exp
the next Congress will pass laws carr
ing out this damnable doctrine.
Mr.. Toombs not long ago boosted t
lac would call the roll of his slaves
der the shadow of Bunker Hill Mo-
ment.' This decision was given
pressly for his benefit. The great st
in the black galaxy of slavery seem
say to Mr.. Toombs, 4" You may take u
ehattels, carry them to old Massachuse
work them there, and call the roll
eording TO contract" We should like
see the thing done. 1t would be rat
pleasant to have plantations establish